Riders Ready To Roll In Ride Across Maryland Breast Cancer Fundraiser
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Eleven years, more than $2 million raised for the fight against breast cancer. Some impressive numbers for Dick Gelfman's Ride Across Maryland.
Ron Matz reports the annual motorcycle ride is just around the corner and hundreds of riders are ready to roll.
On the road to Ocean City, it's almost time for Dick Gelfman's Ride Across Maryland, raising big bucks to help fight breast cancer.
"It gets bigger and better every year. It's amazing. We start with hoping we're going to take in a few thousand bucks, and now we stand at well over $2 million. The $2 million has gone to really great causes. A lot of good programs out there that help families, because it's not just the woman who deals with it, but the entire family who deals with breast cancer," Gelfman said.
Leading fund raisers can win a special grand prize.
"People win prizes by raising money," Gelfman said. "The more money you raise, the more chances you have to win. The grand prize we're doing this year is an all-expense paid trip to the American Southwest where they will pick up a rented motorcycle, and they will tour the national parks for seven days. We fly them out, all expenses paid, meals, hotels and motorcycle."
They also award grants.
"We look for organizations out in the community, many of them small or medium-sized organizations that do a lot of hands-on kinds of things. For example, we have organizations that apply to us that need money to be able to help elderly women that have breast cancer or young mothers who have breast cancer," Gelfman said.
Last year, 1,400 riders made the trip to Ocean City.
"When you get to Ocean City, it's a great party. You get to interact with all the people. There's music, food and games. People just enjoy themselves. It's a very comfortable atmosphere. Everybody's there for the same purpose: helping to raise money to fight breast cancer," said David Greenberg, Ride Across Maryland board member.
The Daniels family is always there.
"We're always involved. We've been part of the Gelfman ride almost as long as they've been running it. It's a great event and a lot of people look forward to it every year," said Barb Daniels, Daniels Restaurant
"Bikers love their motorcycles, but they love spending time raising money for charitable organizations. That's what bikers do. They love doing it for a cause. It's not just putting 40 miles on riding somewhere. It's who can we help? And I like people who think that way because they're not just thinking of themselves. They're thinking of the greater good," Gelfman said.
Dick Gelfman's Ride Across Maryland is the weekend of June 2.
"We ended up with 1,400 riders last year," Gelfman said. "They come from all over. Most obviously are from Maryland, but we have folks coming down from Delaware and Pennsylvania, and we had two or three people who had ridden from Texas."
WJZ is a proud sponsor of the ride as part of our Continuing Community Commitment. For more information, just click here.
