Portland, June 21st, 2014. Nearly 100 motorcyclists rode their hogs, trikes and street bikes to support Children’s Cancer Association‘s Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™. Mike and Cheryl Durbin, owners of Paradise Harley-Davidson and good friends to CCA, are founding sponsors of JoyRide and have been sponsors of the JoyRide all five years. The 5th annual JoyRide began at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and traveled US-26 and State Highway 6 (the Wilson River Highway), a scenic stretch from Banks to Tillamook, with stops at Gales Creek Shell & Grocery and a finale party at the Caring Cabin in Pacific City, OR.
Bikers raised $28,000 to support CCA’s Caring Cabin, a 24-acre secluded retreat home in Pacific City, OR, that welcomes more than 500 family members with seriously ill children and teens each year.
Presenting sponsor, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, hosted the riders for a morning of celebration and entertainment from KGON.
The Ellis family founded CCA in 1995 after their oldest daughter, Alex, lost her battle with cancer. Cliff Ellis, shown here with son, Zack, started the JoyRide five years ago to benefit CCA’s Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin.
KGON was a generous media sponsor of the JoyRide this year. DJ Iris shown here, rallying the riders at ride start.
Matthew makes the ride official by cutting the ribbon for ride start at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. Randall is the presenting sponsor of this year’s JoyRide.
Mike of Paradise Harley-Davidson, Cliff Thorne, JoyRide Committee, and Chris Lee of Rubber Side Down. Paradise Harley-Davidson and Rubber Side Down are sponsors of JoyRide.
The Nye Family, aka. JR’s Riders for Cancer, proudly wearing the American flag.
Just one glimpse of the riders on their way to Pacific City.
Pam Lum with Jordan Green of Pro Caliber, a JoyRide sponsor
Fellow riders were happy to see 14-year-old Pup in the ride again this year – his fifth ride!
New and vintage bikes parked for a quick stop along the route.
Tiffany Jennings, top individual fundraiser for the JoyRide, two years in a row.
Nearly 100 riders turned out for this Fifth Annual JoyRide. They are shown outside their final destination, the Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin in Pacific City, OR.
CCA Co-founder Cliff Ellis shared, “The CCA JoyRide is a dream come true for me. Five years ago, I envisioned a bunch of bikes rolling up to the Caring Cabin in celebration of a fun ride – with the added bonus of raising funds for this amazing retreat home for families with seriously ill kids. In this, our Fifth Annual JoyRide, we have now raised more than $125,000.”
Before the ride began children, families and nurses at Randall Children’s Hospital met riders and checked out their motorcycles.
Matthew, an 11-year-old cancer survivor and visitor of the Caring Cabin, cut the purple ribbon kicking-off the ride. Matthew’s mother thanked the riders and said, “From the moment we arrived, you could feel all the love and emotion radiating from the Cabin; it was magical. I hadn’t seen the kids smile and laugh like that in so long, especially Matty. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. We thank CCA and all of you for supporting this wonderful organization from the bottom of our hearts.”
From the Children’s Cancer Association:
The Children’s Cancer Association didn’t start with a foundation, it started with a family. One who faced its own battle with serious pediatric illness almost two decades ago in Portland, OR. From that experience came a passionate commitment and focus: To deliver the resources, the friendship, and the healing power of music to families facing the same challenges.
Unlike many organizations dedicated to the worthy goal of someday finding a cure for cancer, CCA is all about today. We specialize on the moment, delivering immediate help to kids and teens facing life-threatening illness. When seriously ill children and their families need more than medicine, CCA’s innovative programs create joy one moment at a time.
Randall Children’s Hospital is one of Oregon’s largest providers of pediatric inpatient and trauma services and opened its new home in February 2012. Randall Children’s Hospital has a medical staff of more than 600 physicians, including pediatric medical and surgical specialists, sub-specialists, and community pediatricians. Randall Children’s Hospital has received more than 100,000 patient visits per year. Our children’s emergency department is Oregon’s busiest, with 22,000 visits annually.
