Starla Maurer
- National: 139th
- State: 3rd in MD
I'm Riding For
Alhena Martinez
On December 17, 2015, Alhena was diagnosed with HLH, a rare autoimmune disease where her immune system attacked her body. She needed two bone marrow transplants, chemo, and high-dose steroids just to survive. Her odds weren’t good—only 30%—but she beat them. She fought harder than most people ever will in their whole lives. For 9 amazing years, she lived in remission. We thought we were done with life-and-death battles. We were wrong… It started with a small pain under her right breast. We thought it was muscle pain or scar tissue from her transplant line. She was in high school now, carrying heavy books—we weren’t overly worried. But to be safe, we went in for a scan. That’s when they found two small nodules in her lung. Pneumonia, they said. A round of antibiotics helped—for a little while. But she wasn’t getting better. And suddenly everything moved fast. Another scan. A planned biopsy. Then a cold pushed things back. On December 23, 2024, we landed in the ICU for the first time ever. Not even during her HLH battle had we experienced that. She could barely breathe. Her back hurt. We thought it was that backpack again. But it was fluid—filling her chest, crushing her lung and heart. Within minutes of emergency surgery, she’d filled an entire container with fluid. But she came out of it smiling, cracking jokes like the rockstar she is. It wasn’t over. Another biopsy. Another surgery. And then, the news no parent ever wants to hear: Cancer. Not just any cancer—CIC-DUX4 sarcoma, an extremely rare and aggressive tumor in her chest wall. And just like that, we were back in a battle we thought we had already fought and won. Alhena doesn’t deserve this …no kid does. But she’s a fighter!!!!!!! She CAN and WILL beat this!!!
My Story
This September, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!
Why? Because right now, cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States. Over 15,700 children are diagnosed every year, and sadly, 38 children die of cancer every week.
Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.
So I am 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.
Starla
My Legacy
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251 mi Ridden$592 Raised2016
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501 mi Ridden$1,030 Raised2017
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807 mi Ridden$1,663 Raised2018
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812 mi Ridden$1,929 Raised2019
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1,048 mi Ridden$2,042 Raised2020
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547 mi Ridden$1,114 Raised2022
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1,054 mi Ridden$2,721 Raised2024
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1,075 mi Ridden$5,443 Raised2025
My Challenge
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60.2 mi ride - This is it!!!!!!! I did it. And …FINISHED!!!! - Monday, September 29, 2025
Logged this ride 35 days ago -
56.0 mi ride - Sunday ride - Sunday, September 28, 2025
Logged this ride 36 days ago -
60.0 mi ride - Last Saturday rise of the month - Saturday, September 27, 2025
Logged this ride 37 days ago -
42.0 mi ride - Ride till groceries … haha - Thursday, September 25, 2025
Logged this ride 39 days ago -
40.0 mi ride - Gettin it done on a Tuesday. - Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Logged this ride 41 days ago -
25.3 mi ride - Not big miles - but miles - Monday, September 22, 2025
Logged this ride 42 days ago -
58.0 mi ride - Sunday - quads be blowing up - Sunday, September 21, 2025
Logged this ride 43 days ago -
33.0 mi ride - Overcast Saturday. - Saturday, September 20, 2025
Logged this ride 44 days ago -
45.5 mi ride - Through laughter & tears - Friday, September 19, 2025
Logged this ride 45 days ago -
34.2 mi ride - Wednesday full of wind and rain - Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Logged this ride 47 days ago
My Sponsors
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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!”
$1,486.47Received this donation 54 days ago -
Cathy Farmer
“Our love and support to you Starla as you ride for your niece!!”
$700Received this donation 54 days ago
Starla
“😮😮😮😮😮. Omg Cathy !!!!! Wow!!!!! Thank you and Teresa and ALL MY CHARLOTTE HALL JAZZERCISE FAMILY!!! I can’t tell you how much this means to me but especially the kids. Thank you again!!!!!!”
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Molly & Josh
$274.28Received this donation 54 days ago
Starla
“Hey Molly & Josh … thank you so much for donating to such an amazing cause. I love you both so so much. 🩷🩷🩷”
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Anne Jurek
“Thank you for doing this Starla.”
