If early June is any indication, this summer should be a blockbuster for Harley-Davidson events that benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Here is a round-up of some events that took place on June 2:

Sierrra Hope Ride
Modesto, Calif.

The 13th annual Sierra Hope Ride boasted nearly perfect weather and plenty of good times for the nearly 1,900 riders who took part and raised an amazing $270,000 for  MDA. 

Participants enjoyed a sunny day with temperatures in the mid-80s as they followed the route that left Mitchell’s Modesto Harley-Davidson in Modesto and went through  California’s scenic Gold Country.

The ride ended in the tiny mining town of Sonora, Calif., where participants were treated to barbecue lunch, festivities and music by the rock group Smithereens.

The event’s top fund-raiser, Vicki Colombo, raised over $9,300 to help “Jerry’s kids” who are battling neuromuscular diseases. One lucky rider, Brian McCleary, won a 2007 FXDB Dyna Street Bob.

Dropping in on the event from Harley–Davidson were executives David Alamshah, director of Transportation Logistics and Ron Mundt, director of Dealer Service Operations.

The Packerland Ride
Green Bay, Wisc.

About 900 riders took part in this popular event that traveled 82 miles from McCoy’s Harley-Davidson to the Time Out Sports Bar & Grill in Ashwaubenon, Wisc.

Riders, who raised an impressive $78,000 for MDA, made a stop in Reedsville, Wisc., where they were “welcomed with open arms” by the community of about 1,200 people, said MDA Regional Director Roxanne Shimek.   

The threat of thunderstorms kept some riders home this year, but “it didn’t rain on our parade,”or the enthusiasm of the event that was organized by Ken McCoy, the Green Bay Harley Owners Group and MDA, Shimek said.

The event included raffles, silent and live auctions, and was highlighted by an innagural bike raffle; the 2007 Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycle alone garnered $14,000 in raffle ticket sales.

Some Harley-Davidson VIPs took part: Mark Van Genderen, director of Investor Relations, for his second time at the event, and John Baker, Platform Marketing Director-Touring Motorcycles for his first time at the ride.

Wendover Ride for a Cure
Salt Lake City

The final numbers still aren’t in at this Utah-to-Nevada event that saw its 56th annual running, but event organizers are predicting that it likely will be the “best ever” in funds raised for MDA.

The event, spearheaded by Joe Timmons, owner of Harley-Davidson of Salt Lake City,  again drew 5,000 riders who made up Utah’s largest motorcycle parade.

After the riders traveled over 100 miles to cross the state line into Wendover, Nev., where they enjoyed an afternoon of food, fun and music that included performances by rock groups Foghat and Starship.

This wildly popular ride is also a favorite for many young people served by MDA, who look forward to the chance to sit atop a Harley-Davidson or join the ride in sidecars or specially crafted seats that enable a child with a neuromuscular disease to ride on back of the motorcycles.