This ride will benefit Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
56th Annual Flood Run®
September 18, 2021 | Beach Bar
2030 St. Croix Trail S, Lake St. Croix Beach, MN
Registration/check-in
8:00 - 11am
As long as there is no prohibition on gathering during the periods of the Flood Run, we plan to hold the event.
Being outdoors and on motorcycles is a great way to social distance.
Next Spring Run on April 16, 2022
Meet Kate
Catherine “Kate” Harkness was born at 23 weeks into the pregnancy at 1 pound 2 ounces. She and her twin brother, Bennett (1 pound 7 ounces at birth) were born with serious health issues. Kate was in the Natal Intensive Care Unit for 158 days and had 5 surgeries while she was there.
Now, Kate is all about pink, unicorns, and defying expectations.
When Kate’s doctors suspected she had a form of Cerebral Palsy, they advised her parents, “Gillette is the place to go. It sets the bar on caring for kids who have CP.” The Gillette team that surrounds Kate includes surgeons, physicians, nurses, and physical and occupational therapists. They put together a program for Kate including custom ankle-foot orthosis and a custom-fit walker. It also included selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery. This irreversible procedure corrects muscle spasticity by cutting the nerve rootlets in the spinal cord that are sending abnormal signals to the muscles.
Kate’s parents were nervous about the surgery, but knew that Kate is a spunky young girl who would not want to settle for less.
Kate’s surgery was successful. Immediately afterwards, there were 6 weeks of intensive inpatient rehab therapy. She was doing out-of-bed therapy three days after surgery. Her stuffed rabbit, Violet, was incorporated into the therapy sessions, which make the sessions seem more like play than hard work.
Kate’s recovery is a shining example of her family’s motto, “Never set limits.”
See more of Kate's story at: https://www.gillettechildrens.org/khm/pink-unicorns-and-sdr-surgery
Working towards a future where kids can be kids and all unicorns can ride motorcycles.
Comaraderie
Join other riders
Run Information
All makes and models are welcome.
Wristbands are $10. Please preregister for the run.
The official start and end is at the Beach Bar in Lake St. Croix Beach, MN.
Get your gold pins for completing the entire ride.
Be Safe! Don't drink and ride!
Official Merchandise
Pick-up wristbands at the Flood Run® booths. While you are there pick up an official Flood Run® t-shirt, pin, hat, hoodie, bandanna, etc. 100% of the money you spend in an official Flood Run® booth goes to Gillette's. Merchandise is donated by Polaris Foundation and Indian Motorcycle.
Support our Sponsors
Many of our sponsors have discounts for Flood Run® participants. You can support our sponsors all year.
About The Flood Run®
History
The Flood Run® motorcycle ride has always been a charity event. From throwing sandbags in 1965, to buying a benefit wristband to support a great cause.
This ride will benefit Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
The Flood Run® has a history of giving. In 1965, 12 motorcycle riders rode 90 miles to Winona, MN to help sandbag during the 1965 Flood.
Most of the original 12 spent the next several years in Vietnam, but all were back home by 1970. They decided to carry on the tradition. Jim Noteboom named the ride The Flood Run®. As the years went by, a fall Flood Run® was added to have twice as much fun.
Over the years, the Flood Run® motorcycle run/ride has grown and gone through many changes. It is one of the oldest and largest runs in America.
The original run went down Minnesota highway 61 to Winona. Over the years, some riders began riding down Wisconsin 35. Now the run is a loop running down both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the river.
At Highway 10, riders can go left into Prescott, or right to Highway 61 and down the nostalgic Minnesota side. Riders can cross the Mississippi in Prescott, Red Wing, Wabasha, or Winona. Cross the river where ever you like, jump in where ever you like, or do the full Gold Pin Tour. Just make sure to purchase a Flood Run wristband to show your support for the Children's Hospital.
The Flood Run® is run by dozens of volunteers. Their passion for children and generous giving of their time is what permits this epic event to happen each spring and fall. Please extend a sincere “thank you” to those you run across that make your day on the Flood Run® a great day.
Thank you.