Annual Hopkins Memorial Ride to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation
WAYNESBURG — When Linda Hopkins of Waynesburg died unexpectedly in 2007, her family wanted to honor the 56-year-old woman in a lasting way.
It was decided to hold annual fundraisers in her name, “something to make her proud,” said John Bowman, who is married to Linda’s daughter, Janet Hopkins-Bowman.
Continuing in that tradition of “making her proud,” the 10th annual Linda Hopkins Memorial Ride will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, with all proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Linda’s name.
Make-A-Wish has been the beneficiary of the memorial bike rides from the beginning, and Vickie Hopkins, who is now married to Linda’s husband, Jim, said all the money that is raised “stays in Greene County to benefit a child here,” she said.
Sign-ups for the ride will be at the Waynesburg Moose. Registration will be held 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and the ride begins at noon. Bowman said the approximate 100-mile ride will conclude at 5 p.m. at the Jefferson Hotel. Riders will pay $20 and passengers $10, and Bowman said the number of riders “could depend on the weather, but we normally have had between 50 and 100 bikes in the memorial run.”
Vickie Hopkins said the average raised from the memorial runs has been between $3,500 and $4,000, but that figure also includes money from the Chinese auction, a 50-50 and T-shirt sales.
“Our goal is to raise enough money to grant a wish to one child,” Bowman said.
Make-A-Wish is an international nonprofit organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The local chapter was founded in May 1983 in Pittsburgh and has grown steadily with the help of people who volunteer their time and support.
For more information, or to make a donation to the Linda Hopkins Memorial Ride, contact Vickie Hopkins at 724-833-3645.