Motorcycle riders across Cayuga County will fire up their engines for the Red Cross, traveling 80 miles through the county for disaster relief in the annual tour called “Ride for the Red.”
The Ride for the Red, hosted by the Cayuga County chapter of the American Red Cross, featuring the “SummerFest at the Nest” and a live band afterward, is about more than raising money for the Red Cross, it is about helping out friends and neighbors in Cayuga County. According to Susan Marteney, executive director for Cayuga County Red Cross, one of the requirements for any Red Cross chapter is that they respond to any local disaster, which in Cayuga County, typically means single family home fires.
Within a half-hour of such emergencies, disaster action team members arrive at the site offering emergency accommodation at a local hotel, replacement of clothing, food or restaurant meal vouchers and comfort kits that include toothpaste, brushes, hairbrushes and more to provide comfort to a family that has suffered a loss.
The 80-mile tour begins at NYSEG, on Routes 5 and 20 West, near the Fingerlakes Mall. Starting with the noise of more than 100 motorcycle engines kicking into gear, the tour follows a southern route through the county at noon, stopping along the way for rest and refreshments.
The party continues at the Polish Falcons Nest with a chicken barbecue and live music by local band, The Peace Recovery Search Party, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and will go on rain or shine inside the club.
Riders' costs include the dinner, a drink coozie, a musical collection CD designed for a great motorcycle ride and an American flag Red Cross pin.
All proceeds from the event benefit the disaster services of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross, including those that come from raffles of massages, dinners, oil changes and more.
The idea for Ride for the Red was discovered by Christopher Molloy, director of emergency services.
According to Marteney, any non-profit has to come up with a good hook for a new fundraising event.
Instead of re-inventing the wheel, Molloy researched a site for the Red Cross professionals called CrossNet and found a chapter in Ohio that had held Ride for the Red for three years.
A versatile fundraiser, some chapters do motorcycle tours and some do bicycle tours.
“It's pretty fun, I think. Last year we had about 127 registered bikes and some of them had passengers #- If you want to hear something amazing - it's when they all leave from out at NYSESG,” Marteney said.
Judy Schroeder, regional director for NYSEG and a member of the board of directors for Cayuga County Red Cross, a Harley Davidson fan according to Marteney, is working to bring in even more riders this year.
“They're a great group of people. A lot of the motorcycle riders do rides for nonprofit agencies all over central New York,” Marteney said.
If you go
What: Ride for Red, the 80-mile Red Cross motorcycle tour
When: Register at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, party at Polish Falcons 2:30 to 5 p.m.; preregister by
e-mailing chapter@ccredcross.org
Where: Begins at NYSEG, Routes 5 and 20 West; ends at Polish Falcons Club, Pulaski Street
Cost: $25 for driver, $20 for
passengers
For details: Call the chapter at
252-9596 or visit http://unitedwayofcayugacounty.org/redcross
Within a half-hour of such emergencies, disaster action team members arrive at the site offering emergency accommodation at a local hotel, replacement of clothing, food or restaurant meal vouchers and comfort kits that include toothpaste, brushes, hairbrushes and more to provide comfort to a family that has suffered a loss.
The 80-mile tour begins at NYSEG, on Routes 5 and 20 West, near the Fingerlakes Mall. Starting with the noise of more than 100 motorcycle engines kicking into gear, the tour follows a southern route through the county at noon, stopping along the way for rest and refreshments.
The party continues at the Polish Falcons Nest with a chicken barbecue and live music by local band, The Peace Recovery Search Party, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and will go on rain or shine inside the club.
Riders' costs include the dinner, a drink coozie, a musical collection CD designed for a great motorcycle ride and an American flag Red Cross pin.
All proceeds from the event benefit the disaster services of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross, including those that come from raffles of massages, dinners, oil changes and more.
The idea for Ride for the Red was discovered by Christopher Molloy, director of emergency services.
According to Marteney, any non-profit has to come up with a good hook for a new fundraising event.
Instead of re-inventing the wheel, Molloy researched a site for the Red Cross professionals called CrossNet and found a chapter in Ohio that had held Ride for the Red for three years.
A versatile fundraiser, some chapters do motorcycle tours and some do bicycle tours.
“It's pretty fun, I think. Last year we had about 127 registered bikes and some of them had passengers #- If you want to hear something amazing - it's when they all leave from out at NYSESG,” Marteney said.
Judy Schroeder, regional director for NYSEG and a member of the board of directors for Cayuga County Red Cross, a Harley Davidson fan according to Marteney, is working to bring in even more riders this year.
“They're a great group of people. A lot of the motorcycle riders do rides for nonprofit agencies all over central New York,” Marteney said.
If you go
What: Ride for Red, the 80-mile Red Cross motorcycle tour
When: Register at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, party at Polish Falcons 2:30 to 5 p.m.; preregister by
e-mailing chapter@ccredcross.org
Where: Begins at NYSEG, Routes 5 and 20 West; ends at Polish Falcons Club, Pulaski Street
Cost: $25 for driver, $20 for
passengers
For details: Call the chapter at
252-9596 or visit http://unitedwayofcayugacounty.org/redcross
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 1 comment(s)
Joyce wrote on Aug 16, 2006 9:16 PM: