500 motorcyclists coming to Enumclaw Sunday

About 500 motorcyclists are expected to converge onEnumclaw Sunday in an event to raise money for Children’s Hospital in Seattle.

Motorcyclists will be riding to town starting at Harley Davidson businesses in Renton, Bellevue, Tacoma, Lynnwood, Marysville, Silverdale and Lacey. Their destination is the Expo Center.

The Children’s Ride 16 event starts at 10 a.m. with a silent auction. A live auction will take place later, featuring John Curley. Auction items include an Arizona Grand Resort-golf getaway valued at $3,750; a woman’s pendant valued at $7,175 and a men’s ring worth $4,950; a trailer worth $2,275; and various dinners and leather jackets, along with items autographed by NASCAR great Kasey Kahne, and Mariners Edgar Martinez and Franklin Gutierrez. If you can’t be there call 253-232-8058 if you want to bid.

Entertainment includes the Seattle Cossacks at 11:30 a.m., comedian Manuela Horn at 1 p.m., and live music with Shelley and the Curves at noon and 2:30 p.m. There will be a barbecue and beer garden at noon.

Participants who collect $500 in pledges receive a Golden Spoke patch and a Children’s Ride 16 limited edition t-shirt. Those who collect $1,000 or more also receive a commemorative coin. For pledge information call 206-987-4876.

The Imagine Guild and Children’s Ride was founded in 1995 by Rick Baldwin. In 1974, Rick’s daughter, Tessa, was admitted to Children’s Hospital for treatment of third-degree burns when a coffee pot toppled on to her. Being a young father with limited financial resources, Baldwin benefited from the uncompensated care fund provided by Children’s Hospital. Baldwin later combined his love for motorcycles
with his gratitude to Children’s Hospital and the idea for Children’s Ride was
born.

Fifteen years ago, 100 motorcycles gathered to participate in Children’s Ride 1, raising $13,000 for Children’s Hospital.

In 2005, Children’s Ride grew from a one-day to a three day weekend event. The event’s web site says in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom Edgar Martinez of the Seattle Mariners and Chad Eaton, a former Seattle Seahawk, bid on a custom motorcycle, with Martinez having the winning bid of $95,000.

In 2008, CR 13 raised more than $700,000 for Children’s Hospital. The Children’s Ride is one of the top five guild fundraisers for Children’s Hospital as well as one of the largest charity motorcycle events in the Pacific Northwest.

Over the past 14 years, the Imagine Guild has grown to more than 70 men and women of all ages who share a love of motorcycles and a passion for helping children. Since its inception, the Imagine Guild has raised more than $4 million, providing care to hundreds of Northwest families. If you are interested in learning more about Children's Ride contact Wendy Funicello at 206-987-4876 or wendy.funicello@seattlechildrens.org

The Imagine Guild Mission Statement is “Bringing together the
motorcycle community in support of Seattle Children’s and their mission to eliminate childhood illness and injury.” For more information call the guild at 206-987-4876.