Third annual Ride for Hope motorcycle blessing to kick off season
Ride for Hope, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity conceived and organized by JuliAnne Scully, a 40-year ovarian cancer survivor, invites motorcycle bikers and enthusiasts to their third annual motorcycle blessing at 9:30 a.m. May 3, in the parking lot of St. Peter Lutheran Church, 202 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg.
Bikers of all religious denominations, riding any make or model, are welcome. Bikes will be lined up in a cancer ribbon formation for a group aerial photo before the blessing to show support for women who have ovarian cancer and all other cancers. Bikers should arrive at 8:30 a.m. The blessing is supported by the EMS RoadDocs of Illinois, Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers, and the Illinois Route 66 HOG chapter.
St. Peter Lutheran pastor, Jerry Hays, a motorcycle enthusiast himself, will give the blessing.
“There is no charge for the blessing,” Scully said. “All we ask is a freewill offering to help support the church’s food pantry. We hope this blessing brings a safe riding season and protection for all drivers and riders this year.”
“Come as you are, leave blessed,” said Hays.
The blessing has become a tradition at Ride for Hope at the start of the motorcycle riding season. Afterward, everyone is invited to ride to or meet at Conrad’s Harley Davidson, a 40-plus year family-owned dealership at 19356 NE Frontage Road in Shorewood, for a celebration of International Female Riders’ Day.
“Conrad’s general manager Joe Teeling and his staff are passionate about supporting women bikers,” said Scully.
Teeling has invited speakers, including Scully, who will talk about being a biker, how she survived ovarian cancer, and years later started her charity, Ride for Hope, to support the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and help local women battling the physical and financially devastating effects of ovarian cancer. Partygoers will enjoy lunch and music.
Ride for Hope will celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a ride and rally on June 1.
“Our mission is to spread awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, to help improve the quality of life for women battling this silent disease, and to provide monetary assistance to those with financial hardships,” said Scully. “For the past 10 years we have supported the NOCC and (more than) 16 individuals who have needed funding for prescriptions not covered by insurance, food and household items due to loss of wages, and money for treatments not covered under their plans, just to name a few.”
To nominate someone suffering from Ovarian Cancer to be a Ride for Hope 2025 recipient, visit www.rideforhopeil.org.
In 2015, its inaugural year, Ride for Hope raised $25,600. Since then, Ride for Hope has raised well over $350,000.
One in 78 women is diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, according to Scully, and approximately 15,000 women die from the disease annually. Illinois ranks fifth in the nation for the most ovarian cancer deaths. “Our goals for fundraising are to ease the financial burdens of our recipients, celebrate our survivor’s anniversaries, honor those who have gone before us, and teach more women to Take Early Action and Live,” she said.
The June 1 Ride for Hope ride and rally leaves from and returns to Moretti’s Restaurant, 1175 W. Lake St., Bartlett. Day-of registration opens at 8 a.m. with kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. for the 75-mile escorted ride. After the ride everyone is invited to a buffet lunch, cash bar, and party featuring music by Freebyrd, Chicago’s Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, a silent auction, raffles, and vendors.
To register for June 1 ride and rally visit the Ride for Hope page on RFH2025.eventbrite.com, or register at the May 1 bike blessing and save the fees. To join the 2025 Ride for Hope TEAL family of volunteers, learn about upcoming fundraising events, donate, or learn about the early warning signs of ovarian cancer, visit www.rideforhopeil.org.