Riding for a Cure: My Ninth September with the Great Cycle Challenge
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.
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