TOWN VIBE July 7, 2014

CT Challenge Revs Up for Another Ride E I L E E N W E B E R

Image courtesy of CT Challenge

Can’t make it to the Tour de France? No sweat. Fairfield has its own tour—the CT Challenge. And, you don’t have to be a serious bike rider to participate.

Now in its 10th season, the ride starts on Friday, July 25th at the Interlaken Inn in Lakeville, CT. Riding through about 80 miles of countryside, your trip ends in Fairfield. On Saturday, July 26th, the second day of riding kicks off from the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport. Well over 1,000 riders sign up for this portion of the event. Ride 10, 25, 50, 75, or 100 miles. Just show up in your cute bike shorts with enough water to keep you hydrated and you’re all set.

One of the teams in this year’s event is TeamSHU packed with 75 riders. All from Sacred Heart University, they are joining Saturday’s ride in honor of Christopher Cook, 48, who lost his battle with cancer this past spring. Cook was the son of Donald Cook, Sacred Heart’s Executive Director of Athletics, Emeritus.

TeamSHU is not alone. Many participants sign up for the CT Challenge in honor of someone they know who has cancer or has lost their battle with it.

But if biking riding is just not your cup of tea, they have plenty of volunteer spots open. Help them park cars on Saturday morning at the Hunt Club. Staff the rest stops along the way. Be a Finish Line greeter. Or, join the Breakfast Crew to send the riders on their way with a full belly.

The CT Challenge is the annual fundraiser that supports the survivorship programs and events at the CT Challenge Center for Survivorship and at hospitals around the state that are members of the CT Challenge Survivorship Network. Eighty-eight percent of every dollar they raise is spent to support programs for cancer survivors.

The Center for Survivorship opened its doors in October 2012. Since then, they have been a place of refuge and physical rehabilitation for cancer survivors throughout the area. In fact, there are 14.5 million cancer survivors currently in the U.S. according to the American Cancer Society.

The Center was featured last month on Good Morning America with Robin Roberts, a cancer survivor herself. What makes the facility special is that personal rehabilitation—both physical and mental—can take place somewhere other than a hospital.

As founder Jeff Keith said in his interview with Roberts, “Make no mistake. You come in here and you’re a survivor, we don’t baby you,” he said. “We treat you like a normal person.”

For more information about the event or how you can help, visit them online at www.ctchallenge.org or call 203-292-8722. For regular updates, check them out on Facebook.