Joker's Wild Realities Ride :: Realities for Children

Bikers Rally in Old Town Fort Collins and Raise Over $45,000 for Abused Children

Click here to view the 2008 Realities Ride Photo Gallery.

Thousands of bikers gave children a voice that roared at the 2008 Joker's Wild Realities Ride. Pictured are thousands of bikes in Old Town Fort Collins.

Winner of the Quick Throttle
Ride-In Bike Show at the After Ride Celebration at Old Town Square Fort Collins

This Memorial Day Weekend bikers from all over the Front Range came together to help abused and neglected youth at the Realities For Children's 7th Annual Joker's Wild Realities Ride & Poker Run. Sunday, May 25th. Thank you to the support of all of our sponsors, riders and volunteers, the 7th Annual Joker’s Wild Realities Ride raised more than $45,000 for abused and at-risk locally! These resources will help provide the valuable programs of Realities For Children and the emergency funding, creating a safety net and ensuring that the unmet needs of children will be fulfilled; thus, guaranteeing that no child is forgotten!

Always wanting kick the ride up a gear, this year's registration and breakfast took place at Thunder Mountain-Harley Davidson in Loveland (4250 Byrd Drive). The Realities Ride commenced with a 100 mile scenic tour of Northern Colorado, with free ride shirts to the first 500 pre-registered riders, hot Qdoba breakfast, live music at every stop, no card draw lines to endure, a $1,000 best hand prize, chance to win a $2,000 custom paint job from Linen and Styles Custom Paint and Design, great giveaways and an after ride celebration, sponsored by Budweiser Chelada, that blew away bikers and non-bikers alike.

With over 2,000 bikers, the Realities Ride was larger in size than ever, the ride route was split into a Group A and B. Ride A took a beautiful ride to T-Bar Inn/Beauregard's Grill and Tavern in Wellington. Bikers then journeyed to Sol's Long Branch/Swing Station in Laporte and traveled to the Windjammer Roadhouse at Carter Lake on a breathtaking ride. Enjoying another scenic view, bikers and riders alike 'pre-gamed' it at Daisy Dukes in Loveland and head to Old Town Square Fort Collins for an After Ride Celebration that will blow your mind! Ride B took the exact opposite route. The two routes merged together in Old Town Square Fort Collins mid afternoon for the Realities Ride After Ride Celebration.

Growing to over 3,000 bikers towards the end of the route, this year's Realities After Ride party featured great live music on the all-new Realities Ride downtown stage, with performances by i69 and Something Underground, the Joker's Wild beer garden, streets for bike parking only, Quick Throttle Ride In Bike Show, Thunder Roads' Hot Rod and Vintage Bike Shows. We also held the Colorado ColorFest Tattoo Competition - hosted by Joker's Wild Tattoo. This year the Hilton Fort Collins Best Poker Hand cash prize of $1,000 was split between two lucky winners with a straight flush to the Queen and as always, it was a dream come true for one lucky biker that won the Linen & Styles Custom Paint and Design $2,000 custom paint job!

Thank you to our generous bikers, riders, sponsors, members, volunteers and supporters. You have all helped to make a difference in the life of a child. Again, we thank you for your support of the Joker’s Wild Realities Ride and our community’s youth in need.

For a complete listing of the 2008 Realities Ride photos, please visit the 2008 photo gallery, courtesy of Harper Point Photography * www.HarperPoint.com. You may also visit http://yourphotos.digitaleventsonline.com/gallery to view additional Realities Ride photos, courtesy of Creative Exposures. We look forward to riding together to help even more youth in need in the future at next year’s ride, scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2009!