Ride History

The Ride for Kids® is a motorcyclist's program that is helping find the cause and cure of pediatric brain tumors. It also serves as a educational support program for patients, their families, and the medical community.

Mike and Dianne Traynor started the Ride for Kids® program in Atlanta, Ga., in 1984, when a friend's child was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After watching the tragic deaths of many children, they set out to help find the cause and cure of this childhood killer by soliciting help from their friends in the motorcycling community.

With the support of America's motorcyclists, the program began to raise awareness and funds to pay for research in the nation's leading brain tumor research centers. The success of the first Ride for Kids® event in Atlanta led to the program's expansion to Chicago in 1989. Mike and Dianne soon decided to devote full-time attention to their advocacy and fundraising efforts, and started the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) in 1991.

The PBTF is honored to be the official charity of the Honda Rider's Club of America (HRCA), which has been the presenting sponsor of Ride for Kids® since 1991. Thanks to the significant support of American Honda Motor Company's motorcycle division, Honda dealers and other motorcycle industry companies, the program has raised more than $34 million for pediatric brain tumor research.

This support has helped make PBTF the largest nonprofit source of funding for pediatric brain tumor research outside of the U.S. government. In addition to research grants to medical laboratories, PBTF funds started the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the U.S., a national database of disease and patient information.

Thanks to the efforts of Ride for Kids®, progress is being made in the search for the answer to this terrible affliction. Each year laboratories worldwide take steps toward new and more innovative treatments for young patients. However, until the cause is isolated the prognosis of these children will continue to cast doubt on their recovery, and for those who survive, their resulting quality of life.

But with your help, there is hope. What began in 1984 as one couple's quest to help these children has now become the target of thousands of caring motorcyclists who work diligently to help these children by raising funds to fight this terrible disease. Together we will cure the kids!