Every summer, I take part in the Great Cycle Challenge, the largest cycling event in the country to raise money to fight Children's Cancer. Many in the community have seen me peddling out on Kenilworth Road, Judith Landing, on the highway or around town to tick off miles toward my distance goals. Your generosity has helped me raise over $3,000 for the Children's Cancer Research Fund.
This year, I am asking my friends, neighbors, family, and community to help me raise more than ever before. In the past, I have aimed to raise between $500 and $1,000. This year, I will be raising the bar by attempting to raise $2,500, though I hope to raise far more before I am through with the month of September. In addition, I will be increasing my mileage target from 200 to 300 miles.
The Great Cycle Challenge has been around since 2015. For 10 years they have been working to raise money to beat kid's cancer. Their website proudly proclaims that "In 10 years, our community of riders from all 50 states has ridden a total of 33,817,103 miles, and together we've raised $72,646,876 in support of research to develop better treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer."
The challenge exists to help bring about an end to the leading cause of death among children in the United States. 15,700 are diagnosed with cancer every year. Kids afflicted with this dreadful disease face a long fight on the road to recovery. Every week, an average of 38 children die from their illness and those that beat cancer typically face a lifetime of medical complications and challenges. The Great Cycle Challenge raises money to help families as they face their battle with cancer, contributes money to research, and helps pay for the lifetime of medical care that these young people will require.
15,824 riders are already registered to join the challenge and raise money to fight kids cancer. They have already raised $1,185,191 before the September start date has even arrived.
The challenge is a fundraising initiative of the Children's Cancer Research Fund, which uses the money raised to underwrite initiatives that focus in several specific areas. First, they support research to combat hard-to-treat cancers, like brain cancers, sarcomas, and leukemia. Advances in treatments for these low survival rate cancers have the highest potential for change. Second, they support programs that aid children who survive cancer, but face a lifetime of health complications as a result of the treatment. Chemo is extremely hard on children's bodies and the long-term health care is expensive, but crucial. Third, they support efforts and initiatives to make data sharing and analytics better between research groups. Their goal is to make every bit of progress matter as much as possible through collaboration. Finally, they support emerging scientists. Qualified researchers rarely receive grants to fund their work during the early days of their careers. CCRF supports new and innovative research to ensure these areas of study are explored. You can learn more about the Great Cycle Challenge and the Children's Cancer Research Fund on the GreatCycleChallenge.com.
Those looking to support my fundraising ride and help fight kids cancer can donate on my fundraising page at https://greatcyclechallenge.com/riders/ErikSietsema1. You can also follow my progress on my cycle challenge Facebook page: "Erik's Great Cycle Challenge to Fight Kids' Cancer" or contact me at 406-399-3803 to donate without using the online mechanism if you are uncomfortable with online financial transactions. Please consider helping me reach my fundraising goal and more importantly, help fight kid's cancer.
