The 5th Annual Reid's Ride was another tremendous success.  More than 340 riders participated and we raised more than $90,000 for the Reid Sacco Memorial Cancer Research Fund for its fight against cancers in adolescents and young adults.

Stay tuned for more details and the thousands of photos!!   We'll post everything as soon as we can!!

Reid's Ride is again honored to be participating in The Team Sarcoma Initiative (http://www.team-sarcoma.net) and (http://www.team-sarcoma.net/tag/massachusetts), an international event of more than 10,000 participants raising awareness for sarcoma and sarcoma research.  International Sarcoma Awareness week is July 18-26.  Sarcomas are particularly frequent among the cancers striking young adults and are difficult to treat.  Sarcoma took Reid's life in 2005. 

Instructions for Riders, morning of the event:

If you registered on-line or by mail, proceed to check in at the "Pre-registered Riders" tables (arranged in alphabetical order by last name) and a volunteer will find your envelope and hand you a tee-shirt, a bib number, and other instructions.  If you had not paid your registration fee, the volunteer can collect it at that time.  The volunteer will then take any cash or checks you have been collecting in your fund-raising and place it in the envelope.  We'll add that to the funds donated via your FirstGiving fundraising page to calculate your totals.  Do not send any cash or checks to ECCF at this time; bring them the morning of the ride.  (If you have already, email us at reidsride@reidsaccofoundation.org so we can make sure we've got that accounted for.)

If you are registering the morning of the event, go to the "Same-Day" registration tables.  A volunteer will help you sign in, pay your registration fee, and provide you with a tee-shirt and bib number.  The volunteer will collect any cash or checks from your fund-raising, place them in the envelope with your information. 

Don't forget your helmet, sunscreen, and water!  We'll have water stops along the route, but try to fill your water bottle before you leave the house (and help save the environment from another disposable water bottle).

Details about the 2009 Reid's Ride Bike-a-thon

About the Bike Route The route is 28 miles in length and is moderately challenging depending on your cycling experience.  There are a couple of challenging hills, but overall the route is level.  This event is not a race, so riders ride at their own pace, arriving at the finish line between 1.5 and 4 hours after starting.  All roads are paved and clearly marked and the scenery is quite remarkable.  The route passes through a broad range of environments--everything from small neighborhoods and town centers, to rural countryside and past massive coastal estates.  Later portions of the route run parallel to the ocean approaching Cape Ann.  A facilities-equipped rest and refreshments stop will be set up in parking lot at Endicott College facing the ocean, at roughly the half-way point.  The route will be patrolled and monitored by a volunteer radio teams provided by North Shore Radio Association and  Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association.  Volunteers in pick-up trucks patrol the route for riders needing technical or medical assistance.  Landry's Bicycles graciously provides technical support at the starting line and the rest stop.  Lyons Ambulance generously provides EMT coverage.

Bike Route  For a Google Map of the route (graciously developed independently by Joseph Thomas and my cousin, Ron Sarro), click HERE For a view of the ELEVATION changes for the route, click HERE   Mapquest Directions [cumulative miles] :  From Lynnfield High School Parking Lot (275 Essex Street) --> Turn LEFT taking you West on ESSEX ST [0.66] --> Turn RIGHT onto MAIN ST and follow for 1.78 miles [2.44] --> MAIN ST becomes BOSTON ST (ROUTE 62) and continue to follow for 0.42 miles [2.86] Bear LEFT to stay on BOSTON ST (ROUTE 62) and follow for 1.9 miles to intersection with Route 114 [4.76] --> Turn LEFT onto S MAIN ST (ROUTES 114 & 62) and follow briefly for 0.15 miles [4.91] --> Turn RIGHT onto MAPLE ST (ROUTE 62), and head East for 1.20 miles [6.11] --> Turn RIGHT onto GREGORY ST. heading Southeast for 0.58 miles where it turns into DAYTON ST [6.69] --> Continue on DAYTON ST  for 1.52 miles (watch for Comfort Inn on your right) [8.21] --> Just before reaching ROUTE 1, turn RIGHT onto ARMORY RD. and follow very briefly for 0.07 miles [8.28] --> Turn LEFT onto CENTRE ST so that you pass under Route 1, and continue Southeast for 0.80 miles [9.08] --> Turn LEFT onto HOBART ST going Northeast and follow for 1.28 miles [10.36] --> Turn RIGHT onto MAPLE ST (ROUTE 35) and continue Southeast for 0.22 miles [10.58] --> Turn LEFT onto CONANT ST and follow it East for 0.47 miles [11.05] --> Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto ELLIOTT ST (ROUTE 62); follow Southwest through Beverly Center for 3.67 miles [14.72] --> Turn LEFT onto STONE ST (ROUTE 127) and head East for 0.27 miles [14.99] --> Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto LOTHROP ST (ROUTE 127)  and follow for 0.76 miles [15.75] --> Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto HALE ST (ROUTE 127) and follow for 1.61 miles to the rest stop at Endicott College [17.36] --> Leaving Endicott College, continue Northeast on HALE ST (ROUTE 127) for 1.68 miles [19.04]Turn RIGHT onto WEST ST (ROUTE 127) and continue East/Northeast for 2.17 miles [21.21] --> West St becomes BRIDGE ST (ROUTE 127) as you enter Manchester, and follow for 0.57 miles [21.78]**Be careful for some quick turns around this small shopping district (stay on Rt 127)**Turn RIGHT onto BEACH ST (ROUTE 127) and follow briefly for 0.05 miles [21.83] --> Turn LEFT onto SUMMER ST (ROUTE 127) and follow briefly for 0.06 miles [21.89] --> Continue East on SUMMER ST (ROUTE 127) for 3.02 miles where it turns into WESTERN AVE [24.91] Continue East for 2.72 miles on WESTERN AVE (ROUTE 127) toward Stage Fort Park [27.63] --> Turn RIGHT onto HOUGH AVE and follow for 0.4 miles to the finish line at Stage Fort Park [28.03]

