(KNZA)--The 7th Annual Kody Kautz Memorial ride is gearing up for another great ride on September 7th.  What started out as an annual motorcycle ride has now turned in to a non-profit children's organization "Kod-4-Kids".  When Ron and Connie Kautz first lost their son Kody after a choking incident they thought they couldn't go on.  To this day they struggle daily to maintain but the one thing that has helped them is helping others.  To a parent that has lost a child, it is a great fear that their child will be forgotten.  By starting the Kod-4-Kids foundation every time a child is helped, Kody is alive. Someone will be remembering him or meeting him.  Many times, the Kautz’s will get stories about how Kody affected someone’s life while he was alive.  There was the time a grandparent needed some help with gas money to be able to go a distance to get their grandchildren.  When grandma was told that Kod 4 Kids would be able to help she relayed a story that most were not aware of.  Apparently, this lady had been diagnosed with cancer and Kody was a friend of her son.  Her son had asked Kody to keep an eye on his mother because he was out of town.  The lady told Connie that almost every evening for 6 months, Kody would go by her place, take her a soda and check on her.  What a treasure it is for the Kautz family to hear such stories!  Through Kod-4-Kids they thought they would be helping others, but as it turns out they are the ones receiving the help. 

The annual motorcycle ride, it will be Saturday, September 7th with registration starting at 9:30 AM at the Highland Center on 75 hwy at the south edge of Holton.  The ride leaves Holton at 10:30 headed to the Sportsman Bar and Grill in Onaga.  There will be time allowed for a lunch there if the riders so choose.  From there, they go to Barleycorn's Downtown Bar and Deli in Wamego.  They leave Wamego headed to Silver Lake to "Just Chillin".  After leaving Silver Lake they head down the road to the VFW in Meriden.  Leaving Meriden to HummDingers in Valley Falls, and then going to Off the Square in Holton to end the ride.   Everyone is welcome to join them and do not have to ride a motorcycle to do so.  There are people every year that drive their private vehicles.  There is a dice throw game but participation is not mandatory.  While this is a fund raising event the main focus that day is Kody.  His birthday is September 8th and the ride is set up every year to be the first Saturday after Labor Day.  There will be a lot of door prizes to be given away, along with a silent auction.  To become a sponsor and get their name on the t-shirts, businesses donate $100 and they will also receive a t-shirt.  Many businesses and individuals aren't sponsors but have donated door prizes and silent auction items.  Check out the web site: http://www.kod4kids.org/ or the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kod-4-Kids to find out more information.  New information is added to both sites frequently.  

Kod-4-Kids is a non-profit children's charity that helps with many things.  Christmas and birthday gifts for children, clothes new and used, coats, glasses, fuel to go to medical appointments, families that have suffered tragedies such as fire and tornado, etc.  If there is a need somewhere they will do their best to help.  Board officers are as follows:  Chairman of the board is Justin Holstin, attorney.   President is Jennifer Bontrager, Vice President, Ron Kautz, Secretary, Autumn Brown and Treasurer, Heidi Kautz-Byrne.  Board members include Dr. Joel Hutchins, Kolt Kautz, Kenya Amon, Ronnie Sellens, Kim Haverkamp, and Mike McConnaughey.   Jordynn Brown, Heather Kautz-Conger, Curtis and Marcia Kautz and Connie Kautz are all active volunteers. 

If you know of someone needing assistance please contact Kod 4 Kids on their website.