Our Mission The Ride for Kids® is the motorcycling community's way of showing how much they care. Our mission is in support of the efforts of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States, a non-profit charitable 501(c)(3) foundation that seeks to: find the cause and cure of childhood brain tumors through the support of medical research increase public awareness about the severity and prevalence of childhood brain tumors aid in early detection and treatment of childhood brain tumors support a national database on all primary brain tumors provide hope and emotional support for the thousands of children and families affected by this life threatening disease.

Programs funded by the Ride for Kids® include: National Research Grants Program National Family Support Programs National Brain Tumor Database Neuro-Oncology Journal National and International Brain Tumor Conferences The Campaign for the Brain Our National Newsletter How Ride for Kids funding is distributed

Our Programs

National Research Grants Program
The PBTFUS created and administers a National Research Grants Program funding basic, clinical and translational research projects as well as clinical fellowships to develop new and improved therapies for children with brain tumors.

"The Foundation's work is extremely important and likely to result in the improvement of treatments and ultimately prevention of childhood brain tumors."
Darell D. Bigner, MD, PhD
Duke University Medical

National Family Support Program
The PBTFUS created and administers the National Family Support Program providing information, resources, hope and healing to the pediatric patients and their families in a safe, accepting and compassionate environment. The National Family Support Program offers:

• National Family Support Program Coordinator
  A NFS Program Coordinator is on staff and accessible to patient families, the medical community and the general public via the toll-free helpline, (800) 253-6530.
  
  
• Resource and Educational Materials
  Resource and educational materials published by the PBTFUS are made available at no cost to patient families, the medical community and social services specialists.
  
  
• PBTFUS Internet Conferences
  A free series of Internet Conferences for Pediatric brain tumor patient familes, the Medical and Social Worker Communities and the general public.

• Scholarship Program
  A Scholarship Program for individuals who have been diagnosed with a childhood brain tumor, who is pursuing higher education.

"The Foundation goes far beyond just helping the children. You help to heal the entire family with your efforts."

Jeff Munn, parent

National Brain Tumor Database
The PBTFUS provides grant funding to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the U.S., the nation's database on pediatric and adult brain tumors, so that they may provide statistical data on brain tumors to the neuroscience community and the patient population.

Neuro-Oncology Journal
The PBTFUS provides grant funding to the Society for Neuro-Oncology to establish and maintain an international journal, Neuro-Oncology, focusing exclusively on the disease of brain tumors and fast forwarding the delivery of the latest research data to brain tumor researchers.

National and International Brain Tumor Conferences
The PBTFUS offers educational grants to national and international brain tumor conferences in an effort to promote the development of the field of neuro-oncology.

Campaign for the Brain
The PBTFUS encourages volunteers to conduct local educational events to raise public awareness of the need to support funding for pediatric brain tumor research.

"In our old life, as we like to refer to it, we used to give thanks for two healthy children. Now, we give thanks for all the men and women who in a myriad of ways contribute to the promise of a future without pediatric brain tumors and their devastating effect on young lives."
Paula and Hugh Murphy,Parents

National Newsletter
The Helping Hand, a quarterly newsletter, reports to patients, families, the medical community and the general public on the progress of the Foundation's work, research advances, and services available to patients and their families. The Helping Hand also conveys stories of hope and healing to provide encouragement and support to patients and their families.

Distribution of Funds
Contributions to the PBTFUS are used to fund the programs and support services of the Foundation. The programs and support services jointly assist in the search for the cause and cure of childhood brain tumors. Based upon the latest annual audit report of the PBTFUS, 86% of funds are used to support the programs of the PBTFUS and 14% of funds are used for support services necessary to implement the programs of the PBTFUS.

"Thank you so much for raising money for us kids. I know what it goes to and today I am a healthy child because of your efforts."
Julia Travis, Brain Tumor Survivor

Grant Recipients
The PBTFUS has awarded grants to the following brain tumor institutions, organizations and programs in support

• AANS/CNS Section on Tumors
• Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers
• Barrow Neurological Institute
• Baylor University
• Central Brain Tumor Registry of the U.S.
• Children's Research Institute - Children's National Medical Center
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Columbus Children's Hospital Research Center
• Duke University Medical Center
• Emory University School of Medicine
• Harvard Medical School - Dana Farber Cancer Institute
• Henry Ford Health System
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• International Brain Tumor Conference
• International Symposium on Pediatric NeuroOncology
• John Hopkins University Oncology Center
• Los Angeles Children's Hospital Cancer Research
• Ludwig Institute
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Mayo Clinic Cancer Research
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• New York University Cancer Center
• Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinical Trials Consortium
• Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Health Center
• Scripps Research Institute
• Society of Neuro-Oncology
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of California Brain Tumor Research Center San Francisco
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado Health Sciences
• University of Iowa Cancer Research Center
• University of Michigan Medical Center
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Texas - Dallas
• University of Utah
• University of Virginia
• University of Washington Cancer Center
• Women's and Children's Hospital - Northwestern University
  

Funds to support these research grants come from our national programs including the Ride for Kids®, the Ride for Kids® By Kids and additional local fundraising events. For more information on how you can participate in one of our national programs call (800) 253-6530 or e-mail PBTFUS@pbtfus.org.