Aiming To Rev Up Local Riders: ‘Bikers Out For Blood’

TRAVERSE CITY (June 10, 2009): Area motorcyclists are invited to take part in the 5th annual Bikers Out For Blood, a 90-mile ride through scenic Leelanau County on Saturday, June 27, 2009, featuring beautiful countryside, a poker run, and the satisfaction of helping give the chance of a lifetime to people who need marrow transplants: the proceeds of the event will benefit the Marrow Program at Michigan Blood, which recruits marrow donors in cooperation with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).

Cosponsored by KLT 97.5-98.9 THE ROCK STATION, Performance Customs, and The Happy Hog Café, the “Bikers Out For Blood” motorcycle tour and fundraiser will rev up with KLT’s Omelette and Finster broadcasting LIVE from 10 a.m. until Noon at the Happy Hog Café, 810 Front Street, Traverse City. While the two are on air, Bikers Out for Blood participants can vote for their favorite motorcycle and take advantage of the breakfast that will be available for purchase. At Noon, Omelette and Finster will abandon the microphones, grab their helmets, and take off at the head of the Bikers Out For Blood entourage. For bonus interest and fun along the way, the ride will include several poker run stops. Ninety miles and about four hours later, the group will arrive back at the Café, where an after-ride party will include food, live music, and awards.

Bikers Out For Blood registration costs just $20 per rider, and the first 100 riders to pre-register will receive a special gift. Registration forms can be picked up at Performance Customs and the Happy Hog Café; requested by calling 616-233-8600; or accessed on line at WKLT.com or www.miblood.org, or www.bikersoutforblood.org.

Proceeds from Bikers Out For Blood will support the Marrow Program at Michigan Blood, the blood bank that supplies blood for hospitals in this area and also recruits marrow donors for NMDP’s Be The Match Registry. To add each donor to the international registry, Michigan Blood must perform the costly tissue-type testing that is required to match donors with recipients.

“Testing for just one marrow donor costs $135,” said Nikki Outhier, Development Director for the Blood Center, who is coordinating the Bikers Out For Blood event. “As a nonprofit organization, the Blood Center has limited funds available to pay for marrow donor testing. Charitable funding support is needed to continue adding marrow donors to NMDP’s worldwide database.”

A nonprofit community blood bank, Michigan Blood in Northwest Michigan serves hospitals in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, and Osceola counties, including all Munson Health System facilities, West Shore Medical Center in Manistee, and Spectrum Health-Reed City Campus. Across the state, Michigan Blood provides blood for hospitals in four major regions with a combined population of more than 1.5 million.

© Michigan Blood