Reid’s Ride Raised More Than $215,000 To Fight Cancer

LYNNFIELD, MA. - Overcast but bright skies softened the mid-July sun, making for cool temperatures and a perfect day for a challenging but scenic bike ride. Nearly 400 cyclists set out from Lynnfield High School early Sunday morning, July 15th, for the 2018 Annual Reid’s Ride 28-Mile Bike Ride.

Their efforts were impressive.

The 2018 Reid’s Ride raised more than $215,000 to fight the cancers striking Adolescent & Young Adults. This total is expected to swell as additional donations to teams and individuals, as well as company matches, continue to come in during the next several weeks. The Reid's Ride website will remain open until October so that supporters can make post-event tax-exempt donations to their favorite teams, favorite riders, or to the event itself.

Taking honors for the top fundraising teams were: “We Can’t Stop” ($15,111); “Danvers Diehards” ($14,950); “Rotary (Lynnfield) Riders” ($10,834); “Team Honeybadgers” ($9,155); "Firefighters Fighting Cancer" ($8,192); "Beverly Rockin Rotarians" ($7,735), and “North Shore Smiles” ($7,356).

Taking honors for the top fundraising individuals, many of whom held fundraising events, were: Paula Parziale ($8,528); Meredith Nash ($8,470); Liz Joyce ($7,960); Patrice Fogg ($4,885); Jacqueline Rapisardi ($4,596); Jane Greeno ($3,271); Kevin Connolly ($3,133); Stacy Abbatessa ($2,820); Frank Sacco ($2,480); and Mike Marra ($2,289).

Now in its 14th year, Reid's Ride is indeed making possible what others considered impossible in improving the care, treatment and outlook for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer. Cyclists were guided along the 28-mile open-road route by balloons, arrows, water stations, a rest stop, mile markers and posters. Cyclists were then cheered across the finish line at Gloucester's seaside Stage Fort Park by more than 800 Reid’s Ride volunteers, supporters, family and friends. All were treated to a barbeque, refreshments, raffles, prizes, music, presentations, relaxation tents and sponsor giveaways. Information tents from the Reid R Sacco AYA Cancer Programs at Tuft Medical Center and Connecticut Children's Medical Center fielded questions about AYA cancer and illuminated the vital role that Reid's Ride has played in launching two of the earliest and most innovative AYA Cancer Programs in the country.

Reid's Ride Founder and Director, Lorraine Sacco, illustrated the importance of everyone's devotion to fighting AYA cancer by reading an especially relevant and moving Facebook post from one of the day's riders, April Bailey. This was April's second time riding in Reid's Ride in memory of Heather Bent, a young adult who lost her life to cancer at age 22. A physician assistant, April was a member of the medical team that diagnosed Heather's cancer. April continued to visit Heather and recalled the moment when Heather told her, "Even if all the drugs and treatments they are giving me don't work to save me, I hope it's helping them figure out what will work for someone else, and that it's one step closer to finding a cure."

April herself went on to write, "I am honored to ride in memory of Heather and her selfless spirit and beautiful soul, as well as being a part of the efforts to raise money for continued clinical research, clinical trials, and specialized treatment programs to work toward a cure for this awful disease."

Lorraine concluded, "Never forget why we are gathered here today, or why we Ride. We ride for Heather and so many other young adults we've lost to cancer. We ride so that we may make possible a cancer-free future for the next generations of AYAs. This is why we ride!"

Photo courtesy Reid's Ride