Harley-Davidson’s Ride to Survive raises funds for those with cancer
Route 43 Harley-Davidson hosted the third annual Ride to Survive in memory of breast cancer victim Jennifer Jindra. The ride was part of the dealership’s annual summer-long drive for the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund.
Last year’s Coins for Cancer Care Drive at Route 43 Harley-Davidson ran for six months and amounted to a little over $4,000. July 11, 190 riders on 130 bikes raised $10,000 for the cause in one day.
“The event far surpassed any benefit Route 43 has ever hosted. We tripled the amount of participants and blew past years’ ride totals out of the water,” explained Chad Koeppel, ride event organizer. “It is a testament to the generosity of caring motorcyclists who live and ride in our community.”
Jindra, a Sheboygan County social worker who resided in Elkhart Lake, was diagnosed at 28 years old with breast cancer and passed away in February.
Deb Wentz, Jindra’s partner of 12 years, explained that Jindra would have been proud of everyone’s efforts. “Jen believed helping other people is our job on this planet.”
The ride ended at the Gravel Pit in Kiel with a cookout, D.J. and raffles. One anonymous rider donated $1,650 to the cause while others wrote checks to the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund for hundreds of dollars.
Several riders had been collecting sponsorship donations leading up to the ride, including Jindra’s five good friends: Rob and K.C. Brion of Elkhart Lake, Mike and Nicki Metz of Sheboygan, and Wentz of Elkhart Lake. Together the five friends collected over $2,000.
Jindra willed her bike to the Brions who said the ride was a wonderful cause because they understand firsthand how the illness can debilitate a family emotionally and financially.
“It’s hard enough to go through an experience like that without having to worry about medical expenses too,” K.C. Brion said.
Jindra’s brother, Mike Metz, described her as a funny, caring person whose giving nature evolved over time. “Deb was the turning point in Jen’s life – she went back to school, got her B.A. and M.A. degrees, and then started helping others,” Metz said.
“Jen was a recipient of a gift from a cancer care organization last year. She was a super giving person and always did things for others – I see this effort as paying it forward,” Nicki Metz added.
