Ride for Richie 2026 in Broome County: Date, Time and Details

This month, for the sixth year in a row, Michelle Barrett Lupo will watch a parking lot fill with motorcycles, cars, and families, all showing up for her son.

"My name is Michelle Barrett Lupo," she said. "Six years ago I lost my son, Richie, to suicide. Our community started Ride For Richie in his memory, and it has run every single year since."

Ride for Richie Marks 6 Years in Broome County

Ride for Richie began as a single ride Michelle organized. Six years later, it's still going, and this year it's growing into something bigger.

The 6th Annual Ride for Richie is set for Saturday, September 26, 2026, and it starts and ends at American Legion Post 1194, 363 West Service Road, in Hillcrest.

What to Expect at This Year's Broome County Ride

Registration opens at 9:45 a.m., with kickstands up at 11 a.m. sharp and riders expected back at the post around 3:30 that afternoon.

Food, live music, and basket raffles will be waiting back at the post, and the event isn't limited to motorcycles. Cars are welcome, and so are families who want to be part of it without swinging a leg over a bike. A $20 meal ticket covers food and drinks, and this year's live music comes courtesy of Bryan Thomas and Crooked River Saints.

"Everyone is welcome," and organizers mean that literally. This ride is built for the whole community, not just the riding community.

Ride for Richie Now a Registered New York Nonprofit

This year marks a milestone Lupo and her team have worked toward since the ride began. Ride for Richie is now a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit and an incorporated New York not-for-profit corporation. That change means every dollar raised at the event can now go further.

For a group that started as a family and a few close friends organizing something in Richie's honor, the nonprofit status gives them a lasting structure to keep doing this work long after the 6th annual ride is over.

Where Ride for Richie Donations Go

Freewill donations will be accepted throughout the day, and organizers have been clear about where the money goes. Proceeds from Ride for Richie support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Mercy House of the Southern Tier, and Camp Hope for Kids.

Suicide Prevention Message at the Heart of the Broome County Ride

Underneath the food, the music and the roar of engines, Ride for Richie carries a message that Lupo wants every attendee to leave with: if you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone, and help is available.

Anyone in crisis, or anyone worried about someone else, can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline any hour of the day. Organizers have made that number as central to this event as the route itself, right down to putting the words "you are not alone" front and center.