Just enough cloud cover on Sunday, May 5 made for a gorgeous Southern California day for the 5th Annual RIDE FOR RONNIE Motorcycle Ride and Concert, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (https://www.diocancerfund.org). Some 300 motorcycle riders joined the Ride at Harley-Davidson of Glendale, culminating with a concert at Los Encinos Park in Encino where a surprise performance by the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl added to an exciting afternoon of rock music.

This year's RIDE FOR RONNIE brought in $46,000 for the Fund's mission of cancer prevention, research and education for a cure for this dreaded disease that has touched all of us in some fashion.

Wendy Dio, Ronnie's widow and founder/president of the charity, led the procession of bikes around the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley with celebrity participants including Glendale Harley's Oliver Shokouh, actors Robert Patrick (Terminator, Scorpion, Mayans M.C.), Star Fields (Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C), Al Coronel (The Last Ship, Bosch), Frankie Loyale (Mayans M.C.), Cathy Zukimoto, Chris Bruno (The Dead Zone) and Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Seal Team) along with her husband champion ice skater Lloyd Eisler, Faster Pussycat's Taime Downe and actor/musician Sean McNabb, who also performed during the concert portion.

The afternoon concert was hosted by radio and television personality Eddie Trunk, and it featured Sadie & The Tribe, fronted by renowned fitness and yoga instructor Sadie Nardini (https://www.instagram.com/SadieAndTheTribe/), the mainly female Dio cover band DIA (https://www.facebook.com/pg/DIAtribute/about/?ref=page_internal), and LA rock bands Budderside (https://budderside.com), DC4, featuring Jeff, Matt and Shawn Duncan and former DIO band guitarist Rowan Robertson (https://artistecard.com/DC4), Bullet Boys (https://www.bulletboysofficial.com/) and Petty Cash, playing a mashup of the music of Tom Petty and Johnny Cash, featuring Todd Morse (The Offspring), Jason Womack (Fuel), Phil Buckman (Fuel) and Kemble Walters and Dylan Howard of ÆGES

Several stellar rock musicians under the banner of Eddie Trunk's All Star Band closed out the afternoon of live music with a set of rock classics. Foo Fighters' drummer Dave Grohl surprised the crowd by joining Black Star Riders' Ricky Warwick and Robbie Crane and Keith Nelson (Buckcherry) on performances of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" and Motörhead's "Bomber."

Said Grohl, who was accompanied by his daughters at the event: "I am here on this beautiful day in Encino because everybody loves Ronnie James Dio. He was my neighbor actually; we lived down the street from each other. I encourage everybody to come out and support the cause because it's a beautiful day with a bunch of beautiful people, and we hope to see you next year."

Among the other participants in Eddie Trunk's All Star Band were Dewey Bragg (Kill Devil Hill, Day of Errors); Jimmy Burkard (West Bound, Billy Idol); Mike Dupke (Dee Snider, WASP); Dicki Fliszar (Jack Russell's Great White); Abby Gennet (Slunt, The Riot Brides); Ace Von Johnson (Faster Pussycat, LA Guns); Sam Bam Koltun (Budderside, Knee High Fox); Johnny Martin (LA Guns, Adler's Appetite); actor/musician Sean McNabb (Lynch Mob, Dokken); Jerry Montano (Hellyeah, Danzig), Michael Oliveri (Leatherwolf); Joey Scott (Lizzy Borden); Neil Turbin (Bleed the Hunger, Anthrax); Chris Turbis (Boys of Summer, Mr. Crowley); Scott Warren (Dio); Chas West (West Bound, Bonham, Lynch Mob); Simon Wright (Dio, AC/DC, UFO), and Randy Rhoads' brother singer Kelle Rhoads who performed with his band members Nikki Lane Taylor and Gregory Alan Coates.

Dr. David Wong from the UCLA School of Dentistry reported to the crowd that his team's simple, non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer, known as EFIRM (electric field-induced release and measurement) technology, has just received regulatory approval, in part due to financial support from the Dio Cancer Fund. Staff from Kapoor Medical along with members Dr. Wong's team were on hand to field questions about the latest innovations in cancer prevention and screening and distributed complimentary sunscreen.

Attendees were treated to music, a raffle, silent auction and retail vendors. Live auctions for one-of-a-kind rock collectibles were held from the stage between artist performances. Food was available from G's Taco Spot (https://www.gstacospotgft.com/), Slammin' Sliders (https://www.slamminsliders.com/), and The Grilled Cheese Truck (https://www.thegrilledcheesetruck.com).

