Registration Open for Third Annual Ride for Hope to Benefit Ovarian Cancer Awareness
The third annual Ride for Hope, a 501(c)3 motorcycle ride and celebration to benefit ovarian cancer awareness, will roll out of the Fox River Harley Davidson, 131 Randall Road in St. Charles, at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 30. The 80-mile ride kicks off with a free breakfast, courtesy of Sammy's Mexican Grill and Bar, at the dealership, followed by a bike blessing at 10:15 a.m., a short pit stop at the Woodstock Harley-Davidson, and ends at the after party at St. Peter Lutheran Church picnic grove, 202 E. Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg.
The fundraiser was conceived and organized by JuliAnne Scully, owner/operator of JuliAnne's Salon & Spa in Schaumburg, in 2015. In its inaugural year, the ride raised $25,600, making it the largest third party 501(c)3 donation to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition in the U.S. In total, Ride for Hope has donated over $53,000.
Scully is a 30-year stage-three ovarian cancer survivor, who bought her first bike to celebrate her 25-year cancer-free anniversary. "I founded Ride for Hope as a charity to help spread awareness of this deadly women's disease," Scully said. "I chose to donate the proceeds to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) because they do an excellent job working to fund awareness and research of ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors." To date, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer; consequently, most cases are diagnosed in their later stages. Over 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian caner each year, and approximately 15,000 women die annually from the disease.
To register for the ride and after-party visit www.rideforhopeil.org or stop in Julianne's Salon & Spa, 544 South Roselle Road, in Schaumburg. Preregistration is $25 per rider and passenger. Day of registration is a $30 donation per rider and passenger. The registration fee includes admission to the after-party which features Head's Red pig roast and lunch buffet, beer tent, wine pull, and live music provided by Six to Midnight, a high-energy cover band that plays pop, country, disco, and R & B. Also at the after-party: a silent/live auction; door prizes; an opportunity to visit the Survivor Tent where all cancer survivors are invited to sign the giant teal ribbon; and a Teal marketplace selling T-shirts, pins, jewelry, and more. Nonriders are welcome to the after-party for a donation of $20, beginning at 1:30 until 4:30 p.m.
For more information about ovarian cancer, visit www.rideforhopeil.org. To join the 2017 Ride for Hope, or to make a donation, visit the website or email ocrideforhope2015@gmail.com.