Dream Ride, the 13th annual charity motorcycle ride and car cruise presented by Bozzuto’s Inc. and The Hometown Foundation, raised a record-breaking $520,000 for Special Olympics and united motorists to celebrate the organization’s dedicated and accomplished athletes this past Sunday, Aug. 25.
Thousands of motorcyclists and exotic and classic car enthusiasts, in addition to spectators, families and about 70 Special Olympics athletes from the Eastern Seaboard states and Canada came together at The Farmington Club for a day of camaraderie, live music, food, a car show and vendor exhibits.
The first Dream Ride “Florida to Connecticut” Convoy embarked on a 1,900 trek from West Palm Beach, Florida on Aug. 15 and arrived in Farmington on Friday, Aug. 23 to officially kick off Dream Ride weekend. By the time the Convoy reached Connecticut, it had already raised $120,000 in support of the event.
In Connecticut, rides from Branford, Bristol, Danbury, East Hartford, Ellington and others locales served as starting points for the ride on Sunday that culminated at The Farmington Club, Farmington.
As riders made their way through local towns such as Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Canton, many residents clapped and cheered loudly.
That along with logistical, moral and financial support from the local communities is crucial to the success of the event, said Chrissa Caramia, cause related marketing manager for Bozzuto’s Inc. of Cheshire.
“It’s a community experience,” she said. “It’s nice to see the residents come out and show their support.”
Special Olympics athletes participated in the ride in limousine buses that travelled a loop to and from The Farmington Club. And for a first time, young patients from the Connecticut Children’s Hospital also joined in the ride alongside their athlete peers.
Papa’s Dodge of New Britain served as the starting point for Dream Cruise/Wrangler Rally – a procession of over 100 exotic and classic cars that rolled into The Farmington Club – with many Special Olympics athletes as passengers - on Sunday for the celebration.
Portions of a submitted press release are included in this report.
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