The founder of this ride, Dr. Tom Ollila, is one of my best friends and my first real bike partner. We used to ride mountain bikes together all over Central Massachusetts, starting in the fourth grade and continuing on through our years at UMass together. I've sponsored his daughter Vera every year since he started this ride six years ago.
This year, the ride means a little bit more to me. My dad was diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer in March and has been fighting a losing battle ever since. For the first time, I'm actually flying out to ride the Tour de Rhody in person. I'll be riding the gravel half century, rain or shine, on one of Tom's bikes that looks almost exactly like the one I used to chase him around the Wachusett Reservoir on when we were 12.
I'm not one to hound people for donations, but this ride has been consistently raising a notable amount of money to support clinical trials at the Lifespan Cancer Institute, where my dad is currently being treated. Anything you can give will be appreciated.
Tour de Rhody #6
Tour de Rhody is a road and gravel cycling tour to support cancer research in Rhode Island. This year we will again start and finish at beautiful Salisbury Farm at 11 Peck Hill Rd. in Johnston, RI. The ride will take place on the morning of September 22, 2024, with a rolling start.
Rides range from around 15 miles on road or gravel to a full metric gravel century. There are pure road and mostly gravel (dirt roads that at time border on trail) routes. Routes can be challenging and the gravel routes explore historic areas around the Scituate Reservoir. These roads are closed to the public and the Providence Water Supply Board has graciously offered us one day access.
The ride supports the trials designed by the Brown University Oncology Group and the event itself is graciously hosted by the Lifespan Cancer Institute. These trials give patients access to groundbreaking new therapies and other new and emerging cancer treatments at various stages of diagnosis and across many cancer types.
In its first year in 2019, Tour de Rhody raised over $18,000. We continue to grow substantially each year with your support and by 2024 have raised over $400,000. Let's see where we can go from here!
Tour de Rhody has become a key fundraiser to support cancer research in Rhode Island. Since 2019, over $400,000 has been raised to support cancer clinical trials in Rhode Island designed through the Brown University Oncology Research Group. The Lifespan Cancer Institute graciously sponsors the event itself. Tour de Rhody supports investigator initiated trials, that is where physicians and researchers are the ones developing and designing the trials, that directly benefit Rhode Islanders. These trials lead to the discoveries advancing new cancer treatments and cures worldwide