Ride For Wishes 2011

Dear Family and Friends
Today is July 25,2011 Just one month before I leave Aug 25th,2011 to go touch all four geographical corners of the lower 48 states in hope that I can bring awareness and raise a few dollars to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant wishes to children. These kids are going through many different types of treatments but they all have one thing in common,they have a life threatening medical condition. The foundation grants these wishes to kids who have life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope,strength and joy. I have personally seen the power of a wish when Dylan was granted his wish to be a police officer. Dylans wish day not only brought a young boy hope and joy but gave him the needed strength to keep moving forward and one of the main reasons he is a healthy 12 year old boy today and his cancer in remission.
I will ride my motorcycle across this country in hope that more wishes can be granted to bring the same hope,strength and joy to other children. You see I ride because I want other kids and families to be able to experience and see how a difficult time in life can be changed with one wish. these wishes are made possible by people like YOU,they are not supported by grants or goverment programs. I encourage all who read this blog to find it in their hearts to make a donation so other kids can have a wish. 100% of all donations go directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Please visit https://secure.wish.org/ourfriends/007-000/rideforwishes.htm to make your online donation or send a check to 14232 Red Hill Ave,Tustin,Ca 92780. Include "Ride For Wishes" in the memo. Make check payable to Make-A-Wish Foundation. I would like to thank all of you for your support,prayers and encouragement. As the wise lady once asked me David are these rides not a challenge for you,I thought for a min,paused and answer her with this. Yes these rides are challenging but these rides are like a drop of water in the ocean compared to the challenges these kids face on a daily basis. I am just a small part of a huge picture,these kids need our help and that help starts with YOU.
Again thank you so much for any support you can give. I will keep you updated on a daily basis on my ride and as in past rides there will be some cool pictures and wish house visits.
Keep The Chrome Side Up
Dave

Ride For Wishes 2011

Dear Family and Friends
It seems like yesterday that I was out on my ride to New York. Today I took Dylan to get some decorations for his X-mas tree that he wanted in his room. Dylan is doing very well and his cancer is in remission. As the holidays are upon us I find myself today looking at maps trying to figure out which route the next Ride For Wishes will take. In the late summer early fall of 2011 I will again hit the road to help bring awareness to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and help to grant wishes for three kids that have life threatening medical conditions, to enrich the human experience with hope,strength and joy.. This coming years ride will take me to the four geographical corners of the lower 48 states,at each corner I will hang wish stars that you filled out and gave to remind everyone that the kids are the stars and deserve every effort we can make to help grant one heart felt wish to each eligible child. It is the generosity of people like you that make these wishes come true. I have set up a website to make it real easy to make a donation https://secure.wish.org/ourfriends/007-000/rideforwishes.htm 100% of all donations go directly to The Make-A-Wish Foundation. There have been 200,000 wishes granted since 1980 when the first wish of 7 year old Chris G. was granted to be a police officer. 27 years later Dylan had his wish to be a sheriff granted by the Orange County Sheriffs Department. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for you support in our mission to help these kids have ONE WISH.

Happy Holidays.

Dave Rusk
If you would like more information on obtaining a wish star to be hung at the corner of your choice please contact me at Rideforwishes@aol.com or give me a call at 714-875-1273

Please help any way you can

Here is the flier with the info to make a donation to help make wishes come true.

Home

Hello Everyone

Just a short note to say thank you to everyone that supported me in helping to make wishes come true. The ride to New York was a pleasent ride with a few bumps and alot of enjoyment.I got to visit wish houses across our country and it reminded me how lucky we are to have such wonderful people that are devoted to making wishes come true for some very special kids. It was pure pleasure to read about Flying Michael Batman wish was granted while I was away. This young boy has been through so much in his young life, and then to have his wish come true to be a super hero was very uplifting to say the least. Please dont forget that these wishes are only made possible by everyone banding together and doing their part to help these kids. I am starting to think about next years ride already,but my back side is saying something different still/LOL. when I figure out what I will be doing to help make wishes come true next year you all will be the first to know.

Again thank you for your support

Keep The Chrome Side UP

Dave

day 11,12,13,14,15

Day 14 I found this guy at the local zoo in Idaho Falls

Day 14 got to visit with a Baby Snow lepard at the local zoo in Idaho Falls.

Day 14 I visited some friends in Idaho Falls, Tom Jensen and Ray Putnum. Thanks TJ you and your Family are awsome!!!!

Day 13 I made it to Boise Idaho to visit the wish house in that city. Thank you for the tour of the wish house and the insite on some of the recent wishes you have granted.

Day 12 I was in Glacier National Park and rounded a corner and seen this lady just standing next to the road

Day 11 I found myself surounded by a wonderful staff in Fargo,ND.I was dodging storms but the trip to fargo was well worth the effort.

Day 10

Hello Everyone

Today was a nice cool day for a change. It was only in the 80's. I rode 430 miles today. I am about 2 hours east of Fargo ND,which is where I will make a visit tomarrow to the wish house in that city. Today I was thinking alot about my family. I look forward to getting home,doing some chores and relaxing for a day or three. Today I met a young boy who really wanted to ride the bike. His mother was in hurry but as soon I started telling her about my rideforwishes she seemed to slow down a bit. You see her Nephew was also a wish kid and got his wish to go on a disney cruise granted a few years ago. Her son got to sit on the bike and left shortly after that with a smile on his face and a wish star in his hands. Seeing this kid reminded me of Dylan and how full of questions these kids are at that age. I told him he has to be a good boy and listen to his mother. She thanked me for reminding her that a stranger is a friend you have yet to make.

I have really enjoyed this trip so far. remember that challenges we face in life are like drops of water in the ocean compared to the challenges the kids face fighting these life threatening illnesses. Lets all band together and help make wishes come true. Print out the flyer and send it in with your donation. Big things happen when a child is granted ONE WISH.

Everyone have a wonderful night.

Dave

Day 9

hello everyone.

The day started off riding into a rain storm and then got alot better. I am about 65 miles west of Mill. Wisconson. I did visit the wish house in Cleveland OH. with over one hundred kids on there list waiting to have there wishes granted,they are very busy. I would like to thank there staff for the warm welcome.Keep up the good work making wishes come true for the kids in OH.

As I got closer to the big cities I thought I was back in LA. Those people were trying to take me out so I down shifted and got the heck out of there. I am going to be able to avoid big cities now. Going right through the heart of america has reminded me of the more simplier things I take for granit. Mainly the roads we get to ride on back home are like glass compared to the roads in the east. I am heading west and will be somewhere short of Montana by tomarrow. I am going to ride through Glacier National Park when I get there. The last two times I was in that area it was snowing up there and yes both times were in July. anyway I will write more in the morning.
Take Care and enjoy the pictures

Dave