Eat, Play, Bike, and Neigh to Benefit Kids with Cancer in Second Annual Valley Preferred "Wheels for Hope"
Trexlertown, PA (PRWEB) August 31, 2013 -- A wide range of cycling and family events is planned for the 2013 Valley Preferred Wheels for Hope to raise funds for the fight against children’s cancer. The tour will take place on Saturday, September 14th, starting and finishing at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Pa., with family events at the Center and a pre-ride dinner the evening before in Emmaus.
The two beneficiaries – The Angel 34 Foundation and the Children’s Hospital at the Lehigh Valley Hospital’s hematology and/oncology department – along with local sponsors, invite regional cyclists to join as individuals or teams for this second annual tour. Riders can choose from two scenic routes that wind through Lehigh and Berks counties, with opportunities to ride 27 miles, 42 miles or combine routes to complete a century ride. The ride is fully-supported, with food-and-drink-stocked rest stops and on-the-road support. Registration is available online at angel34.org.
New this year is a choice of registration for riders. Those who wish raise a minimum of $150 in donations pay only a $15 registration fee and receive a free Jersey (quantities limited to first 100 riders) plus free admission to the pre-ride Pasta Dinner.
The Macy’s Pre-Ride Pasta Dinner will be held at Waterfalls in Emmaus for both riders and non-riders. Dinner for fundraising riders will be free. 'A la carte' riders and non-riders only pay $15.00 for their meal. Dinner is being provided by Armetta’s of Emmaus and dessert by Granny Schmidt’s of Whitehall. Tickets can be purchased at angel34events.org. Dinner at the finish of the ride is being provided by Dickey’s BBQ of Allentown.
Families are invited to join the Roll 'n' Stroll at Rodale Park across from the Cycling Center, with activities including biking, walking, games, and the world-famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales.
The Angel 34 Foundation, based in Nazareth, Pa, was founded by 13-year-old Nicole Sheriff during her own battle with cancer. Nicole established the foundation to provide ICEE machines to children’s hospitals across the United States (this cool drink provides relief to the children battling cancer and helps offset the side effect from chemo and radiation treatments; the first hospital to receive an ICEE machine was the Children’s Hospital at the Lehigh Valley Hospital), financial assistance to cover medical cost, therapy programs (art, music, garden and aquatic), provides a place of relief to children and their families (Angel Field – B&B and Retreat), camps (Camp Sweet Pea, Camp Cocoon – Bereavement Camp and Derek’s Camp Flip Flop), medical staffing through medical arts scholarships, and cancer research – St. Baldrick’s.
Children’s Hospital at the Lehigh Valley Hospital’s hematology/oncology department serves the children and their families in the greater Lehigh Valley. The multidisciplinary team caring for young cancer victims is comprised of pediatric hematologists/oncologists, pediatric nurse practitioners, certified pediatric oncology nurses, social workers, and pharmacists. Care is provided in an atmosphere that instills hope, trust and confidence. Making this life-saving medical resource even more special are the services that can be provided to them right in the valley. Proceeds from the ride are earmarked for much-needed neuropsychological testing resources.
This year, the Angel 34 Foundation has tapped Lauren Loose as this year’s ambassador for the Valley Preferred Wheels for Hope. Lauren has been battling cancer since birth and has been an inspiration to all those who have gotten to know her. Lauren´s First and Goal a 501(c)3 charitable organization, a labor of love started in 2004 by John and Marianne Loose in honor of their daughter, Lauren, a 16-year-old pediatric brain tumor survivor. The Loose family started the foundation as a way to help other families who are battling childhood cancer.
Title sponsor Valley Preferred is a Lehigh Valley-based preferred provider organization that also offers BeneFIT corporate wellness programs to improve community health. As the naming sponsor of the nationally-known Valley Preferred Cycling Center, Valley Preferred is familiar with the “health on wheels” benefits of cycling for sport and recreation.
“We are proud to have the Valley Preferred name associated with such a worthy event to raise funds and awareness for the ongoing fight against children’s cancer,” said Jack A. Lenhart, MD, executive director of Valley Preferred. “We are equally pleased that a significant portion of the funds raised will stay here in our community to support the work of Angel34 Foundation and the Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital’s neuropsychological testing.
For complete facts on the Valley Preferred Wheels for Hope, visit http://www.angel34.org or call 610-533-1923.
Doug Sheriff, The Angel 34 Foundation, http://www.angel34.org, +1 (610) 533-1923, [email protected]
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