Sounds of revving engines filled the air Saturday as a procession of roughly a hundred motorcycles journeyed around the Longmont area.

Saturday was the inaugural Wish Ride of Colorado, a charity vehicle run benefitting the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The ride itself has been held for decades in the city under a different name: Frank’s Ride. Many elements of the new nonprofit are carried over from Frank’s Ride, including riders, staff and the basics of the route.

“I would say that this is the signature car and motorcycle event that supports us every year,” said Tina Stroman, development coordinator with Make-a-Wish Colorado.

Held at Longmont Moose Lodge 1548, 2210 Pratt St., the event also had plenty of entertainment for those not riding in bikes or cars, including live music, auctions, raffles and games. The money raised benefits Make-a-Wish and 13-year-old Matthew, whose wish of meeting television chef Gordon Ramsay will be granted at a later date.

Matthew called the support of his dream “mind-blowing.”

“Just knowing that I’m going to be able to meet this famous celebrity, someone who I look up to, is just awe-inspiring,” he said.

Matthew, who lives in the Denver area, is almost done with his chemotherapy treatment of lymphoma and came to Saturday’s ride with his mom, Debbie. He sat in the sidecar of one of the first vehicles in the procession — a shiny, blue motorcycle.

“I thought it was really cool,” Debbie said, recalling the news of her son being this year’s beneficiary. “It’s an exciting opportunity for Matt to get to receive so much love.”

Wish Ride of Colorado vice president Kevin Keagle served as the lead bike for the run, stationed in front of his fellow riders on their course to Berthoud, Mead, Frederick, Erie and back to Longmont.

“I feel privileged to be able to do that,” Keagle said.

The nonprofit’s leadership spent several months promoting the event through social media, meetings and parties. Keagle said Saturday’s turnout was bigger than he expected, and he hopes next year’s participation will be even higher.

“For our first year and for how much work we’ve put into this, I’m glad that we’re going to be able to help the kids out,” he said.

Three former Make-a-Wish beneficiaries through Frank’s Ride also joined the event, riding next to Matthew at the front of the parade in passenger seats and sidecars. After a “blessing of the bikes” prayer read by Mike Longest, the riders filed out of the parking lot as their friends and families waved them goodbye.

Make-a-Wish volunteer Tracy Perry, who lives in Longmont, was a longtime proponent of Frank’s Ride. He helped bring Matthew and the other Make-a-Wish recipients to Longmont for Saturday’s ride, a continuation of his efforts to brighten the lives of kids with critical illnesses through the fundraiser.

“They just didn’t want to see it die — nobody did,” he said of the charity ride. “We’ll see how it fares this year, and we’ll do it again next year.”