Yikes – my turn!

ONE MONTH. ONE GOAL. FIGHT KIDS' CANCER.

This September, we're riding to end childhood cancer and save little lives.

Every hill we climb and every mile we pedal will be to honor those lives we've lost and stand with those brave kids still fighting to survive. These kids won't give up, and neither will we.

All of you have done your part of the challenge by supporting me and donating to this cause. With September here, it is time for me to start collecting my miles. There are almost 16,000 riders across the nation registered for this challenge.

My goals this year? One more than 2024 .........

72 miles, as I turn 72 soon

72 sponsors

And one more dollar.

There are now 30 sponsors on my list and riding along with me.

Current leaderboard info across all categories shows me/we are doing very well thanks to your help.

A little bit of trivia – of the top four fundraisers in Illinois, three are ex Motorolans.

When I first joined this challenge in 2017, my primary goal was to ride my bike more, along with raising awareness and donating a few dollars from Sue and me. I am proudly able to report that together over these eight plus years, we have now raised over $55k. And still counting.

Words cannot express how thankful and honored I am that you have supported this cause.

Tribute Day

Wednesday August 20 was Tribute Day.

This is a day where the GCC community united across the country to honor those we've lost, celebrate those we're riding to support and recognize the incredible fundraising efforts of our riders from the 2025 challenge.

To celebrate Tribute Day, we took over a huge billboard in Times Square for 4 hours to showcase rider pics and the pics of those they're riding for...on a VERY big screen. The billboard was 31 feet by 55 feet (it's HUGE).

I was honored to have my personal profile picture shown, but more grateful to show the people I am riding for.

August already?

August is here and I am back for my monthly update.

In the last month, 5 more sponsors joined our team. We now have 26 sponsors for a total of $4290.

Amazing!

And the beat goes on……

I wanted to take some time here to give more background on how we got here.

OUR WHY

In 1979, 13-year-old Katie Hageboeck, from Minnesota, was nearing the end of her 16-month battle with leukemia. Before she died, Katie asked that the money she’d been saving for a 10-speed bicycle be donated to a little-known fund at the University of Minnesota called Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF). With that seed of support from Katie and her family, CCRF has contributed over $235 million in funding of nationwide research, education and quality of life programs for children with cancer.

Katie never got the chance to ride her new bike, so now we ride to realize her dream of a world without childhood cancer. Since the first Great Cycle Challenge event in 2015, our community of riders from all 50 states has ridden a total of 36,997,211 miles, and together we’ve raised $80,332,640 in support of research to develop better treatments and carry on Katie’s legacy.

Hello July

2 months before the miles count.

The official registration for this year’s challenge starts now. As you know, I got a head start. With your support, we now have 21 sponsors and donations approaching $4000.

I thought I would share some information here on what we fund.

* Innovative and promising research

We fund research at institutions nationwide, focusing on projects that allow researchers to prove their idea, then reach for even larger grants. Federal funding sources often don’t fund projects until much later in the process.

* Enhance healing and care for families

We understand that when a child is diagnosed with cancer, it affects the whole family. That’s why we fund programs that help families find joy and support during and after cancer treatment, from peer support groups to camps to programs for caregivers and siblings.

* Educate the world about childhood cancer

Through stories of families fighting cancer and researchers who won’t stop looking for answers, we educate the world about what we can do to create a world without childhood cancer.

Hello Summer!

As the temperatures start to rise, we are looking forward to a rise in our bikes finding the trails in June.

We added 3 more sponsors in May. Our totals are now showing 20 donors, contributing $3400. Thanks!

Want to help raise awareness, resources and prayers? Feel free to share our information with your family and friends, through talk, text, email, social media.

Get out and enjoy this time of the year.

“The most beautiful things in life are not just things. They are people and places, memories and pictures. They are feelings and moments and smiles and laughter.”

Hello May

As we go forward, I will send along updates at the beginning of each month until September. In September as rides transition from training into official, I will send weekly updates.

I am happy to report we are up to 17 sponsors, for over $2900. A great start thanks to many of you.

About the Challenge.....

The Great Cycle Challenge, benefiting Children's Cancer Research Fund, started in 2015, and after 10 years, the event has grown to become one of the biggest cycling events in the United States.

People of all ages, abilities and from every state across the country set themselves a personal riding goal and challenge themselves to pedal to fight kids’ cancer. This year the challenge will again take place throughout the month of September.

In 10 years, our community of riders from all 50 states has ridden a total of 33,817,103 miles, and together we’ve raised $72,646,876 in support of research to develop better treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.

Enjoy your spring!

14 days in, 14 sponsors

Although it was only 2 weeks ago that I put out my announcement note that I would be riding again this year, I am happy to share that we now have fourteen donors on my list for a total of over $2100. Amazing. What a great start!

Some historical perspective. In my first 2 years, 2017-2018, of participating in this Great Cycle Challenge, I raised about $2700. Now in 2025, we have raised more than $2100 in just 2 weeks.

Thanks for checking out my update and adding your names to my list.

Keep the kids in your thoughts.