RIDERS RAISE OVER $750K
AT “RIDE FOR LIFE” FUND-RAISER FOR MDA
READING, Pa., May 2, 2005 – This weekend’s 18th Annual
Ride for Life raised an impressive $764,818 for the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
The total is the largest amount raised for charity in the United States
by an event of this type. Motorcycle enthusiasts, Harley-Davidson
dealers and area businesses combined efforts to collect contributions
for fighting neuromuscular diseases.
More than 1,500 motorcycle riders from five mid-Atlantic states took
part in the event, held Saturday and Sunday, that was comprised mostly
of members of the Eastern Harley-Davidson Dealers Association.
Riders representing Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson/Buell of Orwigsburg,
Pa. made it the top fund-raising dealership, with collections totaling
$176,000.
The event included special tributes to the late Mattie
Stepanek, best-selling poet and peacemaker, former MDA National
Goodwill Ambassador. Mattie, who was 13, died last year from a rare
form of muscular dystrophy.
In Mattie’s honor, his mother, Jeni Stepanek, presented the
second annual “Champion Award” to the members of the Eastern
Harley-Davidson Dealers Association for its staunch support of Ride
for Life.
The award alludes to one of Mattie’s most revered poems, “On
Being a Champion”; Ride for Life was one of Mattie’s favorite
events, and he was beloved by many riders.
Money raised at Ride for Life will support MDA medical services in
eastern Pennsylvania, including MDA
clinics at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown;
Philadelphia’s MCP Hahnemann, Children’s Hospital, Hospital
of the University of Pennsylvania; Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical
Center in Wilkes-Barre; and Williamsport Hospital.
In addition, the event supports important MDA scientific research at Geisinger Clinic in Danville, and in Philadelphia at Hahnemann
University, Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Pennsylvania.
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
For more information about MDA or its programs, call (800) 572-1717,
or go to www.mda.org.
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