The sixth annual Kelsi Long Memorial Ride brought more than 200 motorcyclists to Augusta on Saturday to raise money for the Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center.
"This ride has had a lot of impact on people. Everyone who comes on it for the first time comes back year after year," said organizer Mike Maddox. "I don't know if it's so much the ride that makes the impact, but I know that seeing the kids at the hospital and how excited they are to see us, that makes it all worthwhile."
A check of $5,000 was presented to the hospital's pediatric outpatient cancer clinic after a motorcycle ride that began at the Augusta Harley-Davidson dealership and ended at the Children's Medical Center.
Mr. Maddox founded the Kelsi Elizabeth Long Memorial Foundation in memory of his granddaughter, who was stillborn at 81/2 months and had Down syndrome.
"We felt that we needed to do something but we didn't know how. One day my wife and I were out at the grave putting out flowers, and my wife said that she didn't want Kelsi to be another name on a headstone," he said. "She wanted people to know how much she was loved."
For more information on the Kelsi Elizabeth Long Memorial Foundation, its activities or how to donate, visit www.kelfoundation.org.
Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.
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