Gord's Ride 4 The Cure

 Next Year’s Ride is booked for Sep 17th and 18th . Registration for next year’s Ride will begin May,2010. Pledge Sheets will be available in the spring.

Over $25,000 in prizes were given away Saturday night at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.

Bill Steele from Sydney Mines had the top Poker Hand and won a 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 donated by Gord’s/Kawasaki valued at $9,500.

The winner of the Yamaha Custom Made Ride 4 The Cure Guitar autographed by J.P. Cormier was Sam Wall of Coxheath. Let me tell you folks, he is still smiling about that one! Congratulations!

The Top Pledge Fund Raiser was Dave Hall from Bedford who raised $11,765 and won  a PGO Scooter valued at $4,000 also donated by Gord’s.

The Top Ten Club is great, but so are all of the rest of you. Many folks raised money on pledge sheets, but we know all of you continued to reach into your pockets and pull out your own hard earned cash everytime we hit you up to buy a a DVD, calendar, a sticker, guitar tickets or whatever. Always with a smile or a chuckle and for sure a giving heart. We cherish each and everyone of you!

The ride was postponed until Sunday due to Saturday’s weather. Sunday’s weather started out fine and improved at every stop. The riders agreed they were riding on the best day!

A big thank you to everyone who volunteered and raised funds for the ride this year. This year the Village of Baddeck dressed up the main street with balloons and ribbons to welcome us all.We can’t say thank you enough to the Inverary Inn once again wh0 let us donate every penny we collected from the food and coffee they provided.  Thank you to Michael MacMillan who donated his musical skills on the Highland Bag Pipes for everyone at that stop. You were awesome! Thank you!

Businesses and restaurants had pink balloons flying again this year as the community of Cheticamp stepped up once again to show their hospitality. What would we do every year without fail from our friends from Cheticamp? Each of the businesses in Cheticamp who show the pink balloons also donate to the ride. Merci beaucoup nos amies!

For the sixth year running we would like to say a big thank you to CJCB Radio for supporting Ride 4 The Cure.

A big thank you to Parks Canada for providing free park passes which allowed us to enjoy the beautiful Keltic Lodge this year. The weather improved at each stop until we hit full sunshine at Keltic Lodge. Thank you again to the community volunteers in Ingonish and the Keltic Lodge for making that stop so wonderful. The Keltic Lodge provided live entertainment on the front lawn for our bikers.

The folks at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre treat us like family every year and we couldn’t do it without you. We also SALUTE the RCMP and a special mention to Corporal Ronald MacDonald for closing off the exits to the 125 . The folks from the FreeWheeling Motorcycle Club assisted with that task . A big thank you to Calvin and Norma MacLeod for providing the support for the sixth year making sure any mishaps are looked after. This vehicle is being sponsored by The Maritime Merchant. One rider had a flat tire and one rider ran out of gas. They rescued both. What a great couple! Together they helped ensure all of our cherished bikers got home safe and sound this year.

Gord and Mary are overwhelmed in ways no one can imagine with the outpouring of stories, survivors, crusaders and the many unsung heroes that surface during this event. It is truly moving what you all do. All brands, all walks of life, all ages come together for this and make heaven on earth for a time. Bless you one and all.

The ride has now raised since inception over a quarter of a million dollars to date! Record breaking attendance…over 800 registered riders! We’ll post more details later this week. If you would like to volunteer next year in any way, please e-mail us @   gords@ns.sympatico.ca.

On sale for $15 at Gord’s, Fancy’s Gift Shop at the CBRH, Ratchford Photography, North Sydney, Maritime Merchant Sydney. It will make a perfect Christmas gift for anyone!

Thanks to John Ratchford of Ratchford Photography for donating his skills to provide the pictures for the calendar.