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| Delany Garcia and Rick Tilton perform the National Anthem before the Realities Riders took off on a 100 mile stretch. |
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| One youngster at the Realities Ride had her photo taken with President Craig Secher, of Realities For Children. |
Realities Riders Rode and Rallied With the Big Dog Against Child Abuse Memorial Day Weekend
The Ride
Thousands braved the ominous clouds and came out Memorial Day Weekend to Ride and Rally with the Big Dog in the fight against child abused at Realities For Children’s 8th Annual Realities Ride, Pre-Ride Rally and Poker Run. Over $55,000 was raised for the Realities For Children's Emergency Fund, serving abused and neglected youth.
Hundreds stopped by the Pre-Ride Rally in Old Town Fort Collins to register to win the 42" myHDTV - where Steven Sands proved the big winner. Attendees visited the vendors and listen to live music on the Downtown Stage. Over 2,300 geared up for the Realities on Sunday, the 24th, for a 100 mile tour of Northern Colorado. With riders coming from as far as California, the ride began with registration, hot Qdoba Mexican Grill breakfast, steaming Full Throttle Coffee, Budweiser Chelada taster samples and Vemma VERVE! energy drink at Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson. Before taking off, the National Anthem was sung by youth performer, Delany Garcia and Mr. Rick Tilton and the presentation of the Colors by the Larimer County Explorer Guard.
Riders took off on a parade route formation, while a helicopter flew over head and a film crew captured the site of thousands of bikers riding for children in need. The route then divided into group A and B and continued on into five cities on a 100 mile tour of Northern Colorado including ride stops, where in a Texas Hold 'em format, one common card was revealed at: T-Bar Inn/Beauregard’s Grill and Tavern in Wellington, Sol’s Long Branch/Swing Station in LaPorte, Windjammer Road House at Carter Lake and Fickel Park in Berthoud (sponsored by the Berthoud Recorder). Bikers jammed out to live music at every stop, safety was ensured thanks to HOG Chapter 411 ride and sweep leaders on route and police manned intersections and there was plenty of great camaraderie throughout the day. After a day of riding, it was time for the kick-off to the Budweiser Chelada’s After Ride Celebration in Old Town Square Fort Collins.
The After Ride Celebration
Bikers arrived in Old Town Fort Collins to find Walnut Street and Mountain Streets designated bike parking only. And to the crowds’ surprise, Pine Street blocked off for the landing of the helicopter! After making their way past thousands of motorcycles, bikers hit the Square and Linden Street, where the smell of rubber filled the air from Full Throttle’s Burnout Pit, crowds gathered round Suicidal Lifestyles Motorcycle Stunt Team’s performance – presented by VERVE!, people danced to live music on the Downtown stage - where Charley Barnes of 94.3 MAX FM and Doc of 107.9 The Bear shared the stage with the lovely ladies of Hooters, giving out thousands of dollars in prizes, concert tickets giveaways and much more. Bikers browsed vendors, enjoyed prize giveaways, a silent auction and hung out in Budweiser Chelada's Joker’s Beer Garden, and at the end of the day, the crowd grew to more than 4,000 attendees!
Bikers opted for premium parking and rode in their scoots at the Quick Throttle Ride-In Bike Show while others trailored in their rides at the Thunder Roads Hot Rod and Vintage Bike Show. Attendees showed off their ink work at the Colorado ColorFest Tattoo Competition and the “Daisies” entertained the crowed in the first ever Hooters versus Daisy Dukes Fundraising Contest. The competition was stiff, but at the end of the day, the Hooters’ Girls took home the coventted trophy – raising just over $500 and Daisy Dukes over $400.
Award Winners:
This year the Hilton's Best Poker Hand cash prize of $1,000 was awarded to local real estate broker and HOG Chapter 411 Member, Roberto Ortiz, who donated the entire $1,000 back to the Realities For Children Emergency Fund! John Kretz, a loyal Realities Rider and friend of Realities For Children, won the $3,500 Linen & Styles Custom Paint and Design paint job! Steve Sands will hold all the parties at his casa on his new 42” myHDTV flat screen television, and several individuals took home honors from the Quick Throttle Ride-In Bike Show and Thunder Roads Vintage Bike Shows.
Thank you to the support of all of our sponsors, riders and volunteers, the 8th Annual Realities Ride and Pre-Ride Rally. Proceeds will benefit the Realities For Children Emergency Fund. These resources will help provide the valuable programs of Realities For Children and the emergency funding to ensure that the unmet needs of children will be fulfilled; thus, guaranteeing that no child is forgotten!
2009 event photos will soon be added to the photo gallery, so please continue to visit our site. For more information about the event, please visit www.RealitiesRide.com or call 970.484.9090
Realities For Children is a cause marketing and promotional company, dedicated to serving the needs of abused and neglected children in Larimer County. Through an alliance of local business members, working together to serve the needs of at-risk youth, this Colorado non-profit organization is designed to generate funding for abused and neglected children through community awareness and education, fundraising sponsorship, special youth opportunities and emergency funding and support.
All registration fees support the work of Realities For Children, and all donations from the Realities Ride & Pre-Ride Rally benefitted the Realities For Children Emergency Fund, which provides resources for abused, neglected and at-risk youth in Larimer County - when all others have been exhausted.
Ride through this site to learn more.
No matter what you ride, how long you’ve been riding or where you come from
with your help we can make the ‘Big Dog’ in the fight against child abuse even
bigger and protect those who need our help most!
"The Realities For Chidren Emergency Fund is one of our greatest resources. This fund is available and reliable in a crisis situation."
- Allison Hade, Alternatives to Violence
"Realities For Chidren provides a safety-net, opportunities and loving support for the children in our community. Their commitment changes lives, our community and our world."
- Kathryn Higgins, Motherlove Herbal Company
One of my foster children has been the lucky recipient of monies from Realities For Children -- we desperately needed funding for her that wasn't provided by the county or any other organization. When Realities For Children was approached, the response was immediate and monies were available for our foster daughter within days. I can't say enough good things about this organization and the work it does to help abused, neglected, and at-risk youth."
- Sally McComb, Foster Mother and Writer for the Denver Foster Parenting Examiner
The Realities For Children Emergency Fund is a component fund of the
Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
