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Bikers and others from across the state will descend on Greensboro Aug. 2 for the fourth annual charity bike ride to benefit Camp Carefree, a joint effort of the N.C. Elks Association and Plum Krazy's sports bar.

Camp Carefree is an organization that provides a free one-week camp for children with certain illnesses or disabilities.

The bike ride is one of the Elks Association's major fundraisers each year and has raised thousands of dollars for the camp.

Last year, the event contributed $20,000 to Camp Carefree. A motorcycle raffle a week later contributed another $9,000, said Carey Morgan, the state association's public relations coordinator and secretary for the Greensboro lodge, one of 38 across North Carolina.

Morgan said he's expecting about 200 vehicles this year, including motorcycles and a Corvette group.

The $20 registration fee includes lunch at the Elks Lodge, the ride to Camp Carefree and an after party at Plum Krazy's.

The activities usually include a presentation about Camp Carefree, which Morgan said moves participants to tears.

"Last year, we had a little girl from Reidsville, who has an incurable cancer, speak," Morgan said.

"She told us about Camp Carefree, about her being able to go over there and ride horses. If you want to see 200 bikers crying, that was the time to see it."

The Elks Association is a fraternal organization. The Greensboro lodge dates to 1906 and has about 1,140 members.

Morgan said there are three criteria for becoming a member: being an American citizen, believing in God and being of good character.

Contact Kavita Pillai at 373-7157 or kavita.pillai@news-record.com