Kickstands go up at 11 a.m. Saturday, as Riding for the Cure enters its seventh year of raising funds to combat cancer. “You do not have to be a motorcyclist to be a part of the ride,” said Lynda Kerr of Butler, president of the Riding for the Cure.

Last year more than 300 motorcyclists participated, and Kerr said cars can join at the back of the pack.

Supporters also attend the pig roast at the end of the ride. Dropping in at last year’s event was a 100-year-old cancer survivor. Kerr said, “She’s 101 now.”

Participants will start at the Rock Ann Haven, 141 Greenwood Drive, and travel to stops at Beer Garden in Petrolia, River’s Edge in East Brady, County Line in Fenelton and the Bonfire Restaurant in Leechburg.

At the County Line stop, Butler Health System is donating hot dogs, buns and water for the riders reaching the mid-point in the tour. The restaurant is donating homemade potato chips.

A pig roast will follow at the Longhorn Corral, 930 New Castle Road, with food served at 5 p.m. Performing a mix of rock, indie, blues and Americana music will be five-member, award-winning Butler band Anger the Ant. Prizes, auctions and raffles are planned.

A pre-registration event is planned at 7 p.m. Wednesday during bike night at the 11th Frame, 540 Fairground Hill Road.

In for the long ride

Riding for the Cure hosts a variety of events throughout the year, like a bowling party and Mother’s Day event, and in 2017 raised more than $42,000. In six years the group has raised more than $173,000 to fight cancer.

Those supporting the group include children and others who have even donated their hair for wigs.

While branching out in the kinds of events held and people supporting Riding for the Cure, the group’s fight against cancer has also grown.

“We are always going to be a breast cancer ride, but we have opened up our funds to help all other cancers,” Kerr said.

Kerr said she witnessed the struggles her best friend had after being diagnosed at age 35 with breast cancer. In addition to fighting the disease, her friend also faced costs like transportation and insurance co-pays.

Kerr wanted to help. Riding for the Cure was her answer.

“I came up with the idea and it took two years but we finally got it started,” said Kerr, whose husband, Ned, is the group’s vice president.

Riding for the Cure raised $6,500 in its first year, she said. “And it rained,” Kerr said. “It’s rained almost every single year.”

This year, Kerr said the forecast is for sunny weather.

Honoring the fighters

Riding for the Cure T-shirts this year will include the names of cancer survivors Lisa Fox, Cindy Rowe, Betsy Madliger and Gretchen Ehlman and those in memory of Shirley Bruner and Linda Ciochetto. Honorees are nominated by family members and friends and selected by the board.

They have inspiring stories of hope and strength, like that of Cindy Rowe who is 2-years cancer free and was nominated by her daughter. “Cindy Rowe is amazing. She got cancer and said ‘It is what it is,’” Kerr said. “She’s rocking it.”

It is often a moving and emotional moment at the end of the annual ride, when the survivors or their family members are presented with a gift from the group, said Cheryl Schaefer, coordinator of the Butler Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancer Support Group.

“The fleece-tied blanket is a token of our gratefulness that they are a survivor and they have let us honor them,” Schaefer said.

The Butler Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancer Support Group benefits from the charity drive. “They have been absolutely amazing to donate the money and to allow me to help, as many cancer patients as I have been able to,” Schaefer said.

The Butler Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancer Support Group meets the first Tuesday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first floor of the Crossroads Campus Building, 129 Oneida Valley Road. Schaefer said the group has women and men members.

Among the Riding for the Cure’s donations in 2017 were $30,000 to Butler Health System and $14,000 to the Richard Laube Cancer Center in Kittanning.

The funds raised by the group directly benefit local cancer patients, Kerr said. Items paid for include breast cancer screening, education, assisting under-insured individuals with treatment and medication, transportation to and from appointments and free hair halos and wigs. The group also donated a radiation blanket warmer to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at the Benbrook Medical Center. For more information, visit Riding for the Cure’s Facebook page.