The 11th annual Angel Ride to Save the TaTas will be held Saturday to raise money for those fighting breast cancer.

“Cancer weighs enough on everybody’s mind that it’s hard to imagine paying for the gas and electric, paying for the little things. Food to feed their kids,” said Lynda Lowery, one of the event organizers.

The ride attracts hundreds of motorcycles, but anybody can take part. Cars, trucks and vans are welcome, and for the second year in a row there will be a party bus to take the cancer-fighters around to five area bars.

Admission is $15 per person or $25 per person to ride the party bus. Attendance was 200 the first year, but has been as high as 500.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Aaron and Terra Alspack, of Carroll, seated comfortably on their 2013 Harley Davidson Road Glide, were among the early arrivals back at Amigos Saturday afternoon during the annual Angel Ride to Save the TaTas fundraiser.

“It’s just an awesome feeling seeing all those bikes take off first thing in the morning,” Lowery said. “The Farnhamville American Legion riders are going to do traffic control for us.”

The ride leaves from Amigos, 280 N. First St., by 11 a.m., with registration starting at 9 a.m. The ride should return by 5 p.m.

There will be a live and silent auction in the evening. Items include an autographed Iowa State poster, autographed Packers jersey, a pink electric guitar, and Air Choice One tickets.

Not only that, but the Fort Dodge Fire Department has offered a coupon for one ride to school in a fire truck.

All money raised goes to the UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center oncology department to help buy wigs, scarves, transportation, and things insurance doesn’t cover.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Jon Klass, of Fort Dodge, leads a group of riders on his 2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide Saturday afternoon as they return to Amigos during the annual Angel Ride to Save the TaTas.

“It stays local,” Lowery said. ” It not only helps with their copays … they went in and helped pay their water bill. They have people at the hospital who listen to what the people need.”

People can also get gas cards since they are running back and forth long distances to the doctor, she said.

The ride will travel through the Iron Saddle in Dayton, the Lucky Pig in Ogden, Toby K’s Hideaway in Boone, the Malibu Lounge in Jewell, and Stumpy’s in Duncombe.

For years, a woman has been featured speaker at the ride. This year it will be Bill Hanson, a male breast cancer survivor.

Hanson spoke earlier this year at the Angel Ride’s May Day luncheon. Less than 1 percent of all breast cancers are found in men, making the condition quite rare — but Hanson ended up needing a double mastectomy.

-Submitted photo Linda Donner, Lynda Lowrey and Shirley Hottman work the registration booth at the first Angel Ride 10 years ago, which had a tri-lingual theme to the shirts. Check-in was at the city square the first year, instead of Amigos, and about 200 people rode.

“It will give a new outlook this year I think, to have a man speak,” Lowery said.

Hearing the stories of those helped is what makes the ride so meaningful.

“At the ride we’ll put up testimonies’ Lowery said. “We’ve gotten testimonies from different people, that it has helped them. They’re at the end of their line, they don’t know what to do, and someone comes in and helps them with gas tickets.”

Last year the ride presented a check for $30,950.58 to the oncology department. It’s 10 year grand total is $254,494.

For more information or to see aution items, find the ride on Facebook at http://is.gd/angelride.