NILES — The Niles Burn Run will celebrate its 19th year Friday to Sunday.

Its vehicle show, beer tent and live music Saturday; and bike ride Sunday will help raise funds to send children to a camp specially catered to burn survivors.

President Steve Adolph wants this year to be its most successful yet.

Last year, the Niles Burn Run raised over $17,000 to send 28 children who were burn survivors to the Great Lakes Burn Camp near Jackson, Michigan. This year, he wants raise $25,000 to send 41.

Last year, just under 400 motorcycle riders took part in the Burn Run’s cruise through Berrien and Cass Counties. At noon Sunday, he hopes to see 500.

Last year, the weekend-long event centered at Riverfront Park was hit by rain. This year, Adolph said he feels something in the air, but the storm will be a flurry of attendance and donations.

“We’re going to break out and we’re going to have record attendance,” he said. “It’s not just a guess. [There are] indicators — the pre-registration’s up. The enthusiasm’s up.”

Given an anniversary milestone will occur in 2020, Adolph said he needs this year to a banner year.

In order for a successful year to happen, he needed as much help as possible from the community. Adolph said he received it.

Some help came through two individuals gifting the nonprofit as much as $300 at the Niles Burn Run’s various fundraising events.

“They didn’t want to register for the ride or anything. They just gave us money,” he said. “That happens once in a while, but for it to happen twice in the same summer, at the same venue, that’s awesome.”

Other help came from sponsors, especially one large business out of Brooklyn, Michigan.

“Michigan International Speedway has done great things for us, contributing about $10,000,” Adolph said. “They’re by far the biggest contributor to the burn.”

MIS has also provided the Burn Run with volunteer staff. Adolph said he has not met with the crew much, but he can already tell how great they are.

Adolph is still looking for volunteers, not just for the Burn Run itself, but during the September through July planning phase.

“If anybody ever needs that extra push to decide to help the Niles Burn Run or not, go visit us on Camp Day when we deliver the check, and I guarantee you will help for the next 20 years,” he said. “You get to see all those kids and how happy they are.”

Camp Director Mike Longedecker said he is appreciative of the Burn Run and other sponsors.

Many of the 70 or so children that attend the camp would be unable to afford the cost of camp otherwise due to medical bills, therapy and other financial realities, he said.

“The camp doesn’t happen without great people that are doing the event and the fact that they’re raising money for it to help run our camp,” he said.

Longedecker said that the camp staff try to “spoil the heck” out of the attendees with activities like swimming, boating, field games, a talent show, ropes courses, fireworks and dances.

Despite the activities, many attendees say their favorite moments are being with other burn survivors.

Children have come up to Longedecker saying they will be friends for life with their other camp peers. Some have become camp staff. Two staff and former attendees have even gotten married, he said.

“It’s a special place where the kids can be with other kids,” he said. “They’re their peers. They experience the same things.”

The camp also caters to burn survivors’ needs. An around-the-clock nursing staff is available, and the activities campers can take part in are accessible for many disabilities that may have been caused from burns.

Longedecker and other camp staff will volunteer their time at the Burn Run. It allows the group to help those who have helped them and the children they oversee.

“What it means to these kids, it’s just amazing,” he said.

A planned professional wrestling match Friday was canceled due to high heat and humdidity.