Thank You B.A.D. Riders and Donors!

We hope that you’ve been enjoying the open roads this summer... although this has been the rainiest season on record, the warmer temperatures and the gorgeous greenery have been too tempting to resist.  Rainsuits and all, this is riding season!  The B.A.D. Ride organizing team took a well-deserved break too.  We’ve finally gotten back to work.  The pictures are up; the numbers are tallied and we’re starting to plan for B.A.D. Ride XII on May 31, 2009.

The day of B.A.D. Ride XI could not have been more perfect!   Under sunny skies, 1320 riders converged on the AMC Theatre Complex on the morning of Sunday, May 25th, 2008.  It was truly a sight to behold:  the steady stream of motorcycles snaking through the parking lot guaranteed it would be a great bikers’ party....and it was!  Our celebrity guests, John Derringer of Q107, Susan Hay of Global TV and Darcy Tucker formerly of the Toronto Maple Leafs greeted riders and thanked them for their participation.  The haunting sound of bagpipes played by the Scottish Regiment in honour of our soldiers serving overseas marked the start of the scenic ride through the Halton Hills and up the Escarpment.  And, what a ride it was!  Happy riders arriving at the Hamilton International Airport to park their bikes as they made their way into the Canadian Heritage Warplane Museum had high praises for the diversity and beauty of the roads.  The midway comfort stop at the venerable Mohawk Inn was so inviting with the presence of the Neal Brothers snack tent that participants found it hard to leave... so many people and bikes to see.

For those who were interested in heritage planes, the end venue had some fascinating exhibits.  Everyone found something to see or do once they had enjoyed the terrific barbecue lunch: precision riding demonstration, manufacturer booths, silent auction, Chinese auction and the B.A.D. Ride booth.  But, nothing beat the allure of those machines outdoors waiting to be admired during the “walkthrough parade” of contented riders.  An afternoon spent with friends, fellow motorcycle enthusiasts.

The draw for our show-stopping door prize, the anniversary Harley-Davidson Sportster, was the afternoon highlight.  The winner this year was Chris Chase who was there with his son.  Not only was this Chris’s first B.A.D. Ride, but it was his first ride ever. Talk about beginner’s luck! Next year, Chris says it will be a family affair.  His wife Michelle promised that if he won the bike, she would get her license too and join in, along with their daughter.  We’ll hold them all to it.

B.A.D. Ride XI raised more than $200,000...all of it going towards saving lives!  We are truly grateful to all of our participants.  Each and every contributed dollar will be put to good use in ensuring that Distress Centres continues to provide a 24/7 emotional safety net for those in need.  Thank you!  We would also like to acknowledge the tremendous fundraising efforts of our top money-earners:  Mark Ludwig (top!), Charlene Guzzo (second), Adam Fillier (third) and Joseph Capobianco (fourth).  Our apologies to Adam; in the excitement of the moment, his outstanding fundraising contribution got overlooked.  We are grateful to him and to all the others for making such a difference.

We hope that you will take the time to check out our website to see the full list of sponsors who made this year’s ride possible.  There are many returning sponsors as well as some new ones.   Each and every one of them deserves our patronage.  It is because of their high level of commitment that we can continue to deliver on our pledge that 100% of the money raised by riders goes directly to support the services of Distress Centres.

When the B.A.D. Ride began eleven years ago, the first year’s monies went towards the purchase of a new telecommunications system for Distress Centres.  In 2008, the agency finally replaced its outdated technology with a new telephone system with increased capacity that can ramp up in times of emergencies and that has improved access...more than 120,000 calls anticipated this year alone. Your donations have helped to create those lines that are reaching out to those in need.  The roar of those engines this past May 25th will ensure that their voices will be heard in the days and months ahead.  Sweet music to our ears!

Special thanks as well to the Brampton Motorcycle Club who had the parking responsibility at three venues this year.  Coordinating the movement of that many bikes that many times over a single day is no easy task.  Their team did a stellar job, making it look easy, and, with smiles on their faces.

We hope that you enjoy the rest of the summer.  We’ll be back on May 31st, 2009!

Safe Riding,

The B.A.D. Ride Organizing Committee and Distress Centres

p.s. The B.A.D. Ride Committee is always looking for your input.  Please feel free to send your comments to Karen@torontodistresscentre.com.  We would also welcome the participation of new members as part of our B.A.D. team.  If you would like to volunteer to help with the production of this fun event, please contact the same email or call 416-595-1716.  You make this ride happen.

B.A.D. Ride XII  · Sunday May 31, 2009  ·  www.thebadride.com