Run/Walk/Ride Fundraiser and Raffles Benefit Breast Cancer Mobile Unit
Marshfield Clinic and the Sports Den are teaming up in the battle against breast cancer by hosting a Ride/Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Proceeds benefit Breast Cancer Research & Detection at Marshfield Clinic. Registration is $30 per person or $25 each for families with four or more members. Sponsorship of participants is most welcome, so root on your friends and raise money for this cause that affects so many.
Denny and Joan Riedel, owners of the Sports Den, started this event eleven years ago. Both sides of their family have been affected by breast cancer. With three daughters of their own, they wanted to do their part in the race for the cure.
At first, the money raised went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) but after a successful first year, the Riedels decided to expand the event and keep some of the money local. They met with Marshfield Clinic and brainstormed ideas.
“We decided to host a raffle in conjunction with the bike ride,” said Joan. “The money raised by the bikers stayed with the BCRF, and the money raised by the raffle supported breast cancer funds at Marshfield Clinic.”
A run/walk was added in 2010 to appeal to the non-biking community. Two years ago, they decided to have all of the money raised stay to benefit the area, and chose to benefit the Marshfield Clinic Mobile Imaging Unit and Research.
“To date almost $176,000 has been raised for breast cancer research and detection through our event, thanks to our amazing community,” said Joan.
Activities get started at 8:30 am at the Sports Den. Walking participants can choose from a 3 or 6-mile trek. Runners can do the same or complete a 12-mile path. Bikers will pick between 10 and 25 mile routes. Music, food and beverages will also be offered as participants start, finish, and enjoy the morning. Turn Pike Greenhouse is donating a pink mum to all cancer survivor participants.
Several raffles will be held throughout the morning, including items such as a raised dog bed and a Green Bay Packer themed cooler/gift pack. The Sports Den is also raffling off a Trek Bicycle Farley 7 Fat Bike. Trek has been a company that has long supported Breast Cancer Research.
Riedel’s are excited about the Fat Bike raffle as so many riders are a fan of fat biking.
“The wide rims and tires of fat bikes provide vastly improved traction on dirt surfaces and floatation when riding through the snow,” said Joan. “The wide tires are nearly twice as wide as most traditional mountain bikes and add notable grip to the ground and the extra wide surface area prevents the wheels from sinking into soft surfaces like snow or sand. With all that squishy rubber under you, suspension systems are not necessary for most fat bikes.”
Riders enjoy more stability and confidence when riding the trails or over snow. “Because the tires are less apt to slide in corners, lose traction on rocks, or fall into ruts on even normal bike trails, fat bikes are just harder to screw up on!” she added. “Fat-biking is quite possibly the most fun you will have on a bike since you were an 8 year old! I have yet to see a person get off of a fat bike without a huge smile on their face!”
Tickets for the bike are $25 each with only 150 being sold. Raffle tickets are available at The Sports Den and through the Marshfield Clinic Foundation, with drawing at noon on Saturday. You do not need to be present to win.
To preregister for the Ride/Run/Walk, sponsor a participant or make a donation, visit this link.
