The ‘WildRide! Against Cancer Bike Rally‘ page, provides you with the official registration information, ride distances etc. and if you scroll down a bit, videos, interviews and ride reports for this event. If you don’t see a ride report and you participated in the event in the past, feel free to type something up and we’ll add it here!

Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012

Event: WildRide! WildRun! Against Cancer

Route Distances : 16, 40 or 65 miles

About the Ride: Join more than 2,000 cyclists and runners from across North Texas for the WildRide! WildRun! Against Cancer, part of the Richardson Wildflower! Art and Music Festival on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

WildRide! is the only bike ride to allow riders across the long stretch of the beautiful Lavon Lake Dam, closed all other days of the year! Enjoy rolling hills and scenic byways through small North Texas towns that open their arms to this annual event. This non-timed ride is facilitated by Richardson Bike Mart. The WildRun! 5k timed run will take runners and walkers through Richardson parks. Enjoy the quiet and solitude of being in a beautiful, scenic, natural setting. The run is facilitated by Run On! Racing Systems and Chronotrack. Everyone is welcome to participate in the run/walk, even if you only want to walk or run at your own pace and do not wish to be timed (registration and fees are the same).

In addition to riding, running, or walking, you can become a sponsor, volunteer, make a donation or purchase a raffle ticket. Call 972-498-7678 to contact the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Foundation for more information.

Who Benefits - All net proceeds of WildRide! WildRun! Against Cancer benefit the Methodist Richardson Cancer Center, home of the Lance Armstrong Shaped Beam Surgery^TM program. The Cancer Center offers an array of diagnostic equipment, new drug therapies as a part of clinical research programs and numerous treatment options. Patients in Richardson and surrounding North Texas

Location: 2400 N Glenville Dr, Richardson, TX 75082-4354

Event Website: http://www.methodisthealthsystem.org/body.cfm?id=3744

Registration details: Online Registration via Active.com

Contact info: Foundation@RichardsonHealth.com or Call (972) 498-7678

2011 Ride Interview

The ^8th Annual WildRide! WildRun! Against Cancer on May 21, 2011 is projected to net more than $110,000 for Methodist Richardson Cancer Center, home of the Lance Armstrong Shaped Beam Surgeryâ„¢ program. WildRide! is the only bike ride to allow riders across the long stretch of the beautiful Lavon Lake Dam, closed all other days of the year! Enjoy rolling hills and scenic byways through small North Texas towns that open their arms to this annual event. This non-timed ride is facilitated by Richardson Bike Mart.

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Kim Hanna, Major Gifts Officer of Methodist Richardson Medical Center Foundation to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why Join the “WildRide!”? Not only is WR a fun, safe and very well organized event for the whole family, it benefits the Methodist Richardson Cancer Center which provides comprehensive and compassionate cancer care and treatment for North Texas cancer patients.

How long has the event been around and how did it start? This is it’s 8th year. It was started by Jim Hoyt, Jack Garlick and Richard White to raise money for the cancer center. Richard White was a cancer patient.

What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it? To provide additional services…

All of the funds raised for WildRide and WildRun go directly to the Methodist Richardson Cancer Center. The funds pay for genetic counseling, patient education, medication (when a patient cannot afford their medication) and complimentary therapies such as Yoga and massage specifically for cancer patients. The funds also pay for radiation, medical and surgical oncology for patients who cannot afford to pay. WR also supports the Patient Navigation services. These services help the patient once they are diagnosed with cancer with treatment options, insurance issues, second opinions, resources, and sometimes just a hand to hold while going through treatment.

How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past? see above

Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event? It takes more than 9 months to plan the event. 15 committee members (most of whom have been there since the beginning) meet 2x per month starting in December. We keep our expenses as low as possible by getting supllies, food, beverage donated. We count on community and corporate sponsors to help us reach our financial goal – this year being $170,000. We have more than 300 community volunteers who help us every year. Volunteers include civic groups, girls scouts and boy scouts, corporate sponsors such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ericsson and Fujitsu

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event? See the 1500 plus cyclists ride across the start line is awesome but knowing that the money each rider brings in goes directly to the cancer center is most rewarding. You never know  - just one cyclist who registers may provide that one additional service or treatment that helps a patient get through their cancer treatment.

How many riders do you assist during the average race? 50-75 flat tires, mechanical problems.

What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event? Crossing the Lavon Lake Dam is a favorite of the cyclists. Our event is one of the very few that has been allowed to do this. The dam provides a beautiful view of surrounding communities!

What can folks do to support you and your mission? Ride, run or walk in this event provides funding for our cancer center. We also have an annual gala called Yellow & Black Tie Gala in October, people can also support our annual campaign and participate in our community events. All of this is available on our website…foundation@richardsonhealth.com

What is your role in this race and to the success of it? I am one of three staff members in the Foundation responsible for sponsorship, logisitics and implementation. Our committee members play a vital role in the success of the event. Also, Richardson Bike Mart, which has been the presenting sponsor for the event since it started, provides all of the set up along the routes including the SAG wagons, bicycle repair, rest stops – the event would not be the safe and successful event it is without RBM!

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride? This year, live music will be at all rest stops and at the start/finish area – we wanted to bring more energy and excitement to the event! Also, we have added a 5k timed run to the event – the run route is different from the ride routes, but both start at the same general area. The ride starts at 8am and the run at 8:30am.

Thanks Kim for this quick interview and we hope ^8th Annual WildRide! WildRun! Against Cancer all the best!