'Freezin' for a Reason'
Organizers dubbed Saturday's ninth annual Riding for the Cure motorcycle ride “Freezin' for a Reason” because of the unseasonably low temperatures before its 11 a.m. start.
Still, organizers said more than 200 motorcyclists registered to participate in the daylong ride to raise money to fight cancer.
The event roared off from the parking lot of Family Bowlaway, 540 Fairground Hill Road, for the 118-mile journey before its scheduled end at the Beer Garden Sports Bar & Grille on Route 38 in Washington Township.
Lynda Kerr, of Butler, president of Riding for the Cure, said this year's ride had to be postponed from its usual date of the last Saturday in July because of COVID-19 restrictions.“We start in March every year to have a ride in July,” said Kerr, saying the postponement and crowd restrictions left organizers scrambling to find establishments for stops along the ride.Paula Slater, of Butler, a member of the Riding for the Cure board, said: “It was difficult this year with all the restrictions. We're thankful for the establishments that stepped up to the plate.”
Slater added that everything was held outside at all the venues along the ride.“We are very thankful for everybody supporting our cause,” said Slater. “Without them, we wouldn't be.”Kerr said she took up the fight against cancer when one of her best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer.“That first ride, we had 126 people and raised $6,500. We were ecstatic for that, and it has just grown bigger,” said Kerr.The eight previous rides have raised $281,359. And while it started as a breast cancer ride, Kerr said it has grown to raise funds to fight all types of cancer.“We say 'cancer doesn't discriminate, and neither do we,'” she said.
Kerr and Slater might be veterans of the ride, but Jeff Randolph, of Butler, was bringing his 2009 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy to his first Riding for the Cure.“A buddy of mine told me about it,” said Randolph. “I used to belong to A.B.A.T.E., a motorcycle organization that does a lot of charity runs.”“I came by myself, but once you are here, everybody's your friend,” he said.Randolph added he hadn't gotten a map of the route, but wasn't worried.“To be honest with you, I get in line with everybody else. It works itself out, really,” he said.Another first-time rider was McKenzie Hutchens, of Butler, who came home Thursday from Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, where she is a Marine supply lance corporal, to surprise her family for her 21st birthday.“I'm going on the back of the bike of my father, Bryan Hutchens. He helps out with all these rides,” she said.“I feel like it is going to be fun. Everybody loves these rides. I'm super excited for my first one,” she added. “I've always loved riding with my dad. I go on a ride with him every time I'm home.”
Bryan Hutchens said he became involved with Riding for the Cure because he was a high school friend of Kerr, and when their mutual friend was stricken with cancer, he was surprised to learn the financial hardships cancer patients face.For Joe and Emily Conroy, of Evans City, Saturday's event was a chance to resume an old pastime.“I'm starting to ride with my husband again,” she said.She used to ride in the past she said, but when they had their daughter she stopped.Now that her daughter is a teenager, she is sharing her husband's Harley-Davidson Street Glide again while supporting the fight against cancer.Kerr said people with a PayPal account wanting to donate can contact ridingforthecure@aol.com. Or those wanting to use a credit card can call 724-355-2456.Donations can also be sent to Riding for the Cure, P.O. Box 624, Butler Pa. 16001.
