After a six month whirlwind tour of the Twin Tiers, the Kids & Cancer Benefit’s 2015 Harley of Hope will be given to one lucky raffle ticket holder this Saturday at 6 p.m.
The drawing will take place during Saturday’s post-run party at Players Downtown Sports Bar & Nightclub, the Lighter Side and the Corner Bar & Restaurant in Bradford. The Clean Slate band will play on the bridge on Mechanic Street from 3 to 7 p.m.
Raffle tickets are still available to purchase from committee members, and at the Zippo/Case Museum. Tickets will be available during the post-run party as well.
Registration for the run will be open from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the Zippo Congress Street plant.
“We’re always so touched and beyond grateful for the ways this community comes together to support the brave children and families battling cancer,” said Kids & Cancer Committee Member Bev Sherman. “From the classes at St. Bernard cutting out thousands of sponsor cards, to the young ladies making lemonade and selling hot dogs to raise money for the organization, there are so many wonderful people helping us achieve our mission every day.”
Proceeds from the raffle and the motorcycle run over the last 17 years have allowed the Kids & Cancer organization to donate nearly $300,000 to fighting childhood cancer, in ways such as research donations, and helping individual families with the costs associated with treatments.
“People love to see the bike when they buy tickets –it’s a big motivator –so we make it a point to take it to as many places and events as possible. From Jamestown to Bradford, back again and everywhere in between,” said Kids & Cancer Committee Member Dave Geitner.
“This year’s Harley of Hope is so unique, it has a retro look and some slick custom features,” Geinter said of the 2015 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe with a White Hot and Blue Hot Pearl finish.
The bike has a Twin Cam 103B motor, 6 speed, smooth profile laced wheels and ABS brakes. It also features a low seat, chrome luggage rack, easy reach pull-back handlebar risers.
The drawing for the 2015 Harley of Hope is the endcap to a busy day for the anticipated 200+ riders and participants. The day kicks off with registration and lineup at the Zippo manufacturing plant on Congress Street, and the Safety Celebration at the nearby Zippo/Case Museum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The motorcycles and other participating vehicles will register and line up before noon in the parking lot of the Zippo plant on Congress Street. Following the testimonies and a blessing of the bikes by the Rev. Raymond Gramata, the riders, led by local police, fire departments, and the STATMedevac helicopter, will parade down Main Street.
They will continue along the route on West Washington Street and into the Allegheny National Forest, with the first stop at the Willows Restaurant. Additional stops include the American Legion in Wilcox, the American Legion in Crosby and Vavalo’s Bar & Restaurant in Gifford. The final stops will be at Players Downtown Sports Bar & Nightclub, the Lighter Side and the Corner Bar & Restaurant in Bradford, where the drawing and after-party commence.
Kids & Cancer Safety Celebration
New this year as part of the Kids & Cancer Benefit motorcycle run festivities is the Safety Celebration at the Zippo/Case Museum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Safety Celebration is free and open to the public, with food, music, and family-friendly safety activities for all ages.
Attendees with have the opportunity to explore a real Medevac helicopter when it lands in the field next to the Zippo/Case Museum around 11:30 a.m.
The pilot and staff from STATMedevac will be on hand to answer questions about the helicopter and how it helps save lives in Western PA and New York until noon, when – weather depending – the helicopter will take off and do a flyover of Main Street as the procession of motorcycles in the Kids & Cancer Run kicks off.
The Bradford Fire Department will have the Fire Prevention house on site, as well as several emergency response vehicles on hand for up close exploration, while the Bradford City Police Department will display cruisers and a command truck.
Bradford Regional Medical Center, Zippo, Case, the American Red Cross, YMCA, and Water Authority are participating as well, all of the participating organizations are offering lifesaving and all-ages appropriate safety information, in addition to many prizes and giveaways.
About Kids & Cancer
The Kids and Cancer Run initially started in 1998 as a way to share, with other motorcyclists, the physical beauty of our area and the freedom of “cruising” the roads in and around the Allegheny National Forest and the Kinzua Dam area in Northwestern Pennsylvania and Southwestern New York. One of the goals, of course, was to generate funds for charitable causes but also to promote the tourist attractions of the area from the biker’s eye.
10,000+ individuals have participated in the past seventeen Benefit Runs. They have come from Germany, Canada, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Indiana, Nebraska, North and South Carolina, Ohio, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania. In 2006, the Kids and Cancer Benefit committee decided to add another aspect to the activities and has sponsored a motorcycle raffle each year since then. These raffles have not only generated additional charitable contributions, but have enabled those who do not ride to become involved.
Through the generosity of Run participants and raffle tickets purchasers, Kids & Cancer Committee has been able to donate nearly $300,000 since 1998 to individuals, medical facilities, cancer related organizations, and various service clubs that benefit kids and their families. A grateful thank you is extended to all those who have supported or participated in our activities because it is your dollars that have helped so many.
Pictured, Abby Curtain, Adilynn Brown, Olivia Grove, Lillian Brown, and Brianna Spees (with Kids & Cancer committee member Bev Sherman in back) sold lemonade and hot dogs to raise money for the Kids & Cancer Benefit, scheduled for Saturday, July 25.
Learn more by listening to Tuesday’s LiveLine