Event Recap: Ride to the Warehouse 2021

Artists, musicians, fashionistas, and motorcyclists raising money for breast cancer

By Kirsten Midura
Event Reviews, Rallies & Events /

The Ride to the Warehouse is a gala of motorcycles, women, and art, dedicated to raising awareness around breast cancer. The event’s founder, Katie Loftus, has been putting on the event since 2016 and every year it gets bigger and more fabulous.

The 2021 event was held in San Diego in November and showcased 10 women-built race bikes, 18 women-oriented gear and apparel vendors, and more than 70 professional photos of women riders from around the country. I was one of 500 attendees, which included motorcycle riders, enthusiasts, and artists.

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The Ride to the Warehouse includes display bikes, photos of women riders, food and drink, a raffle, apparel for sale, a fashion show, live music, and more. Photo by John Saponara
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Bikes begin to line up for the evening portion of the event which is all indoors. Photo by Craig Sotres
Ride to the warehouse
46 of this year’s rider portraits were life-size feature photos. These canvases adorned nearly every inch of the space in a vivid display of women ridership. Photo by Kirsten Midura

“The inspiration for the photo displays is what I like to call Girl Moto Power,” Katie explains. “We pick the photos that capture the essence of each rider. Sometimes this is the hardest part of the show because of my dedication to making sure everyone is represented.”

Many of the riders represented in the photos were in attendance at the show, myself included. Katie has established a network of strong, female representation within the sport, both through her event and Instagram Live interviews with various women riders from around the country.

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The community’s loyalty to Katie’s cause shines during this event. An abundance of raffle prizes are donated, various brands are present at the daytime marketplace, and art and motorcycles fill the room with a sense of celebration. Photo by Craig Sotres
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18 women’s gear brands such as She Wolf Moto Co sold their wares at an outdoor daytime market. Photo by Craig Sotres

While the day leaves attendees with a smile on their faces, the event’s origins are a bit more morose. Katie was inspired to start Ride to the Warehouse when she herself was battling breast cancer. During that time, Katie had found emotional relief through the art community. It was here that she first met Shaney jo Darden, the founder of the Keep a Breast Foundation.

“Shaney jo helps countless people all over the world who are dealing with breast cancer,” Katie explains. “She uses art to raise awareness and educate young women.”

Ride to the warehouse
In 2000, Keep a Breast began as an exhibition showcasing casts of breasts from female pro-snowboarders painted by artists such as Shepard Fairey and Ed Templeton. Over time, the ‘castees’ began expanding to more artists and celebrities, and the exhibition took to the road. In 2002, these casts were then auctioned off, with the proceeds going toward breast cancer charities. In 2005, the Keep a Breast Foundation was born. Photo by Kirsten Midura

“This show is a place for me to uplift and support each and everyone of the women that I meet on my journey in this amazing life,” Katie says. “It’s not just about the bikes; it’s about the beauty and power of a woman on a motorcycle.”

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Models for the evening’s Stellar Moto Brand fashion show included everyday riders as well as industry names such as Samantha Doffo of Doffo Winery. Photo by Kirsten Midura
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I love the colorful clothing and the powerful women who wore the garments. But it brought tears to my eyes when the show concluded with breast cancer survivors taking the stage, donning sashes that read “Warrior” and “Force of Nature.” Photo by Kirsten Midura
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The night concluded with music by the local, 2-person band, Bent Duo. The group’s drummer, Esther Bent, was one of the subjects in the event’s photographs, and she rolled down the catwalk in her skates during the fashion show. Photo by Kirsten Midura

Katie is proud of how far her event has come and she hopes to keep it going in the future. “So many women that were on stage at the end are still fighting breast cancer,” she explains. “I am one of the lucky ones. I have not only survived, but thrived. But there are still so many stories that need to be told.”

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Katie strolls down the catwalk, head held high knowing that she had overcome a life-threatening—and life-changing—disease with the art and moto communities by her side. Photo by Kirsten Midura

Find out more about this all inclusive event at RideToTheWarehouse.com or on Instagram at @ridetothewarehouse. Please support the Keep a Breast Foundation at Keep-A-Breast.org or on Instagram at @keepabreast.

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