A Reason to Ride: To Support Cancer Care and Research at Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center
The fifth annual A Reason To Ride presented by Fuddruckers will be held on Sunday, September 9 at 8:00 a.m. in Danvers. An annual bike-a-thon through the North Shore, A Reason to Ride raises critical funds for cancer care and research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Last year, more than 200 cyclists rode 10, 25 or 50 mile rides through the scenic North Shore towns of Danvers, Wenham, Ipswich, Essex, Gloucester, and Topsfield. This year’s goal is to have more than 300 participants and to raise $125,000.
A Reason to Ride was started by Tom DesFosses, a grateful patient and survivor of brain cancer. Diagnosed with primary CNS lymphoma, a cancerous brain tumor, DesFosses credits Dr. Eric Wong at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with saving his life. In 2007, DesFosses, with the support of his family and friends, rode his bike over 750 miles across New England to raise funds for Dr. Eric Wong’s Brain Tumor Fund. The following year, he felt he could make his ride into something bigger and started A Reason to Ride, now it its fifth year. Since 2007, A Reason to Ride has raised more than $250,000, with 100 percent of the funds gong directly to cancer care and research.
Each year the ride draws an increasing number of riders, participants, and supporters and has surpassed its ambitious fundraising goals. In 2011, DesFosses and Dr. Wong expanded the ride to support other cancer areas within Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “We recognize that cancer touches everyone’s lives in different ways and A Reason to Ride could continue to grow by joining forces with other grateful patients and supporting their personal connections to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s cancer center,” state DesFosses.
A Reason to Ride is an annual bike-a-thon with the option of 10- 25- or 50-mile bike rides through the north shore. Registration is $25 per child, $50 per adult, and $150 per family to benefit cancer care and research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The family-friendly event also features a trike-a-thon for kids, a Fuddruckers cookout, raffles, music, and much more. Join us on Sunday, September 9 for the fifth annual A Reason to Ride presented by Fuddruckers and help us exceed our goal of raising $125,000 to support Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center doctor s and researchers develop better treatments as they work toward finding a cure for cancer. Please visit fb.com/AReasonToRide for more information and to register.
Once again, this year’s presenting sponsor is Fuddruckers. Support for the ride also comes from The Print House, Beverly Cycles, Kelly Fiat, Jungle, and People’s united Bank. To become a sponsor or make a contribution call or email Tom DesFosses at tomdesfosses@gmail.com.