More than a thousand motorcyclists and supporters at the 17th annual Houston Ride for Kids raised $300,438 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation yesterday.

Seventeen local brain tumor survivors led the ride with a police escort from a new start point, the civic center in Humble. Motorcyclists toured the countryside around Lake Houston before returning for the Celebration of Life program.

Several Ride for Kids "stars" spoke during the program, including 5-year-olds Javier and Delaney and Jordan, 12.

PBTF scholarship recipient Darla, 21, thanked the fundraisers by saying, "There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I wouldn't be here without you. Please continue to do what you do."

Dr. Johannes Wolff of M.D. Anderson and Dr. Murali Chintagumpala of Texas Children's Hospital told the crowd that researchers deeply appreciate motorcyclists' fundraising for Ride for Kids.