The bicycle continued to be an important fund-raising tool in the fight against cancer in 2011.
Although figures aren't available from the scores of cancer-battling bicycle rides in 2011, three big ones alone raised more than $53 million.
The three — Pan Mass Challenge, Pelotonia, and the Livestrong Challenge series — brought together 19,000 bicycle riders in the fight against cancer. Congratulations to them all.
The results from Pan Mass Challenge and Pelotonia were released late in the week; the Team Livestrong Challenge totals were compiled from information on the website.
Pan Mass Challenge
The Massachusetts-based Pan Mass Challenge continued its dominance as the most successful athletic fund-raising event in the nation, raising and contributing more money to charity than any other in the nation.
Since its inception 32 years ago, the Pan Mass Challenge has donated a third of a billion dollars to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The $35 million raised in the 2011 Pan Mass Challenge ride was the largest amount ever.
The 5,100 bicyclists in last August's charity bike ride came from 37 states and 8 countries. They rode 11 different routes of 25 to 190 miles.
Registration opens Jan. 10 for the 2012 Pan Mass Challenge. Dates of the charity bike ride are Aug. 4-5, 2012.
Pelotonia
Meanwhile, Ohio-based Pelotonia has grown to be one of the largest cancer-fighting rides in just three years. The overnight charity bike ride, photo above, between Columbus and Athens raised $13.1 million in 2011, bringing the 3-year total to about $25 million.
The beneficiary of the pledges raised by 3,000 cyclists in Ohio is the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. It is one of 40 comprehensive cancer centers in the US.
The Pelotonia bike ride started in 2009 and received an early shot in the arm when cancer-survivor and 7-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong joined the ride.
The Pelotonia will return Aug. 10-12, 2012. Registration open on Jan. 10.
Team Livestrong Challenge
Of course, Armstrong has his own series of charity rides that raise money for the LiveStrong Foundation in Austin. The foundation has been raising funds since 1997, not long after Armstrong returned to bike racing after winning his battle against cancer.
The three Team Livestrong Challenge rides raised about $5.1 million in 2011. Held in Austin, Philadelphia and Davis, California, over the summer, more than 10,000 participants raised pledges for the foundation.
The Team Livestrong Challenge Event Season will be announced on Dec. 1.
Finding a charity ride
Check out the Charity Bike Rides for 2012 section of Biking Bis for charity rides for cancer research, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and many other causes.
If you'd like to join a ride but are reluctant to ask others for pledges, most of the big fund-raisers have sections to help you get started.
Photo above from Pelotonia Facebook page.
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