$207Received this donation 95 days ago
Starla
“Anne Jurek - thank you so so so much for your donation!!!! Love you bunches !!!”
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Gabriel Zhanay
“Alhena. You're in our thoughts and prayers. We are confident that your body and mind will overcome this virus. You have the best family around you, and this too shall pass. Starla - thank you for being you, and I acknowledge your efforts and leadershi,p too. Glad to call you a friend and part of our family, too. :)”
$200Received this donation 35 days ago
Starla
“Oh my goodness this is a huge help to all the kids. Thank you and Anna and the gang at VFR!!!!!! You guys ROCK!!!!!”
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Rick Maurer
“Way to go my beautiful wife! You are amazing! I love you!”
$181.13Received this donation 54 days ago
Starla
“Thank you my amazing husband. You, of all people, know what this is like. You’re my hero, my best friend and the biggest love of my life. You keep me going when I’m ready to give up. You’re the most amazing man on earth. I love you”
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Cogito Innovations
$155.25Received this donation 54 days ago
Starla
“Thank you so so much Cogito Innovations (Elaine, Josh & my Icarus). This means so much to me and to the kids. Love you guys 🩷🩷🩷🩷”
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Coral Showalter
“Do what you can. Seek healing and wholeness. Defend the struggling.”
$103.50Received this donation 58 days ago
Starla
“Coral - thank you so very much. I can’t tell you how much this means to me and to the kids. THANK YOU!!!”
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Elaine & Josh
“Keep gettin it Starla! Thank You!”
$103.50Received this donation 54 days ago
Starla
“I love you guys so much. Thank you so so so much. This is amazing !!!!!!🤩”
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Judith Nale
“You got this girl~ 😎❤️”
$103.50Received this donation 62 days ago
Starla
“Thank you so much. Besties FOREVER!!!!!!!!! Through tequila and bad dates. Hahahaha. I appreciate this so so much!”
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Kathleen Wood
“Prayers and love to all 🙏🏻❤️✝️”
$103.50Received this donation 57 days ago
Starla
“Kathy - thank you so so much. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. 🩷🩷🩷”
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Katie
“You rock, mi hermana! You got this! 💪🏽🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎”
$103.50Received this donation 54 days ago
Starla
“Muchas gracias, mi hermana. Te amo mucho!!!!!! Mi familia!!!!!!! Thank you so so so much. Viva la Raza”
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Katie Kohl
“Thank you for what you are doing, Starla! Right there cheering you on! 💚🥰”
$103.50Received this donation 61 days ago
Starla
“Muchas gracias mi hermana. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Next year we ride together. Love you bunches.”
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Melody Mudd
“Thank you for bringing awareness. Good luck!”
$103.50Received this donation 55 days ago
Starla
“Melody - thank you so so much. This means the world to me but it’s life changing for the kids. You’re amazing 😻”
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Roy's Painting Company
“We believe in you Starla!!! Great cause!! Thank you!!”
$103.50Received this donation 64 days ago
Starla
“Goodness Ginger!!!! Thank you so so so much. Love you bunches!!!!”
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Sara Dugan
“Kick Cancer's butt, Starla!”
$103.50Received this donation 73 days ago
Starla
“Thank you, Sara. Love you bunches and bunches.”
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Sara Dugan
“Keep kicking Cancer's butt, Starla!”
$103.50Received this donation 54 days ago
Starla
“Awwww Sara - thank you so much. I love you more than vegan cookies and Cafe Misto’s!!!!! 🩷🩷🩷”
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Kendra Burch
$72.45Received this donation 58 days ago
Starla
“Holy crackers, Kendra!!!!! Thank you so so so much. Love you to the ends of the universe & back!!!!!”
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Christine Mannix
$51.75Received this donation 52 days ago
Starla
“Christine - thank you so so much. This means so much to me but especially for the kids. You’re a rockstar. Thanks again !!!”
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Judi Bonds
“Starla, I will keep your niece in my prayers. I pray God's hands will heal her body & give strength to her parents. Your dedication to this mission is amazing. Keep riding & God's blessings to you all.”
$51.75Received this donation 57 days ago
Starla
“Judi - thank you so very much. Thank you for the donation and prayers. She can certainly use them. I will keep riding until there’s no more children’s cancer.”