 To download these directions, click SUMMARY DIRECTIONS

 To download a more detailed route map, click DETAILED DIRECTIONS.

(To see photos from the 2008 and 2007 events, click HERE.)  

2008 Reid's Ride Bike-a-thon 

“Is it my imagination or am I not moving as fast as usual?”

That was a familiar sensation for many of the over 300 cyclists of all ages who participated in the fourth annual Reid’s Ride Bike-a-thon on Sunday, July 20.  Although the warm humid air that enveloped the region that morning seemed to slow down even the fastest cyclists along the bike-a-thon’s 28-mile course from Lynnfield to Gloucester, it did nothing to dampen the turnout, energy, or spirit for this year’s event.  

With donations and pledges continuing to come in, this year’s Reid’s Ride raised more than $75,000 for the Reid Sacco Memorial Cancer Research Fund, and its mission to support innovative scientific and clinical research leading to better treatments—and someday a cure—for the cancers striking adolescents and young adults.

The event boasted its highest participation yet, with 321 riders setting out on mountain bikes, road bikes, and hybrids to pedal a moderately challenging but scenic route from Lynnfield into Cape Ann.  Nine-year old Laryssa Zak was this year’s youngest rider.  The event’s most senior rider would only comment, “…let’s just say I’m well into my seventies!” 

More than 125 volunteers lent a hand in every aspect of the event to assure that it ran smoothly and safely.  Indeed, some volunteers had been busy the night before, and in the pre-dawn hours, marking the route with arrows, signs, and balloons.  To those numbers of riders and volunteers, add dozens of the families, friends, and guests who joined in the festivities at the finish line at Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park. 

Riders began arriving at Lynnfield High School just before sunrise, greeted by dozens of volunteers who had already set up tables where pre-registered riders could check in, submit any collected donations, and receive their event tee-shirt.  Same-day registrants were directed to another set of tables where they could they sign up for the event.  Under the Landry’s Bicycles tent, technicians helped dozens of riders with last minute adjustments to tires, brakes, and shifters. For those needing a bicycle for the event, Urban Adventures was on hand with a truckload of bikes available for rent.

Promptly at 7:30 am, from the loudspeaker of a Lynnfield Police department squad car, Lorraine Sacco gave the “go” to start.  Within seconds, riders began streaming onto Essex Street for a journey along the quiet Sunday-morning streets of Lynnfield, Middleton, Danvers, Beverly, Beverly Farms, Manchester, and Gloucester.  Volunteers and police officials in each of the towns graciously directed riders safely through some of the more challenging intersections.   Here and there along the route, residents stood outside their homes encouraging riders with cheers and posters.  Volunteers and wellwishers manned water and refreshments stations along the way.  At Endicott College, a rest stop offered cyclists water and fruit, rest facilities, and a chance to stretch before embarking on the second leg of the route.   Private vehicles, supported by a team of volunteers from North Shore Radio Association and Cape Ann Amateur Radio, monitored the route from start to finish, directing assistance to any riders needing technical or medical aid.  The occasional jammed bicycle chain or flat tire kept Landry’s mobile technical support team busy for the morning.  Lyon’s Ambulance provided emergency medical coverage throughout the day, but fortunately the most severe injury was only a skinned knee.  Although the morning dawned warm and humid, overcast skies and a seabreeze kept the ride quite comfortable throughout the day.

