Captured Event

July, 18 2009 - Fallen to Freedom Ride

What: Denver to Estes Park Motorcycle Rally to benefit Friends for Youth

Where: START: Grand Prix Motorsports, Littleton FINISH: The Other Side Restaurant, Estes Park

When: Saturday, July 18, 2009

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $25, $30 late

Beneficiary: Friends for Youth

Host(s): Andrew Yamazaki

Presenting Sponsor(s): Contract Engineering Services

Gala Chairperson(s): Andrew Jamazaki

Founders: Tracy Esslinger, Marvel Jones and Andrew Yamazaki

Co-Chair(s): Tracy, Marvel and Andrew

Executive Director: Tracy Esslinger

Committee Members: Natalie Carrado, Tim Gindro and Sally and Grant Roper

President(s): Dick Brown

Co-President(s): Don Reeverts

Staff: Jessica Cleveland, Tracy Esslinger, Michelle Hernandez, Marvel Jones, Dave Lucitt, Becky Slamal, Andrew Yamazaki and Christine Yaekle

Invocation: Pastor Ron Frierson

Catering: The Other Side Restaurant, Estes Park; Waltons Donuts, Denver; Einstein Bros. Bagels, 9th & Colorado Blvd., Denver; Starbucks, University Hills, Denver; Entemanns-Oroweat, Denver

Sponsors: Grand Prix Motorsports, Contract Engineering Services, Castlewood Canyon Church, Mr. K's Flowers, Cherry Hills Community Church, My Business Associate, Inc./Terri Seader, Friends for Youth Board of Directors

Event Coordinator: Andrew Yamazaki

Planning Committee: Natalie Carrado, Tracy Esslinger, Tim Gindro, Marvel Jones, and Sally and Grant Roper

Board of Directors: Karen Gardner, Don Siecke, Don Alferman, John Hesemann, Dick Brown, Don Reeverts and Tracy Esslinger

Blacktie Photos by: Jim Turley

Jim Read, left, and Kristie Read are waiting for the 'GO" signal
View all photos

Almost 70 bikers opened their hearts and their pocketbooks on Saturday, July 18th in support of Friends for Youth, whose mission is mentoring at-risk youth through friendship in the Spirit of Christ.

Increasing the awareness of mentoring opportunities and financial support was what brought out the riders and their guests to ride from Grand Prix Motorsports in Littleton to The Other Side Restaurant in Estes Park.

Since the founding of Friends for Youth in 1998, support has been provided to hundreds of young people who have "fallen." Some have fallen into the juvenile justice system, fallen behind in school, fallen through the cracks of the child welfare system, fallen due to neglect and abuse, and some have fallen captive to addiction.

Mentoring is the means to provide hope and support for those that have fallen. Many of the motorcyclists were already mentors, and they invited others in hopes of piquing their interest in sharing of themselves in a mentoring capacity.

There was a broad range of bikes - from a vintage Kawasaki 650 to the latest Harley Davidson and quite a few Japanese super-bikes. As they pulled away, all faces looked eager for the beautiful ride through Golden and onto to the Peak-to-Peak highway, and a rest stop in Nederland.

For more information about Friends for Youth, log on to www.friendsforyouth.com