With just three weeks to go before the highly anticipated Ride for Hope 2011, one lucky rider has been selected as the winner of a brand new Jamis bike. Elizabeth Fowler was amongst the first 100 individuals to register for this year’s event and was elated to learn she had won the ‘Early Registration’ prize, a 2011 Ventura Comp bike by Jamis.
Elizabeth Fowler, who rode 30 miles in last year’s event, expressed gratitude to the Ride for Hope team. “I am so happy to be a part of such an amazing event for such an important cause. This year is the third year that I am participating and now that I have a new bike, I can’t wait to test it out!” Riding as a member of the Burns House team, an excited Fowler stated that next year she intends to train to ride 50 miles.
The prize bicycle was donated by Cycles Unlimited, distributors for Jamis in The Bahamas. This year marks the second year that Jamis has contributed to the event, having donated event tents and two bicycles to last year’s event. Maria Campbell, owner and general manager of Cycles Unlimited, explained that as the Ride for Hope has grown, they have become logistical partners with the event. “Cycles Unlimited has become both an information center and collection point for the event. As in the past, we will invite riders to drop their bikes to our location and coordinate their transportation to Odyssey Aviation for shipment to Eleuthera.”
Having participated in the ride for the past three years, Ms. Campbell is very familiar with the route and what is required for ultimate ‘rider readiness’. She encouraged persons intending to partake in the ride to have their bikes serviced in advance of the event, stressing the importance of preparation in advance for the event. Cycles Unlimited will also have an onsite presence at the event site to facilitate minor repairs and adjustments.
Ride for Hope organizers announced, “2011 marks the 6th anniversary of the Ride for Hope. Since its inception, cumulatively, over 1,000 cyclists have participated, logged more than 30,000 miles along the roads of Eleuthera, and raised over $1 million dollars for early detection, cancer patient care and treatment, and research in The Bahamas.”
Ride for Hope Bahamas, a registered Charity in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, was formally constituted in 2009. It was established for the purpose of raising money to support initiatives related to health, wellness and human development in The Bahamas. Ride for Hope’s designated focus is cancer. The organization’s flagship fundraiser is “The Ride for Hope” – now a six year old bike-a-thon held each Spring on the island of Eleuthera. Ride for Hope 2011, the takes place on Saturday, April 9, 2011 on the beautiful island of Eleuthera. www.rideforhopebahamas.com
Pictured from (L-R) William Holowesko, General Manager of Odyssey Aviation, presenting sponsor of this year’s Ride for Hope; Elizabeth Fowler, winner; Maria Campbell, Cycles Unlimited.
