 Onalaska, WI, June 9, 2008
The time is here to start thinking of the 6th Annual Thunder Ride to Cure Diabetes on Saturday July 26th. Actually, Founder of the ride John Haverty and ride Coordinator Barb Stowasser have been working on the planning the event since the end of the 2007 ride. Coupled with the “Coulee Region Chef’s For A Cure”
gourmet dining event held at Piggy’s in March, planning has become a year-round function for the two.
As in past years, the event consists of a 100-plus mile motorcycle ride with planned stops along the way. The ride starts at La Crosse Area Harley-Davidson, led off by Haverty with his 11-year-old son Joey who is the reason the Thunder Ride exists. The ride will end at the South Side Oktoberfest grounds in La Crosse. Free smoked beef brisket sandwiches and accompaniments will be available for all registered riders. The first 600 registrants will receive a free t-shirt, ride pin and a chance to win a 2008 Harley-Davidson. Also at the fest grounds will be raffle items and a live auction for great products and services. New this year, the band Flashback will be playing from 3-7pm.
Also new this year is the mission-vision of the Thunder Ride. After numerous comments by participants and sponsors of the event, the Thunder Ride Diabetes Foundation Inc. was created to give 90% of all available money from the Thunder Ride to Franciscan Skemp Healthcare and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center to care for children in the Coulee Region who have a need for financial assistance in managing their diabetes. Types of assistance may include helping with insurance co-pays, insulin pumps, testing supplies, transportation to Doctor visits or a number of other reasons. The money will be distributed by the Foundation of each healthcare facility. The remaining 10% of the money will be sent to the national office of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with our prayers and wishes for a cure soon.
Taking the ride to a new level, every registered rider will automatically be entered to win a 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster with approximately $3,000 in customization crafted by Doug Wozney of Doug’z Custom Paint and Fabrication. Partnered with the Thunder Ride, La Crosse Area Harley-Davidson, 105.5 The Zoo and Brucie Bumchuckles made the bike a reality and assumed much of the risk for the venture, which looks like it will be a huge success in the end. For those who want to win the bike and might not be available to ride in the event, you can always register, get the shirt, pin and the chance to win the bike. All bikes and cars are welcome to participate. Another option is to buy a ticket to win the bike for just $5 or a book of five for $20. Tickets are available at La Crosse Area Harley-Davidson, all Quillin’s Stores, or at the home of 105.5 The Zoo station in Sparta.
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