Courage Ride has raised over $380,000 since 2005 to help advance sarcoma research
IOWA CITY—Courage Ride, a cycling fundraiser returning for its twelfth year on August 19, has to date raised over $380,000 to advance local research of sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, and to support one of the largest sarcoma tissue banks in the Midwest.
The event is expected to attract over 500 participants, including 11-year-old Courage Ride Patient Honoree Devin Martz. After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma in May 2016, Devin had rotationplasty surgery to remove his knee, which contained the cancerous tumor. Surgeons rotated Devin’s lower leg 180 degrees and connected it to his upper leg to allow his ankle to function as his knee. A University of Iowa biomedical engineering student is currently building a prosthetic device that will allow Devin to participate as a cyclist in this year’s fundraising event.
Courage Ride was founded by Jackie and Tom Bailey in 2005 to honor their son, Seth, who died at the age of 25 after an eight-year battle with sarcoma. Since then, the event has continued to grow in number of participants and amount of dollars raised. All proceeds go to the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Sarcoma Research Program.
“We are deeply grateful and overwhelmed that thousands of people, from Iowa and surrounding states, have participated and supported us over the last 12 years,” says Jackie Baily. “We are united in our goal to beat cancer.”
Returning riders will notice several changes from past years, including minor modification of a few routes, the addition of rest stops at Frytown and Keota, and a free event t-shirt for riders who register before August 1. In addition, Courage Ride bike jerseys can be purchased at CourageRide.org.
The registration fee for adults is $75 through August 11 and $85 after that date; a flat fee of $15 for youth, ages 13-17; and free for children 12 years and younger. Registration includes a free breakfast and lunch, SAG support, and rest stops with entertertainment.
Each year Courage Ride partners with Bicyclists of Iowa City to ensure the event is enjoyed by cyclists of all skill levels. This year riders can choose from six paved routes and four gravel routes, with distances ranging from 16 to 102 miles. The event is known for its beautiful scenery, guiding riders through the Kalona countryside, past Amish homesteads and over old stagecoach routes
Proceeds Support Sarcoma Cancer Research
All proceeds from the Courage Ride go to the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Sarcoma Research Program. Eighty-five percent of the program's research funding comes from the Courage Ride. To date, those dollars have seeded numerous sarcoma research grants and supports one of the largest sarcoma tissue banks in the Midwest. The Courage Ride fundraising goal for 2017 is $60,000.
The significance of Courage Ride is underscored by the fact that funding for cancer research has been shrinking over the past 10 years, according to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). And yet cancer remains one of the nation’s costliest diseases. Approximately 15,000 sarcoma cases are diagnosed in the United States each year and over 6,000 are expected to die from it. Over 100 adults and children in Iowa are diagnosed with sarcoma each year. Sarcoma receives 1 to 2 percent of all cancer research funding.
Routes for All Cycling Abilities
The Courage Ride is known for its scenic bicycle ride through the Amish countryside near Kalona and for its entertaining rest stops, where riders are treated to live music and unique treats served by volunteers. It offers distances to suit any cyclist’s abilities.
Paved routes include lengths of 16, 24, 39, 59, 81 or 100 miles. Gravel routes include lengths of 21, 48, 63 and 102 miles. The Seth Bailey Memorial Route, 16 miles in length, travels east from Iowa Mennonite School to Grout Cemetery, where Seth Bailey is buried.
All routes begin with a rolling start at Iowa Mennonite School, 15 miles southwest of Iowa City, winding through the gently rolling hills of the Amish countryside, traveling along old stagecoach routes past Amish homesteads on quiet, picturesque roads.
Riders can also participate in silent auction featuring items from a variety of area businesses, organizations and craftsmen and free skin cancer screenings by University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics dermatologists.
Visit www.CourageRide.org for route maps, registration information or to make a donation.
