Although Talley passed away from childhood cancer in June 2014, Team Franky continues to work to honor his memory and help families touched by childhood cancer.
This Saturday is set to be the third annual Ride for Franky and Family Picnic to raise money for Team Franky. Team Franky is a foundation set up by Franky’s mom, Tiffany Fusco, after his death. The foundation pays for Christmas gifts for children with cancer, transportation costs for sick kids and helps fulfill various other needs. The Ride for Franky and picnic are the biggest fundraising events the foundation has all year.
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The day kicks off with a poker ride where motorcyclists collect a card from each stop on the route. The ride begins with registration starting at 7 a.m., and kickstands up at 9:15 a.m. From the Tullytown Fire Company, the group will ride to the Langhorne Middletown Fire Company station on Langhorne-Yardley Road, the Midway Fire Company in Doylestown and finally Point Pleasant Fire Company in New Hope before returning to Tullytown for the family picnic.
This marks the first where Fusco will be going on the actual run.
The core of the planning group is made up of Mike and Michelle Hammar, Aaron and Karen Cohen and Joe Hanak. The entire committee numbers about twenty people.
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The picnic portion of the fundraiser runs from noon until 5 p.m. John Finby, a Tullytown police officer, is catering the food and Witzend will be performing.
All services are being donated, according to the planning group.
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Going on the third year, the run and picnic have gotten easier to plan. Volunteers stick around and organizers learn the ins and outs of how to pull off a successful fundraiser.
There will be raffle auction baskets, a moon bounce, face painting, characters, a dunk tank and balloon artist at the picnic, according to organizers. Firetrucks will be on the scene for kids to get up close and personal with and a 50/50 raffle.
“We’re just glad to be able to help,” Mike Hammar said.
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“You just want to help, you can’t not help,” Karen Cohen said.
Last year, the fundraiser raised $5,400.
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The ultimate goal for the ride and picnic is for the day to be anticipated in advance, Aaron Cohen said. Mike expanded on the topic, saying that having the ride cemented in the public conscious and having it raise a lots of money for the foundation each year is the ultimate goal.
For up to the minute updates on the ride, you can follow the Facebook page.
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The ride costs $25 per rider and $10 per passenger. The picnic is included in this price. Picnic tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for kids aged 6 through 14. Kids under 5 are free. Ticket prices include food and drinks.
