 Debbie Guinn came rolling in on her Harley for this 9th Annual Realities Ride. |
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| SL Stunt Team - presented by Monster Energy Drink, left the crowd awed by their amazing performances. Linden Street*Old Town Fort Collins |
BREAKING NEWS
We had a couple who went down on their motorcycle near Carter Lake during the Realities Ride Memorial Day Weekend. We found their camera. If you know these people, or if you're the person, please call (970) 484-9090 to identify and pick-up, or email Holli@RealitiesForChildren.com.
Realities Riders Ride and Rally in Old Town Fort Collins and Raise $90,000 for Local Abused Children
Fort Collins, CO: Over ten thousand bikers and community members came out on Memorial Day Weekend to ride and rally in the fight against child abused at Realities for Children Charities 9th Annual Realities Ride, Rally and Kick-off Concert - raising over $90,000 for Realities for Children Charities Emergency Fund – which serves abused and neglected youth in Northern Colorado. Sponsored by the Law Offices of Daniel R. Rosen, Bud Light Golden Wheat, Best Buy and Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson – the Realities Ride is one of the state’s largest charity poker runs.
The Realities Ride
Estimated by the Fort Collins Police Department, over 4,000 bikers geared up for the Realities Ride on Sunday the May, 30th for a 100 mile tour of Northern Colorado. With riders coming from as far as California, the ride began with registration, hot Qdoba Mexican Grill breakfast, steaming Full Throttle Coffee, FREE 2010 Realities Ride shirt for pre-registered bikers and mini stunt shows by SL Stunt Team at Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson. Before taking off, the National Anthem was sung by Cache La Poudre youth jazz group, and the American Legion presented the Colors.
Riders took off on a parade route formation. The route then divided into group A and B and continued on into five cities on a 100 mile tour of Northern Colorado including ride stops, where in a Texas Hold 'em format, one common card was revealed at: T-Bar Inn/Beauregard’s Grill and Tavern in Wellington, Sol’s Long Branch/Swing Station in LaPorte, Windjammer Road House at Carter Lake and the town of Berthoud at Fickel Park (sponsored by the Online Recorder). Bikers jammed out to live music at every stop, safety was ensured thanks to HOG Chapter 411 ride and sweep leaders on the route, and police manned intersections. After a day of riding, it was time for the After Ride Celebration in Old Town Square Fort Collins.
The After Ride Celebration
Bikers arrived in Old Town Fort Collins to find Walnut, Pine, Chestnut and Mountain Streets designated bike parking only. After making their way past thousands of motorcycles, bikers hit the Square and Linden Street, where the smell of rubber filled the air from VEMMA Verve’s burnout pit, crowds gathered round Suicidal Lifestyles Motorcycle Stunt Team’s performance – presented by Monster Energy Drink, people danced to live music, from i69 and the Big Motiff on the new Main Stage in the middle of Linden Street - where Charley Barnes of Rock 102.9 FM and Doc of 107.9 The Bear gave out thousands of dollars in prizes, concert tickets giveaways and much more.
Bikers browsed double the vendors from last year, added new flair to their bodies – thanks to Covenant Tattoo and Freakshow Tattoo piercing bus and ambulance, were in amazement by the 10 foot tall Little Red Radio Flyer Wagon and took turns on Party on the Ride’s 20 Foot Long Keg on Wheels. Bikers opted for premium parking and rode in their scoots in at the Just Ride Hooters Girls Bikini Bike Wash – which raised nearly $300 and others hauled in their rides to the Thunder Roads Hot Rod and Vintage Bike Show. While enjoying Covenant and Freakshow’s Rat Rod and Vintage Bike Show, some attendees showed off their ink work at the Colorado ColorFest Tattoo Competition. Spectators hung out in the Bud Light Golden Wheat’s beer garden, Sponsors and VIPs in Qdoba Mexican Grill’s VIP Lounge, and at the end of the day, the crowd grew to more than 8,000 attendees! Larimer River Rendezvous helped in the fundraising effort by selling more hole cards –an additional $1,700 was raised, and N.Y.P.U.M. held a live auction and raffle – where over $3,000 in proceeds were split between Realities for Charities and the N.Y.P.U.M. program.
This year the Hilton's Best Poker Hand cash prize of $1,500 was awarded to five luck winners! A long-time Realities Rider won the $3,500 Linen & Styles Custom Paint and Design paint job! And several individuals took home honors from the Thunder Roads Vintage Bike Show! Best Buy gave away two flat screen televisions, and for those who were not quite a lucky this weekend, thousands of dollars in sponsor swag was tossed out into the crowd by the lovely ladies of Hooters, Freakshow, Covenant, Larimer River Rendezvous and Texas Roadhouse.
After closing down Old Town, bikers took off for the official After, After Ride Party at the Hideout Patio Bar & Grill – where they enjoyed some rest and relaxation, drink specials, live music, and the Hilton provided FREE shuttle service to ensure safety.