Benefit ride raises funds for Niles girl battling cancer

GIRARD -- A group of motorcyclists took to the road this week to raise funds to help a Niles girl battling cancer.

The riders gathered at Army Navy Garrison 422, where they hosted a basket raffle fundraiser before heading on the road.

Event organizers Kelley Beatty of Boardman and Bernie Hunt of Lake Milton said they had heard about Scarlett Rozier, 12, of Niles who was battling a rare lung cancer and recently had surgery to remove a tumor.

Scarlett is the daughter of Ernie and Jessica Rozier.

They asked all the riders to pay $10 for the ride as well as for food.

Hunt said the 50-minute ride began at Army Navy Garrison 422 and then traveled southwest to The Cove Winery in Deerfield in Portage County.

"We were hoping for as many people as we could get to take part,'' Hunt said.

He said he knew a spaghetti dinner fundraiser took place to help Rozier and thought about other ways to help the girl and her family.

"I was out here in the back talking to the nonmilitary members in charge of the Army Navy Garrison about doing something to help Scarlett," Hunt said. "I suggested we do a bike night or a bike run. They liked the idea and voted on it and where we are today."

He said he has met the Rozier family and, last November, he and others took a Thanksgiving dinner to them and also helped DJ the spaghetti dinner this year.

Beatty said the family has been through a lot with Scarlett's recent surgery.

"We want to help the family with food, hotel rooms and other expenses. I have met them. They are a very nice family,''she said.

She said Scarlett attends Niles City Schools.

Outside the Army Navy Garrison were many motorcycles lined up to leave for the ride.

Inside there was food and games.

Beatty said in Deerfield the group stayed and the winners of the silent auction were pulled.

"We will see how much we raise,'' she said.

Scarlett's family and friends were scheduled to attend the event while her parents were with her following the surgery.

Aldred "Radar" and Dawn Redarowicz with the Army Navy Garrison said they and many volunteers helped set up a room with more than 60 gift baskets and other items on which people could place bids.

"This is our way to help Scarlett and her family. What we do today is for her benefit," Radar said. "As a fraternal veterans organization with both brother and sister veterans we no longer wear the boots or uniform but continue to serve in the capacity for those in our outlying communities."

He said Scarlett is an ideal person to be the recipient of whatever funds the event raises.

"The saying, 'It takes a village' is what people in this community are doing to help Scarlett,'' Dawn said.

Before the group left on the ride, Joellen Mrofchak, operations manager for the Gervelis Law Firm, spoke about bike safety.

"We have a motorcycle safety campaign and attend many bike ride events from here to Toledo," she said. "We have been to many bike runs to promote bike safety. We want people to enjoy the ride but understand the importance of bike safety."

Mrofchak said the display table has a variety of information on being safe when riding on the roads.

In June, another fundraiser took place at Niles First United Methodist Church, and included a pasta dinner, bake sale, auction and 50/50 raffle.

Beatty said social media postings on Scarlett from her family indicate she is battling a rare form of pediatric lung cancer. She was diagnosed in November 2025 with pediatric pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of her right pulmonary artery. She has gone through multiple procedures to attempt to surgically remove the cancerous cells, all of which have been unsuccessful.

Most recently, it was discovered that the cancer cells are deeper in her lung tissue than originally thought and another tumor nearby, on her trachea, is also malignant. With the discovery, the only viable option to get rid of the cancer is to remove the entire upper lobe of her right lung.