Trinity Western University is the start and end point of bike rides of up to 100 kilometres on Saturday to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
The Tour de Fox was held for the first time last year at TWU and raised $144,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
This second annual ride on June 10 will include a team riding for TWU president Bob Kuhn, who has the disease.
“Local Parkinson’s communities – including TWU – are the heart and spirit of the Tour de Fox Series,” said Stephanie Paddock, director of MJFF’s Team Fox grassroots fundraising program. “As generous hosts of the Pacific Northwest ride, TWU not only provides a beautiful backdrop for cyclists, they help galvanize local networks to support our mission to bring an end to Parkinson’s disease.”
Thanks to an anonymous Seattle-based donor, all funds raised for the Pacific Northwest ride will be matched, up to $20,000 US and 100 per cent of the funds goes to research.
Cyclists choose from a 15-kilometre, 60-km, or 100-km loop through the Fraser Valley. The long distance riders start at 8 a.m. while the next group starts at 9:30 and the 15-km riders begin at 10:30 a.m.
Cyclists of all ages and abilities are able to take part. Those who don’t ride can also help at the staging area.
“Of the 5,000,000-plus people worldwide who have Parkinson’s disease, many suffer a lot more than I do. So many feel hopeless or discouraged as they struggle to accomplish daily tasks. These people need to have hope. They are the reason I support Parkinson’s research to bring a cure to this disease,” said Kuhn. “I am thrilled to see our university community embracing this event and playing a role in helping to make a difference.”
Bob Kuhn has been a longtime supporter of Parkinson’s research. In 2014, he raised $24,000 CAD for The Michael J. Fox Foundation through the 50CC motorcycle ride, a coast-to-coast motorcycle challenge where riders trekked from San Diego, California to Jacksonville, Florida in 50 hours.
People can sign up for the Tour de Fox online at michaeljfox.org. There is the option to participate in a virtual ride for those not in the Fraser Valley.