While the riders were busy making their way along the route, the Lynnfield Rotary was already setting up on the grounds of Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park and grilling up the hundreds of hamburgers, sausages, and hot-dogs needed to feed hungry cyclists, supporters, and volunteers who would eventually converge there.  Local businesses generously donated the food and refreshments for the barbeque. From the gazebo, Lynnfield’s own Mystery Tramps rock band provided musical entertainment.  Between sets, Lorraine Sacco, president of the Reid Sacco Memorial Foundation, awarded prizes to the teams and riders raising the most contributions.  As the two leading individual fund-raisers, Mr. Ed Matt and Ms. Meredith Greeno each took home a pair of Red Sox tickets.  The top dozen teams raising the most funds included teams from Babson/Stride-Rite, Bentley College, Boston College, Merrimack College, George Washington University, Danvers Fire, Miraposa, Northfield Orthodontics, Baubles Jewelry, Haverhill, Gloucester, Danvers, and Lynnfield.  They were awarded gift certificates and other prizes.

Later in the morning, J. Nathan Hagstrom, MD, Director and Division Chief Hematology/Oncology at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center thanked riders and volunteers for supporting an innovative program at CCMC in adolescent and young adult cancers, one that is opening additional clinical trials in sarcoma for this population.  The program, led by Dr. Michael Isakoff, formerly of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is supported by the Reid Sacco Memorial Cancer Research Fund which relies on Reid’s Ride for most of its fund-raising.

This year’s Reid’s Ride took place during International Sarcoma Awareness Week, July 13-20, and the event was proud to be participating in the 2008 Team Sarcoma Initiative.  Riders and volunteers each received a blue wrist band signifying that as a participant in this year’s Reid’s Ride, they were also joining more than 8,000 others worldwide in events like this to bring greater awareness and research to sarcoma, “the forgotten cancer”.  Sarcoma is an especially dangerous cancer among those found in adolescents and young adults and is the type of cancer that took the life of Reid Sacco, the young man for whom Reid’s Ride is named. 

The event concluded before noon.  For those riders not biking back to Lynnfield or not returning home with family or friends who had joined them in Gloucester, trailers and pickup trucks returned bikes to Lynnfield, and a “party bus” provided by Liz’s Limosines of Lynnfield returned riders to the starting line. 

Reid’s Ride continues to owe much of its success to the cooperation and support of the communities along and adjacent to the route, and to the many local businesses and organizations who donated goods, services, and gifts for the event.  Among those businesses and organizations not already acknowledged, sincerest gratitude goes to Fuddrucker’s Restaurant in Saugus, Lynnfield Meat & Deli, Shaw’s Supermarket in Saugus, Crosby’s Market in Manchester, Costco’s in Danvers, Rainbow Balloon’s in Saugus, Universal Screening Studios, Priestly Photography, Starbuck’s, and Dunkin Donuts.  In addition, event organizers wish to thank several private individuals who donated prizes for the winning riders and teams, and for the raffles.  Finally, special thanks go to Bill Gustus, with the Lynnfield Rotary, to Ringo Tarr and Ann-Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester, and to Arthur Bourque and his family of Lynnfield, for their efforts in the complex logistics required to make this event fun-filled and safe.

If you have any photos you want to share, send them along to reidsride@reidsaccofoundation.org

To download these directions, click SUMMARY DIRECTIONS  To download a more detailed route map, click DETAILED DIRECTIONS.

  

Bike-a-Thon (Reid's Ride) 2007

The 2007 Reid's Ride Bike-a-thon was another wonderful success!  Thanks to all who rode in the event, who sponsored  riders for the event, who volunteered their time prior to and during the event, and who donated products and services for the event.  The event ran smoothly and safely and the weather was perfect. Photos of the event can be found on the FlickR photo site where we have a Foundation page. Click HERE to go directly to that page. The 3rd Annual Reid's Ride Bike-a-Thon was held on Sunday, July 22, 2007, on one of the few days of beautiful weather we've had this July.  A week of drearly wet weather finally released the region from the threat of rain late Saturday, but returned Sunday night.  Sunday morning was a spectacularly clear, dry, and cool and perfect for the ride to Gloucester.

The registration fee was once again only $50, and riders are asked to get family and friends to support their ride with pledges totalling a minimum of only $125.  Riders who will participate in the 2007 Pan Massachusetts Challenge (Dana Farber) were exempted from this pledge request.  Prizes were awarded to riders and teams raising the most pledges.  All proceeds from this event benefit the ECCF/Reid R Sacco Memorial Cancer Research Fund and its mission to find better treatments for the cancers predominantly striking adolescents and young adults.

 

 

Bike-a-Thon (Reid's Ride) 2006

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The 2nd Annual Reid's Ride Bike-a-Thon was held on Sunday, July 23, 2006 and was once again success, raising $60,000 for the Reid R Sacco Memorial Cancer Research Fund. Although the day started with drenching showers, the rains let up in time for the start of the race and left riders with cool and comfortable conditions for the ride to Gloucester.