For the first time in its 21-year existence, motorcycle enthusiasts will be joined by bicyclists in separate runs for the annual Kids and Cancer Benefit Run on July 28.

Organizer Dave Geitner said the 21st annual benefit run will be held in conjunction with the inaugural Pedal for Kids and Cancer bicycle runs coordinated by Pete Dzirkalis, owner of the Just Riding Along bicycle shop in Bradford. A $25 registration fee will be required of participants of both the motorcycle and bicycle runs.

“We’re not familiar with (a bicycle run), but we figured it’s another avenue we never considered for people to reach out and help the kids,” Geitner remarked. “We’re getting permits together and I still have to sit and talk with Pete.”

The annual benefit run, which has donated over $450,000 to medical facilities and families of area children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, welcomes the bicycle runs as they will help raise more funds for children.

“The registration fee (for motorcyclists and cyclists) will include a (Kids and Cancer pin) and we’ll also include a $5 food voucher for establishments and restaurants in the Main Street area” of Bradford, Geitner said, noting the organization will also promote downtown businesses during the event.

He said registration for the motorcycle run will be held from 9 to 11:45 a.m. at the Zippo-Case south parking lot on Congress Street. Raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win a 2018 Harley Davidson Softail Low Rider, as well as other prizes. Pre-registration can be conducted online at kidsandcancerbenefitrun.com through July 10. Early registrants will receive a Kids and Cancer T-shirt and pin. The shirts can also be purchased the day of the event.

Geitner said the motorcycle run will travel through downtown Bradford and Allegheny National Forest, with several stops along the way. Main Street Manager Chelsea Schwab will also conduct a safety event for children and families on Main Street near Veterans Square the day of the benefit run. More details on the run and related activities, which will include live music by the Second Act band and a downtown block party, will be provided at a later date.

“We’re also going to have a bike show in Veterans Square that will include motorized bikes, domestic and American, and bicycles,” Geitner added. “If you are a run participant, you’re automatically included in the bike show.”

Those who are not involved in the motorcycle or bicycle runs, but who still want to participate in the bike show, will be asked to donate $10 to register.

For his part, Dzirkalis said he offered to coordinate the bicycle runs the day of the benefit after he was approached by organizers of Kids and Cancer.

Dzirkalis, who has owned Just Riding Along for 15 years and conducts a group road bike ride at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and a mountain bike ride at 6 p.m. Thursdays, said he agreed to help the benefit as he knows some people on the Kids and Cancer board.

“We’re going to have two bicycle rides and they’ll be on the road,” he continued. “The short ride will start downtown and we might ride through Main Street” and travel to the McDowell Community Trail at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. From there bicyclists will ride to Clarks Lane, Langmaid Lane, Crookerhouse Lane and West Corydon Street for a 10-mile loop. A modified five-mile ride will also be available to participants.

“We’re also going to do a more challenging 35-mile ride for more experienced riders,” he added. “That will go through Allegany State Park” along a route that follows Interstate Parkway to Red House Lake, the Quaker General Store and back to Interstate Parkway and downtown Bradford.

“We’re going to basically have guided rides,” Dzirkalis explained. “We hopefully will have three or four ride leaders and followers who will try to keep everybody together and help anybody if they have issues with their bikes. It’s not a race, it’s basically just a guided fun ride to benefit the organization.”

For more information, contact Geitner at 331-8427, Dzirkalis at 363-9101 or visit kidsandcancerbenefitrun.com or Pedal for Kids and Cancer on Facebook.