Annual Traci’s Hope Barbecue and Motorcycle Ride planned for October 1

The thirteenth annual Traci’s Hope Barbecue and tenth annual motorcycle ride to Traci’s Hope is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1. A popular event with all proceeds benefitting Traci’s Hope, guests will enjoy fun activities, great music and a legendary barbeque from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Apalachin Field Day Grounds.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children age six to 12. Barbeque tickets for registered participants of the motorcycle ride are $5.

Traci’s Hope, a non-profit organization, has donated more than $400,000 to date, which has helped over 550 people. For residents of Tioga and Broome Counties in N.Y. and Susquehanna and Bradford Counties in Pa., Traci’s Hope helps individuals undergoing breast cancer treatments pay for expenses outside of medical bills, such as gas money to get to appointments, childcare, mortgage or utility bills, or house cleaning, to name just a few.

“Last year alone, $41,000 was paid out to 53 individuals who asked for our help,” shared Gordon and Mary Shiner, parents of Traci Gibson, the Traci of Traci’s Hope.

Traci Gibson was diagnosed with Stage 3b breast cancer at the age of 31 and lived with the disease for seven years; she passed away on Oct. 3, 2006. Traci’s Hope was her inspiration, a fund set up to help breast cancer patients lessen the burden of overwhelming expenses.

The year 2016 marks the tenth anniversary of Traci’s death, and family and friends continue her mission to help others in need.

The barbeque will feature Chris Curry as emcee, along with popular music, the favorite ball drop game, and challenges like the nail drive competition and mechanical bull ride. Several raffles, a merchandise tent, and fun activities for children are planned.

A new raffle this year is a chance for guests to win a hot tub. Donated by Coral Isle Pools, raffle tickets are $10 each and will be sold at the barbeque. All proceeds benefit Traci’s Hope, and tickets will be on sale up until the drawing date planned at Coral Isle Pools on Black Friday, Nov. 25.

The motorcycle ride to Traci’s Hope will ride out of Wheels Roadhouse (Hiawatha Motorcycles) located at 3000 State Rte. 434 in Apalachin, N.Y. at 12:30 p.m., with arrival back to the barbeque about 2:30 p.m. Ride registration starts at 10:30 a.m., and the cost is $15 for riders and $10 for passengers. Barbeque ticket cost for registered bikers is $5.

Bikers come from afar for the 60-mile ride. A record to date, 375 bikers raised more than $8,000 for Traci’s Hope in 2010. For more information, call (607) 761-7290.

Additional Traci’s Hope events occur throughout the year, including the annual “Brassieres for Hope” scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 30. For a complete event list or to learn how to make a donation or to seek assistance, visit the Traci’s Hope website at www.tracishope.com, or find them on Facebook and Twitter.