Update (Jan. 24, 2022): Due to the overwhelming response, the location for Ronnie’s celebration of life has changed to Sealy Knights of Columbus, 1310 Highway 90 West, Sealy, TX 77474.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation mourns the loss of Ronnie Lunsford, a longtime leader within the Ride for Kids community and well-regarded member of the motorcycle riding and racing world. He passed away on January 17 at the age of 63 and is survived by his wife Janet, twin daughters Leigh and Lauren, and two grandchildren.
Ronnie organized PBTF’s first Houston Ride for Kids in 1993 and has led the event in raising more than $5 million for research and family support that impacts thousands of children’s lives each year. In a 2016 interview with Roadracing World, Ronnie shared:
Ronnie was inducted into the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association Hall of Fame in 2004. He won 28 CMRA sprint Championships, 18 CMRA Endurance Champions, and six overall Championships. He also owned and operated the Northwest Honda Ducati dealership for 35 years.
“Ronnie truly embodied the passion and commitment of our Ride for Kids community and has been an extraordinary partner in PBTF’s mission to defeat the deadliest childhood cancer,” says Courtney Davies, PBTF President and CEO. “We will be forever grateful for his friendship and support, and his many contributions will continue to have a lasting impact on the children we serve for years to come.”
A celebration of life for Ronnie will be held on Jan. 30 at the Sealy Knights of Columbus (1310 Highway 90 West, Sealy, TX 77474). In lieu of flowers, Ronnie’s family has requested that donations be made to PBTF in his honor at https://team.curethekids.org/Lunsford2022.
For more about Ronnie’s life and many accomplishments, you can read Roadracing World Publishing’s remembrance here.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) proudly announces an infusion of $1 million to help researchers, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Drs. Pratiti (Mimi) Bandopadhayay and Rameen Beroukhim, launch a study into a novel therapeutic target and expand their research into overcoming treatment resistance and rebound growth.
Recently, the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act gained significant momentum in Congress when Charlie, a 12-year-old brain tumor survivor and advocate with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, testified to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee about the hurdles families face when seeking treatment for their child. Now, to see it become law requires your immediate action.
