The Ride to Conquer Cancer

Crowd View Ride to Conquer Cancer 2013

The Ride to Conquer Cancer is an annual charity fundraiser held in various locations across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. It is organized as a non-competitive cycling event that sees thousands of riders travel over 200 kilometres (120 mi) over two days. It was first held in the Toronto area in 2008 and raised $14 million for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Following the success of the first ride, the event spread to Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver beginning in 2009,[1] and to Brisbane in 2011. In the four Canadian events in 2013, 11,000 riders raised $43.9 million.[2] In 2014, 2 events within the United States were announced, including a ride through Washington, D.C. and Maryland,[3] and a ride originating in Philadelphia.[4]

Organization

The Ride to Conquer Cancer was created in 2008 as a "mega-event" fundraiser in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. Differing from other fundraisers, the event focused on having a relatively small number of participants raise considerably more money in support of cancer research. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $2,500 in order to ride.[5] The event was a success, raising $14 million for the hospital and spawning three more rides in other locations across the country for 2009.[1] It has quickly grown to become the largest cycling fundraiser in Canadian history, raising $199.1 million between 2008 and 2013.[6]

Canada

Ride to Conquer Cancer 2013

The title sponsor for three of the four Canadian events is Enbridge, and between 2008 and 2013, the ride has raised over $199.1 million.[2] In British Columbia the title sponsor is mining company Silver Wheaton.

The Ontario ride originates in Toronto and travels 200+km down to Niagara Falls. In 2014, 5,212 riders raised $20 million in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.[7]

The British Columbia ride originates in Vancouver, and crosses into the United States to finish in Seattle. Nearly 2,642 riders raised $10.4 million in 2013 in support of the B.C. Cancer Foundation.[8]

The Alberta ride originates at Spruce Meadows in Calgary and heads southwest to Chain Lakes Provincial Park in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains before returning to Calgary. 1,655 riders raised $7.5 million in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation in 2013.

The Quebec ride originates at Montreal and finishes in Quebec City and supports Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.[9] 1,778 riders raised $6.3 million in 2013.[10]

Australia

The event went international in 2011, as The Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer took place in Brisbane in August 2011 and 2012. The event has raised nearly $10 million for cancer research at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, one of the largest research institutes in Australia.[11]

Rides also now take place annually in Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne.[12]

In 2013, the Brisbane ride, sponsored by Rio Tinto, had 1,236 participating riders, raising $4.2 million for QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. The ride originated from Brisbane, breaking in Lake Wivenhoe, and returning to Brisbane.[13]

The Melbourne ride originated from Victoria in 2013. 1,223 participating riders raised $4.3 million for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.[14]

The Perth ride, sponsored by Sunsuper, had 1,336 riders in 2013, raising $5.2 million for Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (formerly Western Australian Institute for Medical Research).[15]

The Sydney ride, sponsored by Sunsuper, had 1,034 participating riders in 2013, raising $4.1 million for the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse.[16]

New Zealand

2013 was the first year of The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting Cancer Society Auckland. 663 riders raised $2.1 million.[17]

United States

2 events within the United States were announced for 2014.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefitting Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Sibley Memorial, and Suburban Hospitals will take place on September 13–14, 2014. The course will originate from Washington, D.C., crossing through Maryland, and returning to Washington, D.C.[18]

The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center will take place on October 11–12, 2014. The ride will originate from Philadelphia.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Mick, Hayley (2008-10-23). "Three new routes added to Ride to Conquer Cancer". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  2. 1 2 "2011 Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer a Record-Breaking Success" (Press release). Marketwire. 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  3. ↑ Germanos, Janelle (2014-04-16). "Lorton Residents ‘Ride to Conquer Cancer.". Fairfax Station Connection. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  4. ↑ Ileto, Christie (2014-04-18). "2-Day Bike Ride to Conquer Cancer Coming to Maryland This Fall". CBS Baltimore. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  5. ↑ Campbell, Matthew (2008-06-21). "First Ride to Conquer Cancer hopes to raise $14-million". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  6. ↑ Langley, Alison (2011-06-08). "An emotional and physical journey". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  7. ↑ "The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer announces $20 million raised as 7th annual Ride commences in Ontario". Yahoo! Finance. 2014-06-07. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  8. ↑ Robinson, Matthew (2011-06-19). "Cyclists raise $11.1 million in the Ride to Conquer Cancer". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  9. ↑ Kurek, Dominik (2011-06-09). "Local restaurateur cycles to help conquer cancer". Oakville Beaver. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  10. ↑ "1886 cyclists raise $6.7 million in third annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting the Jewish General Hospidal". Ride to Conquer Cancer. 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2011-08-16.
  11. ↑ http://br13.conquercancer.org.au/site/PageServer?pagename=br13_aboutevent
  12. ↑ Branson, Richard. "The Vision Crusaders". Virgin. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  13. ↑ "Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer 2013". Event Photos Australia. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  14. ↑ "Team Michael fights cancer". The Irrigator. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  15. ↑ Ducey, Liam (2013-10-23). "Research director praises Perth’s Sunsuper Ride to Conquer Cancer riders". WA Today. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  16. ↑ "Sydney Sunsuper Ride to Conquer Cancer 2013". Event Photos Australia. 2013-10-13. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  17. ↑ "The Ride to Conquer Cancer Raised $2.1 Million". Scoop Independent News. 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  18. ↑ "The Ride to Conquer Cancer Benefiting Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center". Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  19. ↑ "The Ride to Conquer Cancer Benefiting Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center". Penn Medicine. Retrieved 2014-06-12.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, July 07, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.