SMOKEY POINT — Sound Harley-Davidson of Smokey Point is teaming up with Washington’s Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, to present the “Raising Kahne for Kids” benefit motorcycle ride Sept. 13, to raise funds for the Kasey Kahne Foundation, whose beneficiaries include area charities such as the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle.

Organizing the event is Washington State Patrol Officer Lance Ramsay, who met Kahne several years ago during a local appearance.

“Kasey has given so much back to the communities throughout Washington over the past several years,” Ramsay said. “The ride allows more people to get personally involved and directly support the Kasey Kahne Foundation. This is going to be a huge inaugural ride, which we hope becomes a much-anticipated annual event. So if you have a bike, no matter what make, model or year, you definitely won’t want to miss this event.”

The three-hour ride is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Sound Harley, located at 16212 Smokey Point Blvd., and will take participants through scenic waterfront routes across the Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties, before returning to Sound Harley for an auction and lunch. Auction items will include racing memorabilia, motorcycle merchandise and Budweiser-supplied sporting event tickets to Seattle Seahawks, Mariners and Sounders games.

“Lance and I have talked about organizing this ride for a while now, so I’m glad we found the right partners and place to make it happen,” said Kahne, who won’t be able to participate in the ride personally, as he will be racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond, Va., that weekend.

Advance registration is being conducted online, at $50 per rider and $10 per passenger, while on-site registration will run $55 per rider and $15 per passenger. Registered riders and passengers will receive a free “Raising Kahne for Kids” bandana at check-in, and the first 100 registered riders will receive an official event poster signed by Kahne. Non-riders or non-locals may still contribute by purchasing an event bandana and poster package for $25, which includes entrance to the lunch and auction. All net proceeds from registration and the on-site auction benefit the Kasey Kahne Foundation, which is a major supporter of the Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish and other children’s organizations.

“Washington has great NASCAR fans, Harley-Davidson riders and people that want to give back to charity,” Kahne said. “Every year, the Kasey Kahne Foundation holds several events to raise funds, and this year we are lucky to have Lance, Sound Harley-Davidson and a large contingent of Washington State Patrol and local police officers helping us put this new charity event together. It should be lots of fun, whether you ride or not.”