The Tribune

By Morgan Adderley

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

RIDE for Hope will be hosting its 11th annual charity cycling event in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera on March 10.

Since its inception in 2006, the Ride for Hope has raised close to $3m to aid cancer research, care and treatment. It is also one of the few charities that boasts that it donates 100 per cent of the funds raised.

In a recent interview with The Tribune, RFH co-founder Susan Holowesko Larson discussed the history of the organisation and this year’s event.

In 1989, Ms Larson’s seven-month-old son was diagnosed with cancer. Although his treatment was successful, the family spent a decade wondering if the disease would recur.

Thankfully, her son’s cancer never returned.

However, the experience left a profound impact on the family and is one of the inspirations behind the creation of RFH.

Founded in 2006 along with her brother Stephen Holowesko, Mrs Larson said a cycling event, as opposed to a marathon or walk-a-thon, was chosen due to familial and national history.

“As a fund-raising event, cycling was propelled to the forefront in the 1990s with the compelling story of Lance Armstrong. The spin-off Livestrong Foundation did incredible life-saving work and fund-raising and set a wonderful standard.

“When the Ride for Hope was first started, cycling, which used to be popular in Nassau in the 1970s and 1980s, was revitalised. Many people credit the Ride for Hope with the rejuvenation of cycling in Nassau and The Bahamas at large.

“Co-founder Stephen Holowesko had participated in a few of the Lance Armstrong fund raising rides in the USA. (We) decided to create a similar event in The Bahamas.”

The agreement between the two was that Mr Holowesko would raise money and ride while Mrs Larson organised the event.

According to Mrs Larson: “One hundred and five riders participated in the inaugural event in 2006. To date, more than 3,000 cyclists have raised close to $3m for cancer in the process.

“One of the critical programmes RFH created is the Cancer Treatment Assistance Fund, the first of its kind in the country. The fund puts money in the hands of Bahamians needing help with cancer medicines, tests, etc – all of which can financially cripple a family.

“Each year RFH earmarks $100,000 to this fund alone. As proud as we are of this fund, we also recognise that compared to the national need it’s a drop in the bucket. And for that reason, the 2018 event is focusing on significantly increasing the size of the fund so that more Bahamians in need can be helped.

“Because of the tremendous generosity of RFH’s corporate sponsors, every single dollar raised by participants goes to fund programmes created and supported by RFH to assist Bahamians in the fight against cancer, through education, testing, early-screening, research and direct financial assistance. RFH is extremely proud of its 100 per cent record.”

For more information on the event, visit rideforhopebahamas.com or the group’s Facebook page.