Community Corner

Gear Up for the 2013 CT Challenge Bike Ride

The ninth annual Connecticut Challenge Bike Ride has been expanded to a two-day ride.

This story was written by Caitlin Mazzola.

More than 1,000 cyclists will descend upon the Fairfield County Hunt Club next week to ride to support cancer survivors in the 2013 Connecticut Challenge Bike Ride.

This year's event -- the ninth annual -- has been expanded to a two-day event, which kicks off on Friday, July 26 with an 81-mike ride from Lakeville, Conn. to the Hunt Club in Westport.

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"We wanted to add dimension, another challenge for riders to rise up to," CT Challenge Executive Director Bob Mazzone said.

Cyclists pledge to raise money to benefit the CT Challenge, the nonprofit that provides programming and educational outreach for cancer survivors. The CT Challenge's Center for Survivorship in Southport is a resource that offers free wellness programs, support groups, exercise classes, nutrition counseling, access to health professionals across the state, and more for survivors.

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In the past, the ride takes place on a Saturday in late July and features 10-mile, 25-mile, 75-mile, and 100-mile routes.

The 100-mile ride is a "good, challenging ride," Mazzone said, "but we have people who wanted more than that."

Adding the Friday ride "allowed us to broaden the appeal to those beyond Connecticut who wanted to make a whole weekend of the event," according to Mazzone.

Connecticut residents and out-of-towners alike can assemble Thursday, July 25, at the Hunt Club to be shuttled to the Interlaken Inn in Lakeville. Come early Friday, they'll gear up fro the 81-mile trek back to Westport.

Then they'll bike again with the rest of the CT Challenge Ride participants on one of the five routes through Fairfield County on Saturday, July 27.

The expansion of the ride should also bring in more fundraising. Last year, the ride -- the CT Challenge's primary fundraising vehicle -- raised over $1 million and benefited more than 54,000 survivors.

This year, the staff at the CT Challenge hopes to raise $2 million -- nearly $750,000 of that goal is already accounted for. Riders have until Sept. 27 to turn in all of their fundraising.

"The money isn't disappearing into research," Mazzone said, but to programs that directly benefit survivors and their families.

Since cancer has touched just about everybody, Mazzone said most participants "are riding for somebody."

"Put that emotion, that purpose into your fundraising, into your ride," Mazzone said. "You are truly helping a cancer survivor."

It's not too late to register to partake in the ride. Register here, and click this link for the weekend's event schedule.

Can't ride this year? You can still support the CT Challenge bydonating


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