With four days, 69 BMW bikes and riders and 1,170 miles, the fun begins.

A group of 69 motorcycle riders began a four-day tour of California, Nevada and Arizona to raise funds for two charitable causes.

”We are raising money for the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation in Lynwood, Calif., where we usually raise about $55,000 annually. We also collect about $25,000 for the California Highway Patrol 11-999 Foundation, which is able to help families of the officers who are lost, injured or disabled in the line of duty,“ said Gary S. Goltz, ride marshal.

This year's BMW Charity Ride expects to raise more than $80,000 for the two foundations. Donations to the medical center will be earmarked for the St. Francis Footprints Program, which provides clothing and shoes to children who otherwise would be unable to attend school.

The ride's primary sponsor is BMW of North America, the firm that is responsible for the distribution of BMW automobiles and motorcycles in the United States. Participants in the Fifteenth Annual BMW Charity Ride are corporate executives and business owners from all over the United States.

Goltz took a big role in the charity ride by driving his original and fully restored California Highway Patrol car. The 1955 Buick was featured in the Highway Patrol television series years ago. The Buick is the same one used in the famous 1950s series that starred Broderick Crawford. Crawford's son Kelly is participating in the ride as well, Goltz said.

The charity ride events began on Wednesday at 6 p.m. with a welcome reception at St. Francis Medical Center. Thursday the riders traveled from Ontario, Calif., to Lake Havasu City, a distance of 300 miles and about five hours of riding time.

”We made it 300 miles today and everything went great,“ said Goltz.

Today riders are planning a 250-mile trip to Sedona on U.S. 60 and State Route 89 through Prescott. A ”freeway free“ day is in store for the riders before beginning another day on Saturday.

With the longest day mapped out for Saturday, 360 miles and seven hours of ride time is in the books. The ride takes the BMW enthusiasts through Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff, continuing to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. The final leg of the day will take the bikers over the Colorado River at Davis Dam and into Laughlin, Nev., for the final night.

”The ride is really a great time,“ said Ryan Autrey, Long Beach, Calif. BMW charity rider. ”The weather on the ride really varies for us. There is about a 50-degree temperature difference from going from California to Sedona, Ariz., where it gets pretty chilly.“

The final day, Sunday, ends the four-day charity ride with 260 miles and over four hours of ride time in a return to Ontario, Calif. around 12:30 p.m.

You may contact the reporter at zeller@havasunews.com.