Cal's Angels 'War On Wheels' ride to cycle from Mount Rushmore to St. Charles this fall
Cal's Angels, the Chicago nonprofit organization with a mission in raising awareness, granting wishes and funding research for pediatric cancer research, has announced the route for their annual “War On Wheels” ride which will take cyclists from Mount Rushmore to St. Charles, Illinois.
The WOW Riders will begin the nearly 1,000-mile and 14-day trek at Mount Rushmore on Tuesday, Sept. 28, ending at the Cal's Angels headquarters on Monday, Oct. 11.
“The WOW Ride is a really special event, showcasing the lengths we are willing to go in order to provide the best treatment for children battling cancer,” said Stacey Wahlberg, co-founder and president of Cal's Angels. “The riders have all been impacted by pediatric cancer in some way, so for them this ride is a chance to shed light on this, support their loved ones and continue to foster the conversations of improving treatment for pediatric cancer through more fundings and new laws.”
The WOW ride was born from a bold brainstorming session by business owner and philanthropist Glen Galloway.
This year, the cyclists will cover a minimum of 80 miles per day ending with back to back century (100-plus miles) rides coming in from the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.
Among the riders are the founder Glen Galloway, Cal's Angels executive board member and parent of a stage 4 cancer survivor Brad Beetham, Cal's Board Chair Ryan Phillips among others.
Since the beginning of the cross-country ride in 2019, WOW Riders have ridden over 3,000 miles to raise awareness for the ongoing battle and fight for a cure for pediatric cancer.
The physical and mental battles the riders say they face during the rides are all made worth it knowing they are contributing to the ongoing support Cal's Angels provides to children battling the life-threatening disease.
Beyond their fundraising events, Cal's Angels has also worked with state Rep. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) to introduce Cal's Law, which aims to make diagnostic testing for pediatric cancer patients more accessible.
Currently the law has been passed out of the Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate and is now heading to Gov. Pritzker's desk for his signature.
To find out how to support riders, give to Cal's Angels or sponsor the 2021 ride, visit www.calsangels.org/wow/.
Cal's Angels is a St. Charles, Illinois based 501(c)(3) pediatric cancer foundation established in 2007 after Cal Sutter lost his battle with acute myelogenous leukemia in 2006.
During his treatment, Cal always cared about others before himself. His kindness was the inspiration behind a foundation that would grant wishes, raise awareness and fund research to help kids fighting cancer.
Cal's Angels has many programs that help kids fighting cancer, including Wish Granting/Financial Assistance, 12 Days of Christmas, Fantasy Flight, Comfort Kits and monthly Hospital Parties. Join them to help kids fighting cancer!
To learn more about the many ways to help, visit www.calsangels.org and follow @CalsAngels on social media.