Marcelo Ortigao

Cancer is the biggest killer of kids from disease in the USA, 38 children die every week. Please donate now and support my challenge to fight kids' cancer!

Donate Now

I've Ridden 1,838.6 mi to fight kids' cancer

My Rankings

National: 218th
State: 7th in CO
My Team: 2nd

I've raised $4,181 to fight kids' cancer Donate Now

I'm Riding For

Juliana Hess Ramalho-Ortigao

Juliana passed away from DIPG on 3 March 2019. She was a kind hearted, unafraid free spirit and full of light. She loved animals and sports. She was dedicated at school and an avid swimmer and cyclist. She fought the bravest fight I could have ever asked for, but Heaven was waiting for her. The pain of her loss is only mildly soothed by my assurance that I will see her again. This September I will RIDE FOR JULIANA! Join me either on the road/trail/gravel - look for the Riding 4 Juliana team! Also, please donate to the Childhood Cancer Research Fund in Juliana's name. All funds are shared with Children Hospitals across the country in support of treatment and/or research towards improving pediatric cancer care. I'll be wearing my GCC Jersey and carrying Juliana's spirit with me at all times. Together we can change the current deadly DIPG paradigm!

My Story

15 May 2026

This September, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!

Why? My 10 year-old daughter Juliana was taken by DIPG, the deadliest pediatric tumor, in March 2019. Average survival following a DIPG diagnosis is 10 months, Juliana survived 53 weeks. Cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States and a leading cause of death in children under 10. Over 15,700 children are diagnosed every year, and nearly 450 kids die of cancer every week.

So, I will ride every day in September while raising funds through my challenge to help these kids and support Children's Cancer Research Fund to allow them to continue their work to develop lifesaving treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.

Please support me by making a donation to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.

Your support will change little lives.

Thank you.

My Legacy

Here's my personal impact over 6 years to fight kids' cancer and save little lives.

1,585 mi Ridden

$1,042 Raised

2021
1,462 mi Ridden

$155 Raised

2022
2,676 mi Ridden

$697 Raised

2023
4,073 mi Ridden

$2,082 Raised

2024
3,686 mi Ridden

$1,760 Raised

2025
1,839 mi Ridden

$4,181 Raised

2026

15,319 mi

Ridden

$9,917

Raised

My Challenge

50.3 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #27 - Sunday, September 27, 2026

Logged this ride 4 hours ago - View on Strava
125.3 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #26 - Saturday, September 26, 2026

Logged this ride 24 hours ago - View on Strava
60.2 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #25 - Friday, September 25, 2026

Logged this ride 2 days ago - View on Strava
65.2 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #24 - Thursday, September 24, 2026

Logged this ride 3 days ago - View on Strava
77.2 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #23 - Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Logged this ride 4 days ago - View on Strava
57.2 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #22 - Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Logged this ride 5 days ago - View on Strava
80.1 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #21 - Monday, September 21, 2026

Logged this ride 6 days ago - View on Strava
43.1 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #20 - recovery ride - Sunday, September 20, 2026

Logged this ride 7 days ago - View on Strava
111.1 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #19 gravel century ride - Saturday, September 19, 2026

Logged this ride 8 days ago - View on Strava
54.1 mi ride - 2026 GCC Riding 4 Juliana - Day #18 - Friday, September 18, 2026

Logged this ride 9 days ago - View on Strava

My Sponsors

Zekeeverette

“Being a survivor of prostate cancer I know how nasty cancer can be. I know Juliana personally and love her and miss her dearly. Please donate people.”
$1,000
Received this donation 18 days ago

Marcelo

“John, I don't have enough words to express my gratitude 💗🙏 My love to you and Karen, always💙”

John, I don't have enough words to express my gratitude 💗🙏 My love to you and Karen, always💙
Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation

“Here's your matched donation from a group of wonderful Children's Cancer Research Fund supporters. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$956.75
Received this donation 18 days ago

Marcelo
Richard Streeter
$258.75
Received this donation 13 days ago

Marcelo

“Richard, Thank you so much for your support and generosity to my 2026 GCC 🙏”

Richard, Thank you so much for your support and generosity to my 2026 GCC 🙏
Salah Jarrad

“I want you to know that every mile you ride honors her life and reflects a love that never ends. My heart is with you on this journey.”
$258.75
Received this donation 22 hours ago

