Walk-Ride Event to Raise Funds for Cancer Research

In 10 years, the annual Ride For Hope has raised about $2 million for pediatric cancer research at Duarte’s City of Hope, a national center for cancer study and treatment.

This year, organizers are tampering with a successful formula and adding a 5-kilometer walk to the 25K bike ride, changing the name in the process to the Walk ‘N Ride for Hope.

A walk was added “to give more people the opportunity to join the event,” said Joe Broady, publicity director for City of Hope.

“It’s just another way people can participate,” he said.

The event takes place Sunday at 10 locations throughout Southern California. In Orange County, the event will start and finish at the Newport Dunes Resort in Newport Beach.

There will be no mass start. Participants can begin anytime from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and can do both the walk and the ride.

Those taking part are asked to solicit per-kilometer pledges from friends and neighbors. All participants gathering pledge totals of more than $25 will receive a T-shirt. For amounts $75 and more, participants will receive gift certificates. For the highest pledge total at each location, a bicycle or stair-stepper will be awarded. The participant with the highest overall total will win a trip to Hawaii.

To be eligible for prizes, registration must be received by today. It is possible to register by phone.

On April 16, another recreation-oriented fund-raiser will take place. A three-hour aerobics marathon will be held in 100 cities throughout the country, including an Orange County location yet to be determined.

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Group bike rides are fairly common, but races are harder to find. A 30-mile bicycle road race is planned for Saturday at Camp Pendleton, just south of Orange County. Registration will start at 7:30 a.m., with race time at 9 a.m.

Entry is $15 for civilians, $10 for members of the military. For information, call (619) 725-6806.