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On this weekend, Christina and I joined some friends in Indianapolis in attending the 14th Annual Children's Miracle Ride for Riley Hospitals. This was our first time there, and it was an aw-inspiring experience. I felt the need to share some of these photos, because it gives you a great sense of decency for the Patrons of Indiana!
Over 10,000 riders took part in this weekends events, which is sponsored and put on by Bob & Tom, of the Bob and Tom show, who put over $200,000 of their own money into making this event possible. Also, many companies throughout Indiana helped with cash or prize donations, including vacation trips, and motorcycles. Saturday started off with a Poker Run, with various starting points throughout Indiana, but all ending at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We started our run in Bloomington. You sign up for $50 and are given a card, which you get stamped, at different stations on your ride. Then you end at the Speedway where you draw poker cards to attempt to get the highest hand for prizes. We, of course did not win anything. Sunday was the Miracle Ride Cruise, where all the riders who participated meet up and ride in two lines side-by-side in front of Riley Hospital, where the kids who were able came outside to watch and wave. We were in the second parking lot, the first one was completely full. Once the ride started, which was started by 5 children from the hospital yelling "Riders! Start your engines!" you heard this loud rumble of mostly Harley-Davidsons starting and revving their engines. The first parking lot was the first to go, for 45 minutes all you could see nothing but heard what sounded like thunder as the bikes left the parking lot one by one. It was then we could see that parking lot one was empty, and they started letting us in parking lot two go. But it was almost another half an hour before we even moved. This cruise was very emotional, before even arriving in front of the hospital I began to tear up. As you rounded the corner in front of the hospital, you saw the kids on the sidewalk and the front steps. Some of them were in wheelchairs, some in wagons, some with IV's connected to them, and some still in their beds, all smiling and waving at you. You couldn't help but cry. To put the emotion you feel at this moment into words, is impossible. Each couple we went with had some sort of ties to the hospital. My friend Todd's brother spent much of the first years of his life there. Our friend Jessie spent time there as a teen. And I've been there, visiting my cousin 15 years ago, who was born 3 months early with complications. It almost seems pointless to point out the end of the cruise was riding a lap around the Indy 500 track. Then everyone met up at the parking lot across from the speedway, where lunch was served, presentations were given, and prizes were awarded. Of course, we didn't win anything. But that wasn't the point. The point was for the children, a couple of whom who attended the ending ceremony, thanking everyone for their time and donations. Cheers and clapping was heard as they announced the current count at 2:30 yesterday afternoon was over $355,000 of donations from riders alone. This weekend was a very moving experience, to see the patronage of so many people gather to help children. We plan on buying Riley Hospital license plates for our motorcycles this year, which includes a $25 donation for the hospital itself. |