Marcelo

“Dear Salah, Thank you so much for your support and generosity to my GCC endeavors. There's nothing worse than losing a child. However, sometimes we may found a way to honor our child's memory and keep their legacy alive. This is I do this challenge 💔. Thank you 🙏”

Dear Salah, Thank you so much for your support and generosity to my GCC endeavors. There's nothing worse than losing a child. However, sometimes we may found a way to honor our child's memory and keep their legacy alive. This is I do this challenge 💔. Thank you 🙏
Mark Bolton
$207
Received this donation 135 days ago

Marcelo

“Dear Mark, Thank you so much for your donation in Juliana's memory. As always, words cannot express my gratitude 🙏”

Dear Mark, Thank you so much for your donation in Juliana's memory. As always, words cannot express my gratitude 🙏
Ayla & Greg
$124.20
Received this donation 134 days ago

Marcelo

“Ayla and Greg, Thank you so much for your continued support to my GCC 🙏”

Ayla and Greg, Thank you so much for your continued support to my GCC 🙏
Jimmy Auman
$124.20
Received this donation 134 days ago

Marcelo

“Hi Jimmy, thank you so much for your generosity and your donation to my 2026 GCC! 🙏”

Hi Jimmy, thank you so much for your generosity and your donation to my 2026 GCC! 🙏
Currie Meyer

“In memory of brave, beautiful Juliana and in support for my friend, her dad, Marcelo.”
$103.50
Received this donation 27 days ago

Marcelo

“Thank you so much for your support and kind words, Currie 💙”

Thank you so much for your support and kind words, Currie 💙
Diana Hassel
$103.50
Received this donation 135 days ago

Marcelo

“Diana, thank you so much for your generosity towards the Riding 4 Juliana team and my GCC fundraising goal 🙏”

Diana, thank you so much for your generosity towards the Riding 4 Juliana team and my GCC fundraising goal 🙏
Doug Schmidt
$103.50
Received this donation 124 days ago

Marcelo

“Doug, Thank you so much for your continued support of my GCC and my fight to change the current DIPG paradigm. Children diagnosed with brain tumor deserve better 🙏”

Doug, Thank you so much for your continued support of my GCC and my fight to change the current DIPG paradigm. Children diagnosed with brain tumor deserve better 🙏
Doug Schmidt
$103.50
Received this donation 12 days ago

Marcelo

“Doug, I know I thanked you for the awesome support to my 2026 GCC but I wanted to write to you to thank you again for your generosity and kindness🙏”

Doug, I know I thanked you for the awesome support to my 2026 GCC but I wanted to write to you to thank you again for your generosity and kindness🙏
Jimmy Auman
$103.50
Received this donation 20 days ago

Marcelo

“Thank you so much for your donation, Jimmy 🙏”

Thank you so much for your donation, Jimmy 🙏
Mark Bolton
$103.50
Received this donation 38 days ago

Marcelo
Matt and Debbie Thompson
$103.50
Received this donation 18 days ago

Marcelo

“Matt and Debbie, Thank you so much for your support and generosity 🙏”

Matt and Debbie, Thank you so much for your support and generosity 🙏
steve Douglas
$103.50
Received this donation 4 days ago

Marcelo

“Thank you so much for your awesome support Steve 🙏”

Thank you so much for your awesome support Steve 🙏
Matched Day Matching Donation

“Here's your matched donation from a group of wonderful Children's Cancer Research Fund supporters. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to fight kids' cancer!”
$97.54
Received this donation 4 days ago

Marcelo
Jenifer Gold
$72.45
Received this donation 130 days ago

Marcelo

“Hi Jennifer, Thank you so much for your donation and support my 2026 GCC and the CCRF 🙏”

Hi Jennifer, Thank you so much for your donation and support my 2026 GCC and the CCRF 🙏
Steve
$72.45
Received this donation 124 days ago

Marcelo

“Steve, Thank you again for your support to my GCC and for elevating my voice by spreading the word about Juliana and my DIPG fight🙏”

Steve, Thank you again for your support to my GCC and for elevating my voice by spreading the word about Juliana and my DIPG fight🙏
Cathy Zitti
$51.75
Received this donation 4 days ago

Marcelo

“Thank you so much for your support Cathy 🙏”

Thank you so much for your support Cathy 🙏
Charles Devens
$51.75
Received this donation 18 days ago

Marcelo

“Bill, Thank you so much for your donation and support to my 2026 GCC and the Riding 4 Juliana team🙌”

Bill, Thank you so much for your donation and support to my 2026 GCC and the Riding 4 Juliana team🙌