Photo by Deb Gau Riders in the Forever Jen Memorial Motorcycle Run head out of Arco on Saturday morning. More than 80 motorcyclists. and even a bus, came out to raise funds for Lake Benton resident Bert Kuehl, who is undergoing cancer treatment.

ARCO — As motorcycles started pulling up outside the Arco fire hall Saturday morning, people were looking forward to a good ride on a beautiful day.

“This is one of my favorite runs,” said Lynd resident David Thooft. “It just seems like the stops are great.”

Another good thing about the Forever Jen Memorial Motorcycle Run was helping to raise funds for a local resident battling cancer, riders and organizers said. Several people at the fire hall were wearing purple “Rollin’ for Bert” T-shirts, in honor of Lake Benton resident Robert Kuehl.

“It’s good that we can all come together, and do something good,” said Lynette Madsen, one of the organizers of the event.

More than 80 riders, traveling by motorcycle and bus, took part in the 11th annual Forever Jen Memorial Run on Saturday.

“We had 82 registered riders,” Madsen said.

However, not everybody did the ride on a motorcycle — one group of about 20 people got creative.

“This year we have a party bus coming,” she said.

This year, proceeds from the run would go to benefit guest of honor Bert Kuehl, Madsen said. Kuehl was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, and underwent surgery to remove the tumor, event organizers said. But in early 2025, Kuehl learned that the cancer had returned, and spread to his liver. Bert is currently undergoing biweekly chemotherapy treatments, organizers said.

Supporting people with illnesses like cancer has been a part of the Forever Jen motorcycle run from the beginning. Madsen said the ride was started in honor of her daughter Jennifer Gladis. Jen was diagnosed with bone cancer, and after months of treatment she died in 2004, at the age of 16.

Jen’s family had organized a motorcycle run to raise funds for Relay for Life. Starting in 2019, they created a nonprofit to continue the motorcycle run, and dedicate the funds to guests of honor who were dealing with a serious medical condition.

Madsen said she knew some of what the people helped by the run are going through. When a loved one is undergoing cancer treatment, she said, “It’s your whole life.”

When Jen was fighting cancer, Madsen said, “People helped us. So to be able to give back, it’s good for my heart.”

Madsen said local donors, including the American Dairy Association, Veire’s Station in Ivanhoe, Hy-Vee and Thrivent Financial all helped make this year’s run possible.

Madsen said Kuehl did attend part of Saturday’s motorcycle run, stopping for lunch at the burger bar at the State Line Bar & Grill in Gary, South Dakota. He was also at the celebrations back at the Arco fire hall after the run.

“We’re glad he got to come,” Madsen said.

Seeing the people who gathered for the motorcycle run and concluding meal was something that brought up a lot of emotions, she said.

“It’s overwhelming,” she said.