Thunder Roads Colorado Magazine Volume 11 Issue 9 | Page 28

R CARRIE iding season is in full swing now and this month’s Ladies Up Front highlights some rides and events that support women centric charities. For additional details on these rides please see the event’s page online or visit the link listed on the event for start times and locations. Be the Gift Ride – June 4th, 2016 http://www.bethegift.com/ This ride benefits “Be the Gift”. This non-profit provides homes repairs for single moms and their children at no cost to them. They restore the homes to be full function as well as enhance the overall appearance to improve value within the neighborhood. The first priority is a focus on safety issues. Last year approximately 75% of the homes required repairs that address health needs such as mold, poor air circulation and unsanitary polluted carpet contributing to respiratory illnesses. Special Victims Unit, Mariska Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to help survivors heal and reclaim their lives. Over the last 11 years, Joyful Heart has evolved into a national organization that is paving the way for innovative approaches to treating trauma, igniting shifts in the way the public views and responds to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and reforming and advancing policies and legislation to ensure justice for survivors. NO More - is a unifying symbol and campaign to raise public awareness and engage bystanders around ending domestic violence and sexual assault. Launched in March 2013 by a coalition of leading advocacy groups, service providers, the U.S. Department of Justice, and major corporations, NO MORE is supported by hundreds of national and local groups and by thousands of individuals, organizations, universities, and communities who are using its signature blue symbol to increase visibility for domestic violence and sexual assault. Breaking the Silence Benefit and Poker Run – July 19th, 2016 http://www.eventbrite.com/e/breaking-silence-poker-run2015-tickets-14464992181 We know that “service changes the server” and Be the Gift organizes and facilitates home repair projects for individuals and organizations that help to fulfill their goal of community involvement and team building. We connect those who want to help with those who need help. Breaking Silence Poker Run is a motorcycle event designed to bring awareness to our community about local sex trafficking and child exploitation. Sex trafficking is the fastest growing criminal activity in the world. A person can sell a kilo of cocaine one time in a single transaction but a person can be sold over and over in a day. We at Be the Gift believe that everyone has a dream and desire of doing something significant with his or her life. We are connecting every day ordinary people with an opportunity to do extraordinary things by facilitating acceptance, compassion, kindness and change in their community through home repairs for single moms. Last year in Colorado 59 teens were rescued in the fourth largest bust in our nation. We believe that by bringing awareness to our communities the issue will no longer be silenced. We must shine a light on this issue. The more we know the stronger we will be at fight sex trafficking. Steel Horse Sisterhood Summit - June 9th, 2016 - June 11th, 2016 http://www.steelhorsesisterhoodsummit.com Inspiring Women on Motorcycles - From the woman who rides her own motorcycle, no matter the make or model, to the woman thinking about riding her own motorcycle, to the male and female co­riders who enjoy the lifestyle as a passenger rider you are invited to learn, laugh, and celebrate at the heart of the 2016 Steel Horse SIsterhood Summit in Ouray, CO. The Steel Horse Sisterhood Charities makes the Women’s Motorcycle Summit, The Summit Challenge, and Charitable Giving a reality through event registrations, donations, and corporate sponsorship. The charities supported this year are: Grace After Fire – Needing to expand our program through teaching, developing, and listening to the woman Veteran and her needs upon returning home. We commit to assisting in her transition back into family life, achievements in the work place, and her pursuit of happiness. Joyful Heart Foundation - Inspired by her role on Law & Order: 26 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado Our Breaking Silence Poker Run can help bring awareness that is desperately needed. An abolitionist in 1812, William Wilberforce, once said, “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.” Sister’s Centennial Motorcycle Ride – July 15th, 2016 http://sistersmotorcycleride.com/ This coast to coast ride commemorates the 100th anniversary of the motorcycle trip taken by Adeline and Augusta Van Buren’s historic ride across the United States from New York to San Francisco. The cross-country motorcycle ride for women, scheduled for July 3-23, 2016 with opportunities to register for day rides. “Local riders can now join us for one to three days, sharing the road and the event experience with us, without a three-week commitment.” The day rider option includes riding with the “main” group of riders, a route sheet of the day’s ride, rider support, dinner with the group and a commemorative T-Shirt. This registration option is for a maximum of three days. Riders wanting to join the event or four or more days would need to register differently. The day rider option does not include tolls, fuel, hotel rooms or entry fees to museums or other venues. June 2016 www.thunderroadscolorado.com