Bikers and their friends and families are invited to take part in a ride for a lifetime to raise funds for the University of Miami’s Ryder Trauma Center and its ongoing research. The ride, which begins at the Ryder Center, 1800 NW 10th Ave., at 3 p.m. Oct. 23rd, will end at the BankAtlantic Center in Broward County, where the NHL Florida Panthers will take on the New York Islanders.
The ride will promote motorcycle safety awareness and trauma research through support of the Christopher Rodriguez Del Rey Research Fund. Proceeds from the event will also benefit the William Lehman Injury Research Center, underwrite motorcycle- safety education at area middle and high schools through safety-promotion school assemblies conducted by City of Miami Police and associates from the Lehman Injury Center, and provide family bereavement counseling.
The Rodriguez Del Rey Research Fund was launched by Maricela Rodriguez- Gomez following the death of her son Christopher, said Maxine Lopez, vice president of business development at Airstron in Ft. Lauderdale.
Christopher Del Rey was killed while cycling in 2002 when a truck ran a stop sign.
“Since Christopher’s departure,” Rodriquez-Gomez says, “I have committed myself to helping make South Florida safer by raising funds to support motorcycle safety and injury prevention programs in our community.”
The event will include food, drinks, a silent auction, a raffle and admission to the hockey match, which begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $100 for a Coach Club seat, $20 for upper-level seating and $60 for lower-level seats. Arena parking is free.
“We’re asking for continuing support,” Rodriguez-Gomez says, “to help us and UM’s Miller School of Medicine trauma team save lives.”
For more information, call 954-835- 7235.
