2009 Report: Team Sarcoma / Reid R. Sacco Memorial Foundation

Massachusetts l 2009 Events

5th Annual Reid’s Ride Bike-a-Thon
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Lynnfield to Gloucester, Massachusetts

This was the 5th year of the Reid’s Ride Bike-a-thon. There were more than 340 riders and 150 volunteers at the event, which raised $90,000 for the Reid Sacco Memorial Cancer Research Fund. The event is named for Reid Sacco, who lost his battle to sarcoma in April 2005 at age 20, and it is the primary fund-raising event to benefit the Reid Sacco Memorial Cancer Research Fund. That Fund sponsors programs aimed at finding better treatments – and someday a cure – for sarcoma and other cancers striking adolescents and young adults.

The moderately challenging route journeyed 28 miles along suburban and small-town roads, at the rider’s own pace, from Lynnfield High School to Stage Fort Park situated on the Gloucester shoreline, where riders, volunteers, and supporters were treated to a barbeque luncheon, music, and prizes.

Guest speaker, Dr. Michael Isakoff from Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, was on hand to thank the riders. The Fund’s support is allowing his Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Program to open additional multi-center clinical trials in sarcoma in this age group (15-44).  Few sarcoma patients in this age group have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, taking away some of their treatment opportunities as well as stunting the potential to find better treatments for them.