The first-ever Motorcycle Ride for Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) is Saturday, June 12, starting at Hitching Post MotorSports in Hopkins, MN. The event was organized by three area families with the hopes of raising $5,000.
Motorcycle ride organizer Dave Viland is grandfather to five-year-old Audrey, who has CdLS. Dave is a vice president of the CdLS Foundation’s board of directors, and all money benefits the Foundation. “Right after we found out about the CdLS Foundation, my wife and I decided that we wanted to be a part of it. When the previous director recognized my background in healthcare and asked me to join the board, I knew that I had to for my daughter and for Audrey,” says Dave.
Dave says he was inspired to start a fundraising event involving a motorcycle ride because he is a biker himself, and he wanted to start a unique event that would bring money to the Foundation. The Watczak and Drach families stepped up to help. Both families have children with the syndrome. “The major resources of revenue for the CdLS Foundation are from donations and fundraising activities. Being a biker myself, I knew motorcyclists do benefit rides all the time, so “why not?” ”
“We want to develop a template for this event for other regions of the country. We hope other bikers will see what we’ve done and want to start a CdLS benefit ride near them. If we can get motorcyclists around the country to get involved, people will be more aware of what CdLS is and want to help as well.”
The motorcycle event begins at 9:30 a.m. with registration and a continental breakfast, followed by the start of the motorcycle ride at 10:30 a.m. There is a mid-point stop and lunch break at 12 p.m. at the Lake Ridge Care and Rehab Center in Buffalo. The ride ends back at Hitching Post Motorsports at 2 p.m., where there will be an awards ceremony, a 50/50 drawing, poker run, and the chance to win prizes.
CdLS Foundation: The Water Cooler 