Helping support youngsters in need 0
stephen uhler stephen.uhler@sunmedia.ca Shortly after giving their donation to the cause, members of the UN NATO Veterans Canada Petawawa Group stand behind the Neville family – in the front centre, left, is Capt. Shawn Neville and Georgina Neville, and in the very front are their children Gillian and Christopher Neville – at the start of the 2011 Ride for Child. Directly behind them, centre, is Theresa Giroux, ride founder, who holds the cheque, and MP Cheryl Gallant. The annual event raises money for children with special needs. This year’s ride is set for Saturday, Sept. 8. For more community photos, please visit our website photo gallery at www.thedailyobserver.ca.
The legacy of Josh Kreutz is set to continue Saturday, Sept. 8, with the 14th annual Ride for Child scheduled to roll out.
The fundraiser, which starts at 10 a.m at the Irving Big Stop and wraps up at Johnny’s Field in Lapasse, is open to all motorcycle riders as they drive to raise funds for a worthy cause – helping out children in need.
Theresa Giroux, the founder, organizer and co-ordinator of the Ride for Child, said this year’s ride is for Liam Cameron, a six-and-a-half-year-old boy from Renfrew. All donations generated by the ride will go towards paying for specialized washroom renovations and the construction of a ramp.
“He’s dealing with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy,” she said, the same medical condition her son had to deal with back when the ride was first formed.
It had started as The Ride for Josh in 1998, which was held to help raise enough money to purchase a lift and track system to help in bathing her son, who also had cerebral palsy. The government doesn’t fund such specialty equipment, so the ride was started to try and raise money to pay for it.
The event was so successful, thanks to the generosity and participation of the bikers taking part, Ms. Giroux and the participants decided to hold it annually, helping out different children each year.
In 2005, the ride shifted back to helping with Josh’s expenses, as he had outgrown the equipment needed for daily care. On July 22, 2006, Josh Kreutz died at the age of 17. For that year only, a ride was not held.
Ever since, Ms. Giroux has organized the rides as a tribute to the memory of her son, as well as help other families who are going through challenges similar to those she faced.
Participants presenting a $20 donation will be able to enjoy a steak or chicken dinner at the conclusion of the ride, $10 will cover an extra rider on the bike, while those just wanting dinner can get it for a $15 donation.
For registration information, contact Rayanne and Chad Cameron at 613-433-3543, or Theresa Giroux at 613-717-2986, or e-mail at theresagiroux@hotmail.com.
Stephen Uhler is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist
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