WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The 5th annual “Brett’s Ride for Rhabdo” will be held on Sunday, Oct. 5 in Hickory, beginning at 9 a.m. The ride will start and finish at the Hickory Foundation YMCA. There are 65-mile, 30-mile and 10-mile rides. There will also be a Tot Ride on the half-mile track located behind the YMCA. The track will be open from 10 a.m. through noon for Brett’s Ride supporters to participate using strollers, wagons, tricycles or bicycles. Helmets are required.
The ride, which has become one of the largest charity bicycle rides of the greater Hickory area, is held the first Sunday in October each year in honor of Brett Gosnell of Hickory. Brett passed away in 2006 after fighting a battle with rhabdomyosarcoma (Rhabdo), a cancer that strikes children and young adults. Proceeds raised from the ride benefit pediatric cancer research at Brenner Children’s Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
“Last year’s event had over 1,100 participants, including riders of all ages and ability; over 250 volunteers and over 100 sponsors,” said Katherine Newton, publicity chair.“Thanks to the local support of sponsors, numerous donations, and rider registrations, the 2007 event was able to donate $108,000 to Brenner Children’s Hospital. Total funds raised since our beginning in 2004 are $278,000.”
Early registration and more information are available at Rock n Road Bicycles or www.hickoryveloclub.com. Participants can also register at www.active.com. Entry fee is $25 if registered by Oct. 4th and $30 the day of the ride. The Tot Ride entry fee is $10.
Media Contact: Rae Bush (336) 716-6878, rbush@wfubmc.edu; Bonnie Davis, (336) 716-4977, bdavis@wfubmc.edu; Shannon Koontz (336) 716-2415, shkoontz@wfubmc.edu.
About Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Brenner Children’s Hospital and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university’s School of Medicine and Piedmont Triad Research Park. The system comprises 1,154 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds and has been ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. Wake Forest Baptist is ranked 32nd in the nation by America’s Top Doctors for the number of its doctors considered best by their peers. The institution ranks in the top third in funding by the National Institutes of Health and 4th in the Southeastern United States in revenues from its licensed intellectual property.
Media Relations
Main Number: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587