UPDATE (7/24) - Well, the ride was this past Sunday and WE DID IT!  We met our goal and exceeded it by $10!  :)  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US OUT!!  If you would still like to donate, this site will continue to collect donations until September 22.  I will be starting a new site for next year's ride, so keep an eye out for the emails providing direction on where to go.  We are starting early this year and plan on blowing away the numbers in 2009!

Thank you again everyone!!

UPDATE (7/15) - While we have been doing a great job at fundraising online, there have been a notable number of people who have supported us with off-line donations.  We thank everyone for their donations!  I wanted to mention some of those who have donated offline:

Michael Reschke - $1000, Megan VerPlancke - $100, Wendy Hall, $50, Salon 220 - $50, Carolyn Rechel - $25, The Calominos - $25, Bonnie Baird - $75...

UPDATE (7/14) - Yesterday was a special day...we finally met Rosie and her family in person!!  While we hadn't met in person prior to yesterday, it really felt as if we had known her and her family for a long time.  Mike brought our Harley so we could show Rosie the purple Harley we will be riding on, and we gave Rosie and Bella each a Harley shirt..if you are going to ride, you must ride Harley!!  :)  We met at a Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF) carnival Rosie's cousin had for her in her back yard.  I was so impressed by this group of teenagers!  I was so proud that we still have kids today that will come together, to help support a wonderful family, and this important cause.  They actually raised $2000! - the Moffa boys were definite contributors by playing numerous games and with their never ending visits to the bouncy thing (my official terminology).  With less than a week to go, we are getting closer to our goal!  As JoAnne said in her email, let's help find a cure so we do not add any more names to those children we are riding in "memory of"!! Once again, thank you to those who have already donated and to those who are about to!!  - April

UPDATE (7/9) -  Because of those crazy Bookwood pets, we made it to the 1/2 way mark!  Thank you Bookwoods!  I cannot believe the progress we have made so far.  I have said it before, but I am amazed at people's generosity!  Thank you everyone for your support! --- April

UPDATE (7/2):  Well, we reached our goal yesterday - thank you Ken Bookwood!!  After reaching out to JoAnne, Rosie's mom, we both agreed that we are reaching high...really high and upping our goal to $10K.  While I was a little apprehensive, JoAnne's upbeat and can-do attitude really made me believe we could do this...together!  So, the goal is being increased and your assistance is needed more than ever.  Thank you again to those that have donated and those that are about to!  One final note, I wanted to also personally thank my best friend, Donna Bookwood, who is joining me in my battle to raise money.  Donna has been an integral part in reaching this goal...Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  --- April

UPDATE (7/1):  With the recent passing of Rosie's dear friend Caitlyn (6/27), we are more determined than ever to raise more money to help find a cure.  Rosie will be riding with her big sister, Bella, as well as Rosie's mom, JoAnne (Dad will be cheering from the sidelines!). 

So, Mike and I, along with The Colucci's will be "Riding for Rosie"; for 6-year-old Caitlyn Churak, who on Friday, June 27th, was called home by God, a special little Angel.  She fought long and hard since being diagnosed on May 22nd 2007 with an inoperable brain tumor called a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG): in memory of their friend 7-year-old Stephanie Carr, who earned her angel wings on Monday, February 18, 2008 (from the same kind of tumor as Rosie); and in memory of 6-year-old Ryan Lamantia, whom the Colucci’s unfortunately, never had the honor of meeting. His Mom has reached out to Rosie’s mom with support. Ryan entered heaven's gates on September 8, 2005. 

Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

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Each year, Mike and I try and participate in an amazing motorcycle fundraising ride, the Ride for Kids, that raises money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.  I am proud to say that we have been able to participate in, and donate proceeds to 4 of the last 6 rides.  This year will be a little bit different for us...this year we are riding for a special little girl, Rosie Colucci.  Rosie is a three-year-old girl who suffers from Neurofibromatosis (or NF1), a devastating disorder that caused her to develop an inoperable brain tumor and a condition known as Hydrocephalus.  She is currently receiving chemotherapy and care at Children's Memorial Hospital. 

To give you all a little background, Rosie is actually the neighbor of one of my son, Nicholas', friends from school.  I have received many emails from Rosie's mom, JoAnne, about fundraisers she was conducting to raise money for Rosie's cause.  One night as I was reading about JoAnn's fundraising for Rosie, I thought about our previous fundraising rides and thought, let's ride for Rosie this year!!  I reached out to JoAnne and am exicted to say that Rosie will be joining in on the fun as one of the ride's "stars", having fun in a sidecar.  As I read updates about Rosie and just what an amazing little girl she is, I am inspired to raise as much money as I can and have it donated in her name.  I am hoping that this could be the year that they make even more break-throughs that could one day help Rosie.

Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone you know who could help in this cause and donate something...every little bit helps.  We know it does just by the number of kids we have seen over the years get up and speak after the ride.  Some of these kids are on their way to college, it is amazing!

If you would like to learn more about Rosie and her condition, please visit her website www.ResearchforRosie.com or you can log on to www.ctf.org and learn more about Neurofibromatosis.

Thank you in advance for helping out this wonderful organization!

April and Mike