First-time riders, experienced cyclists, and Cycle for the Cause veterans all suited up in custom jerseys representing their teams and set off from Westborough, MA, to kick off Day 1 of the ride.
Each day, riders completed between 80-90 miles! Mornings began at 5 a.m. with breakfast, announcements, and stretches led by Ken Berkeley of Team Eagle and KENERGY Fitness to kick off the day’s miles. Steep inclines, downhill plunges, and even torrential downpours punctuated the journey. Nights ended with communal dining, celebration, and storytelling stories.
Rider and The Center’s Substance Use Treatment Counselor, Freddy Perez, led nightly sober spaces and recovery meetings for anyone who needed them. Riders kept their strength and spirits up by visiting themed rest stops managed by volunteer crew members along the route. Crew members also provided transportation for any rider who needed a lift, created a welcoming environment for riders, and fundraised! At the rest stops, they made sure riders refueled with power bars, Gatorade, music, and the all-important pickle juice! They also ensured rest stops were a moment for riders to muster strength, bond with the community, and laugh, all while fundraising along the way!
Every rider raised money toward our goal, and we’re so appreciative of everyone’s generosity. We also want to give a special shout-out to this year’s top individual fundraiser from Team Funky Monkey, John Davidson. John raised $54,000+!
Our top fundraising team was Team Eagle, which raised over $250,000, the most they’ve ever raised in a single year. That number put the team at over $2M throughout the lifetime of their participation in Cycle for the Cause.
We thank everyone who joined us this year. You brought pedal power to our mission to help those living with HIV and AIDS. Your commitment, personality, and cheerful persistence are what we love about you! We can’t wait to do it again next year.
