Reid's Ride attracts more than 200 cyclists

Organizers had stressed Saturday's Reid's Ride for Research 5K bike race and run would go forward rain or shine.

They just wished the charity benefit featured a little more shine and a little less rain.

More than 200 cyclists and runners took to the rain-soaked streets of downtown Glen Ellyn Saturday morning in the third annual ride organized by 13-year-old Reid Colliander, his family and several friends.

Blue and yellow balloons lined a section of the town's Main Street, area businesses scrawled notes of support on their front windows and a tent boomed loud music to pump up the wet crowd for much of the morning.

"The rain's kept some people home, but we've been out here all day," said Reid's father, Ken Colliander. "Reid doesn't want any other kid to go through what he had to go through."

Reid was diagnosed with a brain tumor six years ago and went through more than three years of rehabilitation. During rehab, he made a promise to help others if he could.

In 2005, he began selling lemonade at a stand during the town's Fourth of July festivities, a venture that netted the youth and his buddies more than $45,000 in donations for Children's Memorial Hospital. All told, Reid, his family and their supporters have raised more than $100,000 for the Chicago children's hospital, where Reid spent much of his time being treated.

"I thought it was important for our family to get involved," said Katie Vogg, a family friend who spent the morning handling race registration and helped nail down logistics with village officials. "We're supporting a friend and hopefully this shows my kids the importance of giving back to their community."

In past years, the charity bike ride has netted between $30,000 and $45,000. While roughly 320 participants registered for Saturday's race, organizers won't know how much they were able to raise for a few more days.

"The rain and the economy, I'm sure, will deflate that total," Ken Colliander said. "But it's great to see as many people as we did coming to help out."