At birth, Sylvia’s daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Her daughter is now 12 years old and doing well. This weekend Sylvia will be spinning away on a bike for 12 hours, one hour for each year her daughter has survived the horrible disease.
24 Hour Fitness is holding an indoor bike marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event, Tour de 24 Challenge, will be held Saturday and Sunday at more than 400 24 Hour Fitness locations nationwide. The goal is to raise $1 million for cancer research.
“Everybody’s been touched by cancer one way or another,” said fitness manager Mitch Blackwell, who has pledged to ride 12 hours. The American Cancer Society reports that this year alone, 555,500 Americans are expected to die of cancer, the second leading cause of death each year. Cancer causes one in four deaths in America.
Participants can choose to help fight this disease by riding anywhere from one to the full 24 hours, but must get pledges of $30 per hour. All non-member donors also receive a 30-day pass to use at any of the 24 Hour Fitness locations. The Tour de 24 Challenge is a way to help defeat cancer while possibly placing the event in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest indoor bike ride.
The challenge, which will run continually for 24 hours, will entertain riders with Las Vegas-style games and entertainment as well as an Austin Powers movie marathon on a big screen. Every two hours local restaurants will also provide the riders with food and drinks to help sustain them.
Blackwell hopes the new Vegas theme will make the already fun event a little more entertaining. Despite the lack of any theme last year, the Dallas district still raised $170,000.
Members of SMU’s Delta Delta Delta sorority are especially excited about the ride against cancer because their major philanthropy each year goes to helping kids with cancer. Senior broadcast journalism major Michele Reese will be one of the several Tri Delt riders.
“I really love to exercise, and it’s a great opportunity to help people out while doing something I love,” Reese said.
The division president of 24 Hour Fitness, who has pledged to ride the entire 24 hours, is encouraging everyone to sign up. All Dallas-area riders will join at the I-75 and Royal location. Those interested should contact Mitch Blackwell at the Greenville and Mockingbird location by calling (214) 827-8700. Riding times are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
