PETAWAWA - After years of witnessing the benefits of Camp Trillium for his own children, Ray Green is combining his love of motorcycles with the desire to help send kids to camp.

The Petawawa resident, along with his friend Ian Hamilton, are organizing the fourth annual Ride for Camp Trillium which sets out from the Petawawa Legion on Aug. 22 at 10 a. m.

Mr. Green came up with the idea for the fundraiser when his son Michael was celebrating five years being cancer-free. The ride was one of many events organized by the Green family in 2006 to raise money for Camp Trillium.

When Michael was four years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia. This marks the first summer the 15-year-old has not attended Camp Trillium, although he has enjoyed his experiences at camp over the past 10 years.

Mr. Green approached Mr. Hamilton, his neighbour at the time, with the idea for the ride and the rest is history.

Last year's event attracted between 30 and 35 riders and both are hoping to increase the number of participants this year.

The 320-kilometre route will take riders from Petawawa to Barry's Bay, on to Maynooth, then back to Golden Lake and into Pembroke for its finish at the Pembroke Legion.

Both are looking forward to the ride and hoping the weather is better than the day they drove the route in a vehicle to check it out.

The event will go rain or shine and all riders are welcome. The ride is expected to take about three hours.

To date, the ride has raised about $2,000. It costs $500 to send one child to camp for one year, Green noted. All of the money raised goes directly to Camp Trillium.

"We really want people to come out and support the camp and help in the fight against cancer," he said.

Registration for the ride begins at 9 a. m. and the group will depart between 10 a. m. and 10:15 a. m. People can just show up the morning of the ride.

For more information contact Mr. Hamilton at: armyian_258@hotmail.com or Mr. Green at: ray41razor@hotmail.com.

Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer reporter