On Saturday, September 21, 22 cyclists completed their 3,400km journey from Oakville, Canada, to Boulder, Colorado, as part of the Wellspring Ride for Cancer Support, an annual event that raises money for Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation.
This year’s event raised $462,000 for Wellspring, whose mission is to help people live better with cancer. The 50/50 raffle raised $18,750 alone, meaning one lucky winner walked away with $9,375.
“We are incredibly grateful to the cyclists, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors who made this year’s ride a huge success,” says Christina Smith, Wellspring’s CEO.
Presented by CCM, the eight-day event saw riders cover over 480km a day, or 120km per team. Riding in pace teams, the cyclists covered ground in Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska before their final stop in Boulder, Colorado.
“We are all so proud of what we accomplished. Biking from Oakville to Boulder was no easy feat, and this ride was our way of showing appreciation for people living with cancer who face tough obstacles every single day,” says cyclist and Wellspring Board Chair, D’Arcy McDonald.
Wellspring offers over 50 evidence-based programs, all led by experts, covering the emotional, physical, and practical challenges of a cancer diagnosis. These programs are available online for anyone to access, including people and families living with cancer.
Wellspring’s Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, Christine Mieczkowski says Wellspring receives no government funding and relies solely on donations. “Events like Bike to Boulder ensure that we can keep providing our services free of charge,” she says.
“Our cyclists rode through rain and shine, lightening storms and sweltering heat, through valleys and mountains, and despite it all, they made it to the end. In a way, it is a metaphor for the cancer experience. A cancer diagnosis isn’t a linear journey; there are good days and bad days. The money raised from Bike to Boulder will ensure that we can provide more good days for members of our community,” Christine says.