By Pam Johnson, Courier Senior Staff Writer:
On June 29, rumbling bikes bearing more than 200 good
Samaritans are expected to roll into Guilford
in an effort to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
The second annual “Ride for the Roses” Motorcycle Poker
Run is set to send participants on a scenic shoreline ride beginning at the
Knights of Columbus Hall and looping past points in Old Saybrook, Higganum, Middletown, and
Middlefield. Bikers will then re-group in Guilford
to celebrate what organizer Trisha Braumann hopes will be another very
successful CF Foundation fundraiser.
The Guilford resident and her family founded Ride for the
Roses in 2007 shortly after learning the devastating disease was affecting
Guilford youngster Tiffani DiNicola, a Braumann family friend.
“When we found out about Tiffani having CF, we wanted to
do something,” explains Trisha.
Trisha realized the motorcycle excursions she enjoyed with
her husband, Bob, at the helm, could be the answer.
“We go for a lot of rides for charities…it’s like
combining two loves. You see the same faces at different rides. I think it’s
because you feel you’re part of something, and like you’re doing something good
at the same time,” she says.
Trisha, a merchandise marketing manager, decided she’d be
able to put on a similar event to benefit CF. With just two months to organize;
she managed to draw some 200 participants to the first Ride for the Roses.
Trisha recalls standing outside with her family and the
DiNicolas early on the morning of last year’s event, waiting to see who’d turn
out.
“It was an overcast day, and the parking lot we were in
last year really didn’t let us see the road. All of the sudden, you could hear
the motorcycles coming…we got chills. It was amazing.”
The DiNicolas and Tiffani, now a Guilford sixth-grader, will be at the June 29
event to help support Trisha’s efforts. This year, with months to plan and a
dedicated team behind her, Trisha guarantees the Ride for the Roses will be
“bigger and better.”
“I’ve gotten better at it. We’ve been handing out flyers
at every [biker fundraising] event and we have a website. The local businesses
have been very supportive. They’ve donated food, door prizes,
entertainment…hopefully people will support the businesses who’ve supported us.
Without them, we wouldn’t be able to raise thousands of dollars for CF.”
Also supporting the cause is the rest of the Braumann
family, including husband Bob and the couple’s four children. Oldest daughter
Kristen Popolizio, a talented graphic artist, helps out with the website and
has collaborated with Trisha to design fundraising T-shirts. Daughter Alexis
Braumann, 13, gathered with friends to participate in recent “Tip-a-Tween”
restaurant fundraisers at Whitfield’s and Anthony’s in Guilford and Dockside in
Branford. They raised more than $12,000 to benefit CF Foundation.
Sons Austin, 15, and Aiden, 10, are also part of the
family’s CF fundraising efforts and will again help out during Ride for the
Roses, adds Trisha.
“It’s a family affair. They all consider themselves a part
of it, and I have to say I’m proud of my kids. They do a good job, and they’ve
gotten their friends to participate. I’m proud of the whole group of kids that
have come out to help. It’s a good way for them to start out.”
Trisha’s own conviction that people should help one
another led to putting her considerable energy toward another organization,
Ahava Kids. Locally, Ahava Kids seeks to build an emergency shelter for
Connecticut victims of child trafficking. Trisha said the group made a deep
impact on her after she met its founder through a mutual friend.
“These kids are victims, not criminals. They need some
place to be safe, a place where they can be assessed emotionally and medically.
Ahava Kids has only 45 beds in the whole U.S. There’s an extreme need in the
state of Connecticut. That’s why we’re trying to build a safe house here.”
Trisha’s obvious enthusiasm and determination leaves
little room for doubt Ahava Kids will succeed, much in the same way she’s
brought success to Ride for the Roses. This year, Trisha hopes the June 29
event will draw upwards of 250 riders, who’ll collect a poker card at stops in
each town, then return to Guilford to see who has the winning hand. A barbecue
will follow, including the chance to win door prizes and enter a raffle to win
a donated car; a replica Cobra.
Trisha has intentionally kept ticket prices very
reasonable for “Ride for the Roses”–riders pay $25; passengers $15.
“My goal is not just to raise money, but to raise
awareness. I want to make a group of people aware, so that if they see
something for CF in the future, they may be more apt to participate. My
five-year plan is to have 700 bikes. Hopefully, by then they will have a cure,
and it will be a victory ride.”
Day-of registration is welcome or visit
www.ridefortherosesct.com to pre-register. Ride for the Roses Motorcycle Poker
Run 2008 takes place rain or shine; June 29, Knights of Columbus Hall, 390
South Union St. To learn more about Ahava Kids, visit www.ahavakids.org.