Casey Kemmerer and Kelli Leatherman wanted to show their appreciation to their mother, Susan Kemmerer, a breast cancer survivor who has provided them with a lifetime of inspiration. They decided to enlist the assistance of motorcycle riders in the Bikers for BaZooms fundraiser that will be held Aug. 29. The event will benefit the Susan G. Komen for The Cure Foundation that helps raise funding dollars for breast cancer research.

“Watching our mom who has been really hard-working all her life, she’s an inspiration to us. Seeing her down was frightening to us because she is such a go-getter. Now she’s getting back to normal,” Kelli explained. “Casey and I decided to do the fundraiser because of the need for the funding and research that brings these (breast cancer) drugs to the market. It’s our way of helping fund research.”

Susan was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in October 2008. She completed the surgery and chemotherapy and is now receiving radiation.

“I’m a survivor today. My prognosis is very good,” Susan said, noting the importance of cancer drugs to her fight. “These drugs were not in existence 10 years ago.”

Kelli and Casey’s brother Andy when he was about two years of age came up with the catchy anatomical descriptor that now has been included in the name of the fundraising event for breast cancer research.

“He figured everybody would get it,” Kelli said with a chuckle as she and Casey and Susan sat at the kitchen table last week.

Registration for the Aug. 29 Bikers for BaZooms event begins at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Big Daddy’s Automotive & Cycle Repair is located at 1850 Ga. Highway 85 South. Registration forms are also located at Big Daddy's Automotive & Cycle Repair and Big Daddy's Oyster Pub. Riders will leave Big Daddy’s at 10:30 a.m. and will travel to Great South Harley-Davidson on Ga. Highway 16 in Newnan then onto Big Daddy’s Oyster Pub in Peachtree City for an after-event party, raffle and auction.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will enable Kelli and Casey to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk in Atlanta coming up in October.

Leatherman said the cost for Bikers for BaZooms is $20 per rider and $30 for a rider and passenger. The first 100 riders will receive a free Bikers for BaZooms t-shirt. All proceeds are tax deductible.

Auction items and prizes for the raffle are being donated by Discount Golf, KelliPaul Salon, Good Sports and Great South Harley-Davidson. The fundraiser is being sponsored by Cardinal Sanitation, Big Daddy’s Auto & Cycle Repair and Big Daddy’s Oyster Bar & Pub.

For more information on the local fundraiser contact Kelli Leatherman at (770) 298-4219.