Charity bike ride expands impact, supporting more local organizations
Published: 06-11-2023 2:02 PM |
SOUTH DEERFIELD — As the annual charity ride Bikes Fight Cancer continues to grow, bringing in more riders and money than ever, organizers are partnering with local organizations to keep some of those proceeds in the Pioneer Valley.
Officially a 501(c)(3) charity now, Bikes Fight Cancer is continuing its partnership with Tree House Brewing Co. to organize a ride that is expected to have upward of 400 cyclists of all ages and skill levels, all of whom are riding to raise money for people diagnosed with cancer. This year’s event is on Saturday, June 17, and features a 25- and 50-mile ride, as well as a kids ride on Tree House’s property. Registration is available up until race day and can be done at BikesFightCancer.org.
Even though last year’s event featured more than 200 participants and raised $43,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Johnny Morin, who has been co-organizing the event since 2006 with his wife, Meghan, said the event was still somewhat limited because it was their first time launching the race from Tree House.
“It’s very exciting. We really started this to give people the opportunity to empower themselves to do something when a family member or a friend or themselves comes down with a cancer diagnosis,” Morin said. “To be able to share that and have it grow is just really awesome.”
The 50-mile ride kicks off at 8 a.m. and will have riders go up through Northfield and come back south on the other side of the Connecticut River, while the 25-mile ride will head up through Greenfield and Montague before coming back through Sunderland.
Following the ride, cyclists and the public are invited to spend some time at Tree House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wind down with a food truck and some beer from the brewery. A raffle with prizes will also be available.
The Morins said they’ve upgraded their rest stations along the route and they encourage everyone of all skill levels to sign up. E-bikes are also welcomed so people of all abilities can participate. As an added bonus, Greenfield’s Real Pickles has donated pickle juice for riders who need a little boost on the road.
“We gear these [events], truly, for all riders,” Johnny Morin said, with Meghan Morin adding that it’s all for a good cause. “It’s not a competition; it’s a feel-good event and we’re really excited.”
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While the route remains similar to last year, the Morins said the big change this year is the additional agencies receiving money from the event’s proceeds. Bikes Fight Cancers has annually raised money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Morins are expanding that to include the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson’s Cancer Care Patient Fund and the Springfield Center for Human Development’s Cancer House of Hope. All proceeds raised by participating riders goes to charity, while the event sustains itself from rider registrations and corporate support.
“We’re excited about the evolution, and we’ve been able to support Dana-Farber and the amazing work they do there,” Meghan Morin said. “Now, we’re making it local.”
For those who want to support the cause, but can’t commit to the bike ride, donations are also accepted at BikesFightCancer.org.
Chris Larabee can be reached
at clarabee@recorder.com or
413-930-4081.