By Damian Ferek
This has been an eventful year for WVU Medicine’s Children’s with a number of great announcements and events, including the ground-breaking ceremony of its new facility. The new eight-story tower, scheduled for completion in 2020, is set to feature over 155 beds, a 25-bed pediatric intensive care unit and 61-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), in addition to many other expansions. However, as with any expansion, there comes an increased need for fundraising and awareness. Thanks to the efforts of two Morgantown-based companies, a new opportunity for fundraising is now available.
Photo by Nick Tabidze
Ride for Kids
Triple S Harley Davidson, the community-driven motorcycle dealership, is proud to host the inaugural Ride For Kids West Virginia, a motorcycle charity ride that will tour through North Central West Virginia into Deep Creek, MD, on a unique scavenger hunt, all while raising money for the children’s hospital. Triple S has partnered with The Stick Company, a marketing and branding agency, to help organize and promote the event throughout the region.
“We wanted to organize an event that not only helped WVU Medicine Children’s but engaged our customers by giving them the opportunity to service our community as well,” says Ashley Anderson, director of marketing for Triple S Harley Davidson and co-chair for the event. “Motorcycle riders are part of a very supportive and community-oriented culture, and so we wanted to provide a unique opportunity to get involved and help raise money for the children in our region.”
The inaugural event is scheduled for Saturday, August 25, 2018, and will start at Triple S Harley Davidson’s location. The ride will kick start with a tour through Morgantown, into WVU Medicine’s main campus and continue on to other designated stops in the region. A number of great venues have volunteered as scavenger stops for the route, including Smokin’ Jack’s in Reedsville, WV; The Green Turtle in Deep Creek, MD; and The Stone House Inn in Farmington, PA. The ride will conclude at the new Smokin’ Jack’s Morgantown location.
Photo by Nick Tabidze
“We at Smokin’ Jack’s are excited to be a part of such a great event that benefits WVU Medicine Children’s,” says J.D. Mann, owner of Smokin’ Jack’s. “As a family-friendly restaurant, we look forward to hosting participants at our two locations and meeting all of the great people involved. Our family shares a personal connection with the hospital, so we look forward to helping give back and make a difference here in our local community.”
One of the more unique aspects to the ride includes a team fundraising challenge, which allows participants to register and ride as individuals or to form a team and help fundraise collectively. Teams can then share and promote their fundraising efforts easily through social media in honor of a loved one or organization that the team represents. A unique trophy will be given to the team that raises the most money, as well as the team or individual that wins the scavenger hunt.
Photo by Nick Tabidze
Why We Ride
Each year, WVU Medicine Children’s treats more than 64,000 patients throughout the region. One of those patients is a young, courageous boy named Tyler. During pregnancy, Tyler’s parents were told their unborn son had developed a life-threatening condition called hydrops and the chance of their baby surviving outside of the delivery room was only 20-30 percent. Tyler was born 12 weeks early and weighed only 1 pound, 7 ounces, most of which was fluid. He was 3 weeks old by the time his family could hold him for the first time. Tyler got to go home after spending 100 days in the NICU. Since leaving the NICU, Tyler has undergone surgeries and dealt with various other issues but is doing well. He is now 10 years old.
Another reason we ride is for young girls like Larkin, who simply lights up a room. At 6 years old, Larkin developed enlarged lymph nodes on her neck, jaw bone and just above her collarbone. A few weeks later, she began to have debilitating back pain to the point that she couldn’t walk. It was finally discovered that the pain she was experiencing was from lesions on her spine and pelvis where cancer had caused holes in her bones, and she was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Larkin endured six cycles of monthly, week-long, inpatient chemotherapy treatments at WVU Medicine Children’s. Larkin is now eight years old. That is why we ride.
About the Author
Driven by creativity, aggressiveness and caffeine, Damian Ferek is the founder and president of The STICK Company, The STICK Tattoo Company, CasketWraps.com and the West Virginia Energy Expo. With more than a decade of experience in branding, marketing and professional writing, he oversees the creative and business development of his STICK empire. Ferek truly believes the best way to help market and brand clients is to become part of their team in spirit and in mission.
