RUFF RIDERS

Karen S. Kim

MEDIA DISTRICT WEST -- As Ron McGaha roared into Burbank on Wednesday,

riding his black, shiny Harley Davidson, he could feel the wind whipping

through his gray hair, smell the summer air mixed with the fumes of car

exhaust and, most importantly, see the impressive buildings and studios

that define Burbank.

But as he sped into town, McGaha carried with him a strong desire to

help the blind -- people who couldn’t enjoy the sights he was seeing.

“Motorcycling is really nice, because you can feel, taste, smell and

see everything around you,” the 58-year-old McGaha said. “These people

who’ve lost their sight, it’s terrible to think that they’ve lost

something so precious.”

And so McGaha and Don Branin, 56, both of Seattle, have embarked on a

mission to raise money for the Guide Dogs of America, an organization

that began in Burbank in 1948.

The two men will bike 11,500 miles across North America for the next

three weeks, stopping in various cities to rally for donations.

At Johnny Carson Park on Wednesday morning, the two riders presented

Mayor Bob Kramer with a hat, pin and coffee mug commemorating their

journey. Trainers from Guide Dogs of America brought their animals to the

rally to show their support for McGaha and Branin.

The two riders are hoping to raise by the end of their trip $250,000

-- enough to train 10 dogs.

But McGaha said this is just one way to spend his time off from work.

“You’ve got to do something for vacation, and it seems silly to go on

a trip that large and not make it count for something other than your

personal enjoyment,” he said.

Branin agreed, “Being able to do this for Guide Dogs makes it 10 times

more worth it,” Branin said. “I love it, and I’d do it again in a

minute.”

TO SEND DONATIONS: Guide Dogs of America, 13445 Glenoaks Blvd.,

Sylmar, CA 91342.