Barb's Harley-Davidson Garage Party - Women's Riding Essential

Monday, June 30, 2008

Jun 26, 2008

Barb's Harley-Davidson Garage Party - Women's Riding Essential
W. Collingswood Heights, NJ

Jan Emanuel-Costley introduces Divas For A Cure at "A Ladies Only Evening" featuring Endurance Racer Nicole Roesch & Custom Motorcycle Builder JodyPerewitz at Barb's Harley-Davidson.


The ladies are holding the Harley-Davidson/2008 Divas For A Cure Commemorative Bandana.

Motorcycle club member to take part in cross-country benefit

Source: Pocono Record (Click Here to Read Article)

By Andrew Scott
Pocono Record Writer
June 30, 2008















As a New Jersey high school student in 1976, Elaine Thomas terrified her father when she bought her first motorcycle, a Kawasaki, from a neighbor.

Since then, Thomas, now a Nazareth resident retired from the Department of Corrections, has always owned a two-wheel steel horse. Her current ride is a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy.

Thomas is one of the Divas For A Cure, four women leading a volunteer nonprofit effort to raise both public awareness on breast cancer and funding for research to find a cure. Like Thomas, the other three Divas are motorcyclists.

This will be her first year taking part in the Divas' annual Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run, a 6,000-mile round-trip ride, starting July 19, from Morrow, Ga., to Ontario, Canada, and back again.

The Divas stop at various Harley-Davidson dealerships and other locations along their route, distributing literature and information about breast cancer, warning signs and the importance of getting breast exams early. They also invite other motorcyclists to ride with them in support of the cause for however far the others want to ride.

"I'm so excited about this ride I can't think straight," said Thomas. "It's a chance to do something I enjoy doing for a purpose and to honor the memories of those I've lost (aunt and grandmother) to breast cancer."

Thomas, whose Diva nickname is "Hunter," joined the organization after meeting Divas founder Jan "Sunny" Emanuel-Costley in Maryland during an interstate road trip with friends. Soon after, she met fellow Divas A.J. "Suga Soldier" Coffee and Cynthia "Chicago" Marcy.

Each Diva has her own fundraising page on the Web sites, www.divasforacure.org and www.realdivasride.com, which direct visitors on pledging tax-deductible donations.

"We have sort of a (friendly) competition going between the four of us to see who can raise the most," Thomas said, smiling.

Last year's effort raised a total of $50,000, which went to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. The Divas aim to top that amount this year.

The Divas will make two stops on the way down to Morrow, Ga., from where the annual benefit round-trip ride starts July 19. The first will be July 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at Barb's Harley-Davidson in West Collingswood Heights, N.J., and the next will be July 16 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Harley-Davidson of Greensboro in Greensboro, N.C.

Thomas also is a probationary member of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club's Pocono Mountains chapter.

The club, which has chapters in communities across the country, honors the memory of the Buffalo Soldiers, an all-African-American military unit formed by the federal government after the Civil War and credited with helping civilize the western frontier. The club serves as a social network, with its chapters involved in community volunteer work and fundraisers to support various causes.

Buffalo Soldiers club chapters will escort the Divas and any other motorcyclists riding with them as they pass from state to state.

"We pay all trip-related expenses for ourselves, including nightly hotel stays, out of our own pockets," Thomas said. "That's a total of more than 20 hotel stays for the entire trip. We make anyone else who rides along with us aware that they will have to pay their own way."

As they do every year, the Divas will have a driver following them, towing a trailer equipped for emergencies such as breakdowns or accidents. This year, the driver will be Thomas' husband, Les Thomas, who also is a motorcyclist.

"I feel so enthusiastic about this trip," Elaine Thomas said. "I just look forward to the camaraderie of people riding together and doing it for a cause."

Those wishing to donate to breast cancer research through the Divas can visit their Web sites or send checks to: P.O. Box 1256, Brown Mills, N.J., 08015. Those wishing to ride with the Divas can contact Emanuel-Costley at (609) 997-0695 or (510) 891-2300.

Harley-Davidson helps Divas put the brakes on breast cancer

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Source: http://finchannel.com

The FINANCIAL -- Harley-Davidson Motor Company is proud to announce its participation in the third annual Divas For A Cure (DFAC) Annual Cross-Country Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run.

Hundreds of motorcyclists and motorcycle enthusiasts will make their way to Atlanta, Ga., to kick off the event on July 19. The annual motorcycle run is organized by DFAC, a service-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising cancer awareness through early detection, education, screenings and supporting research for eradicating cancer. Last year DFAC raised $50,000 for breast cancer research. The organization is looking forward to reaching a target of $100,000 from this year’s ride. The DFAC motorcycle run is scheduled to take place from July 16 to Aug. 6 with donations presented to the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - Nellie B. Connally Breast Center.

Along with Harley-Davidson attendees, the ride features the “Divas” including Founder and President of the organization Jan Emanuel-Costley, Vice-President Aj Coffee, Cynthia Marcy and Elaine Thomas. Road captains will accompany the “Divas” from the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club. The DFAC run will include “Meet and greet” events at various participating Harley-Davidson dealerships along the route where people will have the opportunity to make donations or register to ride. The “Divas” are also scheduled to participate in a VIP tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum on July 22 guided by Curatorial Director, Jim Fricke. “We are very excited to have Jan Emanuel-Costley and her supporters tour our exciting new museum. Similar to Jan’s commitment and passion to bring awareness to breast cancer, we are just as committed to support great efforts like the Divas For A Cure ride and other community-focused initiatives,” said Jim Fricke.

The 6,000-mile ride is scheduled to depart from Brown Mills, N.J., to official kick-off city of Atlanta; Atlanta to Canada; Canada to the National Bikers Roundup in Pennsylvania; down the East Coast; and finally returning back to Atlanta. The meet and greet dates will begin following the initial departure from New Jersey. More details on the route are available online at www.DivasForACure.org. The riders, featuring the “Divas” and members of the Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club, will make their first meet and greet appearance July 16 in Greensboro, N.C. "Our mission is simple. Breast cancer awareness and early detection is key to survival. I am living proof. We are simply ordinary women trying to do extraordinary things to impact the lives of women in our community, and change the image of women in motorcycling. We are committed to the cause until there is a cure," said Jan Emanuel-Costley.

The DFAC motorcycle run includes stops at various Harley-Davidson dealerships where the “Divas” hope the community will show their support by making a donation to the cause, registering to ride with the group to the next city or to support their efforts. Harley-Davidson dealership stops include:

Harley-Davidson of Greensboro, Greensboro, N.C. (July 16)
Harley-Davidson of Clayton County, Morrow, Ga. (July 19)
Harley-Davidson of Louisville, Louisville, Ky. (July 20)
A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson, Columbus, Ohio (July 21)
House of Harley-Davidson, Greenfield, Wisc. (July 22)
Motor City Harley-Davidson, Farmington Hills, Mich. (July 23)
Boston Harley-Davidson, Everett, Mass. (July 25)
Harley-Davidson of Ocean County, Lakewood, N.J. (July 26)
Harley-Davidson reception at the Annual National Bikers Roundup at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds, Greensburg, Pa. (July 31)
 
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