The Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida recently made a decision to partner with the Cotee River Bike Fest. After initial discussions with the annual Bike Fest planners, members of the Sertoma Foundation board said that the non-profit organization will work together to present the Leather & Lace Bikers Ball on Thursday, Oct. 6. Kathy Sizemore, Mary Julian, Dan Tipton, Darrell Huling. Back Row: Dr. Linda Cox, Dale Nelson, John Skelton (Chairman of the Board), Edward N. Gongola. Board Members Not Pictured: Steve Thompson, Barry Bingham, Susan Morgan King, David M. Olsen. This event will take place at the Quality Inn & Suites in New Port Richey. Along with a banquet dinner, auctions and music will be contests including King & Queen of the Road, Best Chaps for him or Lady Lace for her and more.

"This fundraiser dinner event will be the start of what we intend to be an annual fun event following in the footsteps of the successful Chasco Ball fundraiser in aid of The Lighthouse for the blind," said John Skelton, chair of the Sertoma Board of Directors. "All money raised will allow us to help more and more children with hearing loss. The Bikers Ball will be a fun evening and will kick start the 2011 Bike Fest," he added.

A variety of packages for this event is being offered to attendees and sponsors from $55 to $5,000 and are now available. The annual Cotee River Bike Fests is scheduled for Oct. 7, 8, 9 in downtown New Port Richey at Sims Park. Hearing Loss is the most common birth defect nationally. Early detection and intervention is vital for an infant to have the opportunity to access speech and other sounds for learning and brain development. The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida assists hard of hearing babies and children to hear the world around them so they can succeed personally, academically and socially.

The mission of the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida is to provide quality developmental and rehabilitative services, products and education--primarily to children--throughout Florida, in a caring and compassionate environment, never limited by the ability to pay.