High Country HOG Chapter - 2006 Frank's Ride for children

High Country Chapter Colorado#422
Home of great Harley-Davidson motorcycling.

High Country Harley-Davidson/Buell
3761 Monarch Street, Frederick, CO 80516
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2006 Frank's Ride for children.
A fundraiser for Colorado Make-a-Wish.

Pictures on Frank's Ride, May 21, 2006.
Pictures by Greg S.

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Photos by Greg S. High Country Chapter Colorado #422 photographer, 2006
	Frank's Ride Sponsor

About "Franks' Ride for Children"
In 2006, We Celebrate Our 20th Anniversary! Many People have asked... "Who Is Frank?"

"It's for such a good cause, I just hope it gets bigger and better each year." ...Frank Aulino

Well we'd like to tell you who Frank was and why this run is named after him. Frank Aulino, the founder of this event, was an active member and officer of the Longmont Moose Lodge. He pulled his friends and local community businesses together to raise money for children who suffer from life-threatening diseases. A father and grandfather, he was a man who cared for the welfare of children and went out of his way to do whatever he could to help. In 1986 he originated a poker run as a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

About the original ride. Participants in the event started the morning off with a breakfast at the Moose Lodge, and then they traveled along a specified course, stopping at certain points to draw a playing card. At the end of the ride the players turned in their 5-card hand with the hope it would be the prize- winning highest poker hand. A large amount of money was raised on the initial run and Frankie began making plans for the next year, which turned out to be an even bigger event, with increasing revenues and participants. He was just coming off the high of that run and planning the next year's run when he died suddenly from a heart attack in July 1987.

Frankie's Moose brothers who were left picked the torch and organized a run that was renamed in his honor. Renaming the run in his honor. The Frank Aulino Ride for Children became an annual event, raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy, Denver Children's Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Colorado.

Buton Rudzik, who co-chaired the event for at least a decade after Frank's passing and one of four of the last members remaining from Frankie's original committee said, the run is a yearly memorial to Frankie and what he believed in. "Frankie always loved kids and wanted to do anything to make things better for them. We're carrying on the tradition." ...Buton Rudzik

This year's run is being Co-Chaired by Doug "Dirty Doug "Keim and Mark Calistro. Doug is also one of the last original members of the run. As all of the previous Chairmen have done, Doug and Mark strive to carry on the ideals that Frank set for us so many years ago.

"The run is designed for families and for those who don't ride bikes, yet want to join the fun. We welcome families and anyone who wants to come - in cars, vans, trucks, whatever. "...Kevin Woolever

Participants, if they choose, will travel in a parade across Ken Pratt Blvd. From there they will then travel to five designated stops ending finally at Dandy Acres in Weld County for the final party. The afternoon events include a pig roast, salads, beverages, and live entertainment by " The Joe Cool Band", plus a few other surprises.

2005 Facts: In May of 2005, over 1,100 participants paraded through Longmont for the 19th Annual Frank’s Ride for Children”, a poker to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Colorado. Last year, as in years past, Wish Children enjoyed the Ride in side-cars and a limousine winding around 76 miles of northern Colorado and ending at the farm of Jess and Trudy Thomas for a pig roast, live music, games and giveaways. This year’s Ride is on May 21, 2006 and it is our 20th Anniversary Ride and will run over 100 miles through northern Colorado.

In the past 10 years, Frank’s Ride has raised enough money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Colorado and has been their largest annual contributor. As a result of the Ride we have been able to grant over 32 wishes in the last five years alone.

It is thanks to the generosity of everyone involved that this is even possible, so on behalf of the “Frank’s Ride for Children” Committee, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Colorado and ALL of the children, past, present and future,

To read more, please visit http://www.franksrideforchildren.org and http://www.wish.org

The information contained on this site is published with the permission of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, High Country Harley-Davidson Inc. and the High Country H.O.G. Chapter #422. No guarantee, real or implied, is made regarding the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein. Opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, High Country Harley-Davidson Inc., High Country H.O.G. Chapter #422, their employees, officers or members. Harley-Davidson, Harley, H-D, H.O.G., Hog Tales, the Harley-Davidson logo are registered trademarks of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the High Country Harley-Davidson logo is a registered trademark of High Country Harley-Davidson, Firestone, CO.