MARK'S RUN (all bikers must read!)

[johnny da bull]

All Bikes Welcome!

WE ALL LOVE TO RIDE!

Please forward this to all the bikers you know!

But, just for a moment, imagine if you couldn’t. You couldn’t feel the freedom of the open road, the grinding and carving of the corners, and the camaraderie of your friends!

THAT WOULD SUCK!

This is the situation a family member and riding buddy of mine is dealing with!

My cousin, friend and riding buddy, Mark, developed A.L.S or better known as Lou Gehrig's disease back in 2006.

Mark is my very close friend and a riding buddy for years. In fact, riding was one of his greatest pleasures as it is for most of us. I have attached pictures of Mark from our trip to the sport bike rally in 2006 and a picture from Early 2010. This is a guy who played every sport and was always active. Today he is restricted to a wheel chair, unable to move or even talk. He is being fed through a feeding tube as of last week. I hate to say it, but soon, tomorrow might not come for Mark.

Mark said something to me months ago I will never forget, and yes there are tears running down my cheeks as I write this. He said to me,” Johnny, when you go riding, do me a favor and ride for me too!” Of course, I replied with a “you bet I will” and I haveevery time I go out, but I want to do more.

MARK’S RUN WILL BE HELD ON AUG.8, 2010

Meeting at the front of the Mohawk Raceway parking lot at 1 p.m.

What I would like to do is simply have a ride, with as many bikes as possible to run into Etobicoke, past Marks home, give a few rev’s and then return. I know this would bring a smile to his face even if he couldn’t manage to make the movement, I know he would be smiling inside, bigger than anyone could ever imagine.

Following the Run past Mark’s home, we will ride back through Belfountain and the Forks of the Credit area back to the Rockwood area where I will happily put on a BBQ for all to show my appreciation of your participation.

I am NOT asking for any money, just your support of a fellow rider, however if you feel the need to donate, any funds received will be directly forwarded to the A.L.S. society of Ontario.

Please forward this to 10 riders, or you will be cursed by June bugs!

Just kidding, please forward this to as many bikers as possible and help put a smile on Mark’s face

Hopefully we get a great turnout and have a fantastic ride!

Please RSVP to jt1@rogers.com if you can attend or if you think you can help, so that we can make arrangements to have food for everyone following the ride.

Your participation would be greatly appreciated,

Regards, John Thompson

WWW.MARKSRUN.CA

For more info on A.L.S. see http://www.alsont.ca/

Route Map:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Guelph+Line%2FRegional+R oad+1&daddr=ON-401+E+to:ON-401+E+toalegrove+Crescent+to:Winston+Churchill+Blvd%2FRegi onal+Road+19+to:Cataract+Rd+to:McLaren+Rd+to:9+Lin e+to:43.629863,-79.92382+to:Regional+Road+25+N&hl=en&geocode=FWy0l wIdyFw7-w%3BFaDBmQIdqSlA-w%3BFcXamQIdFWpA-w%3BFTZfmgIdhvZB-w%3BFWjhmgIdJmE8-w%3BFcDHnAIdfOQ6-w%3BFSC-nAIdZVA7-w%3BFeQKmwIdvHE7-w%3B%3BFWtcmAIdkoE8-w&mra=dpe&mrcr=1&mrsp=8&sz=12&via=1,2,4,5,6,7,8&sl l=43.65595,-79.888802&sspn=0.103332,0.347443&ie=UTF8&ll=43.677 805,-79.807434&spn=0.413176,1.389771&z=10

[yettiman121]

Yetti would LOVE to be in on this..

My Mother passed away from ALS in Feb, last year.

and I know all too well, about this horrible disease.


Unfortunately, I will be driving from BC to Toronto that week.

Hopefully i will be able to attend

[DY]

i'm in.

[pfbmgd]

I`m to try to make it for the ride by .

[Striple~675R]

great idea. i commend you bud. i'll try my best to get in on this. hopefully i can manage my work schedule. i'll keep an eye out on this thread. thanks again.

[MikeMyhal]

Barring any family events, I should be there.

[pfbmgd]

Maybe make it a sticky till the 8th .

[lennay1031]

Not sure if I can make it yet but just a thought, would it be possible for a stop outside his home so he can see all the bikes vs. just hearing the revs outside?

[johnny da bull]

Stopping outside is a wonderful thought, it really depends on if he is up to it. I am hoping his parents can get him out to the garage, and if he is really feeling good, I may see if his brothers could bring him down to the BBQ following the ride. I have made arrangements to have the BBQ at The Hard Ball in Milton and they have a big parking lot as well as Canada Crusers motorcyle shop next door too. Both of which will probably be open. At this point I expect to have at least a couple of hundred bikes at the ride, so the option of him coming to the BBQ would be the best!

[Katatonic]

Sounds good to me, I'll be there!

[Jbike]

Commend you Johnny , Count me in . Will be there

[KinCade]

I've put it on my calender, I'll try to make it too. Cheers..

[Green Meenie]

This is a great idea and I'm sure will mean so much to your friend Mark. I don't normally go on group rides but this one is a must be there.

[ducati1]

i'm going to try to make it!!
very nice of you. cheers!!

[El Zilcho]

Can't make it due to scheduling conflicts. Otherwise I'd be in.

[silverbullet132]

I might be able to come

[Red Zeder]

Wow ...you are truly a good man and I want to be a part of your great ride!
I will try to bring some other riders with me as well , from the sunday streetsville ride.
Look foward to this.

[chach]

im in but i have very limited fuel range..... 80-100 km per tank

[johnny da bull]

I have not yet checked the full kms on this ride, but 100 kms is not very far, But I am sure it is a small tank and you should be able to fill and catch up very quickly. Due to the large number of riders going, possibly 2-300 or more, stopping will not be an option. The best would be to be at the front and you could probably stop and fill before the rest even got passed by. See me when you arrive and I will make sure you can be near the front. Thanks, JOHN

[johnny da bull]

Looks like we are well over the 100 riders mark, possibly over 150, but we need more!