Photo courtesy of Mark Mitchell Photography Kathy Hooper & Liz Schmick "Cowgirls" against cancer.

Two Virginia District GWRRA Members, Liz Schmick, GWRRA #104570-01, and Kathryn Hooper, GWRRA #83761-01, will ride their motorcycles in the "Pony Express Tour '96." As the national fundraising ride for breast cancer research conducted by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Dallas, Texas, the relay event circles the perimeter of the lower 48 United States from June 29-August 18. Liz Schmick will ride from Roanoke to Waynesboro, Virginia, on July 11; Kathy Hooper will ride from Waynesboro to Front Royal, Virginia, on July 12. As "principal riders," each has pledged to raise at least $1000 for the Komen Foundation. By taking part in "Pony Express Tour '96," Liz (on her Honda Shadow VLX) and Kathy (on her Honda Gold Wing Interstate) will complete 100 to 300 mile legs of a 14,300 mile journey that ends at one of the event sponsors: the South Fork Ranch in Dallas, Texas. Other sponsors include the American Motorcyclist Association, BMW motorcycles, American Motorcycle Institute, Alem International Promotion Group and Women's Motorcyclist Foundation, Inc. Several GWRRA Chapters are assisting Liz and Kathy in their fundraising efforts, and are planning various activities to highlight the "Pony Express Tour" as it traverses Virginia on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Many local GWRRA participants will accompany these ladies on their legs of the tour. All proceeds from the "Pony Express Tour '96" will go to a dedicated research fund at the non-profit Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast cancer is the leading killer of women between 34-55 years of age; in 1996 an estimated 46,000 women and 300 men will die of breast cancer. To contribute to, or receive information about the tour, write "Pony Express Tour '96," P.O. Box 3684, Richmond, VA 23235-7684. Checks should be payable to Komen Foundation.

Reproduced here with permission of Nick Hoppner, Editor - Wing World Magazine. This article originally appeared on page 80 of the June 1996 issue.