Erik Sietsema
By Erik Sietsema
Throughout the month of September, cyclists all over the United States, including me, are riding to raise money to fight childhood cancer. Over the past nine years I have participated in eight Great Cycle Challenges, missing only 2023, when I broke my wrist. In that time I've raised more than $9,000 for the Children's Cancer Research Fund. This year my fundraising goal is $2,500, though I would love to exceed it.
The Great Cycle Challenge was established eleven years ago and has grown into one of the largest cycling events in the country. Riders from every state have taken part, logging more than 36 million miles and raising nearly $80 million for the Children's Cancer Research Fund (CCRF).
Each cyclist pledges to ride a target number of miles and sets a fundraising goal for the month. My mileage goal is 200 miles, though I've gotten off to a slow start thanks to a few busy days, some rainy days, and a handful of windy afternoons. Most years I start slow and then add miles toward the end of the month. On the fundraising side, I've brought in nearly $1,300 so far, a little over halfway to my goal.
In my early years of the challenge, my fundraising target was usually around $500. The first year I actually reached it, I did so by trading silly stunts for donations. I rode with tassels on my handlebars all month in exchange for one gift. A friend from Canada bought me a hot pink jersey, which I wore for several weeks in exchange for others. In the years since, donors have become easier to find and I haven't had to resort to such antics, though I'll admit they were a lot of fun. Some years the money comes more easily than others. I'm hoping to beat my previous record this year, but I'll be happy just to reach my goal.
CCRF is a national leader in the effort to end childhood cancer. It funds transformational research aimed at better treatments and, ultimately, cures for children with cancer. Rather than directing most of its money to institutions or hospitals, CCRF funds individual scientists doing pioneering work, chosen for its potential to make the biggest impact. It prioritizes cancers with the lowest survival rates, because that is where a breakthrough can save the most lives. And because survivors of childhood cancer statistically face more health problems throughout their lives, CCRF also directs resources toward care after treatment to improve long-term outcomes. In all, its funding focuses on three areas: hard-to-treat cancers, survivorship research, and eliminating health disparities for children from low-income communities.
You can learn more about the Great Cycle Challenge and the Children's Cancer Research Fund at the greatcyclechallenge.com.
If you'd like to join us in this fight, there are several ways to give. You can visit my fundraising page at greatcyclechallenge.com/riders/ErikSietsema1. The Grocery Store and the Pharmacy have graciously agreed to let me place donation cans in their shops, so you can give in person at either location. Links to my fundraising page are also posted on my Facebook page. Checks can be made out to "Children's Cancer Research Fund."