Sponsors supporting this year's RIDE FOR RONNIE include Harley-Davidson of Glendale www.glendaleharley.com ), Law Tigers (www.lawtigers.com), MacLeod Ale (www.macleodale.com/), Burn Cottage Vineyard (www.burncottage.com/), Mountain Valley Spring Water(https://www.mountainvalleywaterla.com), Tarzana Wine & Spirits (https://www.tarzanawineandspirits.com/), Robin Shaw & Upstaging (https://www.upstaging.com/), Fountain of Well Being (https://www.fwblosangeles.com/), Monster Energy Drink (www.monsterenergy.com/), Rok Drinks (www.rokdrinks.com/), Archie's Ice Cream (www.archiesicecream.com) and LA's premier rock radio station, 95.5 KLOS (www.955klos.com/).

Additional support for the RIDE FOR RONNIE was provided by All Access (stages), Clair Global (sound), ES CAT (generators), Road Radios (walkies), Mates (backline), Event Care Professionals (EMT services), Universal Waste Systems (trash bins), Ace Party Rentals (tents, tables, chairs), United Site Services (fencing/toilets), CISS Security, Southern CA Barricades, Western Bagel, Krispy Kreme Donuts and Starbucks. DW Drums (www.dwdrums.com) has graciously donated a full drum kit for the charity's use at all of its functions.

Participating craft, apparel and jewelry vendors were Al Bane for Leather (https://albane4leather.com/), Burbank Boulevard Bazaar (https://www.facebook.com/bbbazr/), Jessikay Henna (https://www.hennainthehighlandsbyjessikay.com/), Nathalie B Designs (https://www.instagram.com/nathaliebdesigns/), Thunderwear by Dai and Rockwood Saloon (https://www.rockwoodsaloon.com/).

Additionally, the Dio Cancer Fund wants to extend its appreciation to the 2019 RIDE staff and volunteers: Kia Andersson, Deme Bermudez, Uriah Bloom, Magda Boccaccini, Jeff Brausam, Anna Brunner, Neco & Adam Cameron, Natalie Camillo, Bob Carillo, Jessica Chase, Michele & Michael Coombe, Ron Crune, Derek DeVette, Diana DeVille, Peter Diario, Dennis DuBois, Alex East, Kevin Estwick, Maria Ferrero, Sal Flamenco, Elizabeth & Juan Flores, Jen Freeman, Dwayne Gillespie, Omar Gimenez, Rhian Gittens, Garret Gunther, Jeff Hanley, Richard Heinz, Robert Hughbanks, Nick Jackson, Steve Jackson, Sandy Kapoor & family, Scot Kaufman, Ann Kirkland, Russ Kolodenker, Mary Kusnier & family, Naomi Lark, Samantha Lazarus-Jaureguy, Chris Lebednik, Sheila Lindsey, Marissa Teitelman, Marina Mann, Adrian Marjolejo, Sofia Marquez, Roy McCraney, Michele Mecca, Dylan Melody, Michael Melody, Sheila Melody, Sabrina Ment, Jeremy Moon, Joanna Mosseau, Tim & Jody Murch, Angel Nava, Paul & Paula Newman, Tyler Newman, Gary Nuell, Scott Osgood, Adam Parsons, Paige & Tyler Phillips, Paul Phillips, Carl & Regina Rainey, Glen Ramsey, Rita Rendon, Jon Ripley, Rita Rodriguez, Martha Rosado, Charlene Ross, Becky Rossiter-Moon, Denise Santoro, Theresa & Zander Schachtel, Michael Schreibman, Lisa & Miranda Schwartz, Debbie Sellnow, Vincenza Sorisi, Rosa Carmelina Sotelo, Ryan Spitz, Carrie Steenken, Anthony & Laura Turner, Rick Valusek, Richard Wagner, Ann Webb, Donna & Dylan Weiser, Sharon Weisz, Rob Whitney, Terri-Lynn Willis, Danny Zelisko... and anyone else we may have accidentally forgotten to name.

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org) was formed in memory of the legendary rock singer Ronnie James Dio, who lost his life to gastric cancer in 2010. A privately funded 501(c)(3) public charity, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund has already raised over $2 million since its inception. Monies raised have been committed to the cancer research work of the T. J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research, the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life, and other cancer research projects. Over the past four years, the Dio Cancer Fund has committed funds to support the research of Dr. David Wong and his team at the UCLA School of Dentistry in developing a simple, non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer. This technology has been in research and testing phases over the last three years and recently received regulatory approval. This cutting-edge research, which is in keeping with the organization's mission of cancer prevention, research and education, will enable thousands of people to get screened for previously hard to detect cancers. Early detection saves lives!