Motorcycle Events (Int'l)

COLUMBUS, Ga., May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbus businessman Scott Ressmeyer and 11 friends have started their 2013 Scott's Ride for Miracles, a 21-day, 9,000-mile, 48-state motorcycle trek to raise awareness and money to benefit Children's Miracle Network at The Medical Center in Columbus, Ga.  The Miracle Send-Off Ceremony was held at 11:30 a.m. Friday morning, then at noon, the riders revved up their Harley engines and roared out of The Medical Center.

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(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130503/MM06889 )

What began in 2009 as a one-time, solo trip to commemorate Ressmeyer's 50^th birthday, has turned into an annual event that now includes additional riders. In 2010, 11 riders made the trip; In 2011, 14 riders participated; In 2012, 14 riders made the trek.  

This year's riders include Mike Langford of Cataula; Larry Suits, Rick Stinson, Brian Brock, Raymond Eckel and Butch Thomas of Columbus; Mike Jolley of Hamilton; Gary McDowell of Manchester; James Cole and Brad Hansen of Midland; and Ronnie Wilson ofSalem, Alabama. In addition to taking time off work and funding all personal expenses associated with the ride including hotels, meals and gasoline, each of Scott's Miracle Riders is committed to raising at least $2,500 to participate.

In its first four years, Scott's Ride for Miracles raised more than $430,000 for neonatal and pediatric services at The Medical Center. Ressmeyer says the ultimate goal now is to raise $1 million over the course of the Ride.

The Miracle Riders will visit patients at several CMN hospitals along the way. The riders will visit BSA Children's Hospital in Amarillo, Texas, on May 7. The riders will then stop at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota, on the morning ofWednesday, May 15. During a stop in our nation's capitol in the third week of the ride, the 2013 Miracle Riders will visit the Children's National Medical Center on May 23.

The Miracle Riders will also contribute to a blog to journal their travels. People interested in following their blogs may log ontowww.rideformiracles.com. Once the journey begins, people may visit the same website to track the riders' route in real time. The riders can also receive direct messages at #srm2013.

Providing support for the event include Presenting Sponsor Mercedes Benz of Columbus; Event sponsors Aflac, Chattahoochee Harley Davidson, Columbus Tape and Video, Columbus Visitors Bureau, Country's Barbecue, Neonatology Associates, TSYS; and Bike Wrap Sponsors Front Porch of the South, Leisure Lifestyles, McCauley Propeller and Wells Fargo Bank.

The 2013 Scott's Ride for Miracles received a special donation at the kickoff ceremony in March. The Grainger Foundation has donated $50,000 to Scott's Ride in support of The Children's Miracle Network at The Medical Center. This donation was recommended by Brian Brock, Branch Manager of W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s Columbus, Ga., location, and 2013 Miracle Rider.  Grainger has been a part of the Columbus business community for more than 23 years as the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair, and operating products.  The Grainger Foundation, an independent, private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois, was established in 1949 byWilliam W. Grainger, founder of W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Anyone can make a donation to the 2013 Scott's Ride for Miracles by logging onto the event's website at www.rideformiracles.com.

Contact: Anne Holmes 
(706) 660-6566; (706) 320-1305 (pager) 
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SOURCE Columbus Regional Healthcare System