Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Kosciusko County will hold its Third annual BIG Ride on Saturday, Aug. 2. The event provides riders with the chance to enjoy the open air during the 100-mile round trip ride throughout Kosciusko County starting at The Bowling Alley in Warsaw with a send-off by nationally-known guitarist, Kevin Kyle, as he plays his amazing rendition of The National Anthem.

The state police escorted ride will return to The Bowling Alley where the party begins and lunch is provided. Attendees will enjoy door prizes, live music, a raffle, hot dog eating contest, live music, a Little Cruise-In and other fun activities—all while giving back to the local community. Space is limited, so please contact Trina Hoy at 574-551-6386 or email her at [email protected] to reserve a spot today.

Day of event registration starts at 10 a.m. at The Bowling Alley located at 1535 N. Detroit St. in Warsaw, while the escorted ride begins at 11 a.m. The cost is $20 for a single rider and $25 for a rider and passenger. Monies raised from this event stay in Kosciusko County to support the mentoring of at-risk children. Big Brothers Big Sisters uses this money to directly and professionally support both current matches and create new matches within Kosciusko County.

The Third Annual BIG Ride event is a great opportunity for current ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ to have fun, and for community members to support local mentoring and learn more about how you can make a difference in your community through mentoring. This year the ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ will be holding a Little Cruise-in. While the riders are gone, with the help of their ‘Bigs’, the ‘Littles’ will construct and decorate model cars donated by Lowe’s Home Improvement, to be judged by the riders when they return.

The ride itself appeals to the rider as well. According to Laster Boggs, “Nothing compares to the rumble of motorcycles gleaming in the sun gliding over the black pavement. It’s the Big Ride, but it not about the ride — it’s about the BIG difference you can make in a boy or girl’s life in Kosciusko County. It’s about making BIG moments in their life they will never forget. It’s about you and your BIG heart coming together for a cause that can change the life of a ‘Little’ in such a BIG way.”

The BIG Ride provides the community with the opportunity to support the local programs offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters. In Kosciusko County, more than 2,000 children live in single-parent homes, approximately 16 percent live in poverty and approximately 12 percent don’t graduate from high school. By having a mentor, these children have statistically proven to break the cycle. Children in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ programs are 46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs, 89 percent more likely to do better in school, 42 percent more likely to earn a college degree and 33 percent less likely to commit physical violence.

Thanks to The Bowling Alley, Pillbox Pharmacy, Kohl’s, KCH/Medstat, Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club, Zigabyte Corp., Paragon Medical, Medtronic, Surefire Advertising, and A+ Sign Graphics for generously sponsoring to help us create a successful event.

To learn more about how you can support the children in Kosciusko County by signing up for the BIG Ride or by volunteering just a few hours a month, please contact your local Big Brothers Big Sisters representative, Trina Hoy at 574-551-6386 or via email at [email protected].