(CMR) The fourth annual Ryde-A-Thon fundraiser raised $150,000 for the Special Olympics Cayman Islands (SOCI), which is preparing to send a team of athletes to the World Games in Berlin this coming June. Over 300 cyclists, runners and walkers took part in a 24-hour sporting challenge held this past weekend.
Teams of 8 took part in back-to-back classes at the Ryde indoor cycling studio while run/walk teams completed continuous loops of a 2-mile course around the Camana Bay Town Centre, culminating in an exciting outdoor finale on Saturday afternoon. This year, a virtual spinning challenge ran alongside the existing disciplines, bringing over 50 cyclists together from around the world in an online event via Zwift, while Kate Molitor completed the full 24 hours solo.
“It was such an honor to be part of this year's Ryde-A-Thon and for Special Olympics Cayman Islands to be the recipient of this incredible fundraising effort. The funds raised will support us in sending our athletes to the World Games in Berlin this June, something they’ve been training incredibly hard towards. We are a volunteer-led organization and it is support like this, from within the Cayman community, that makes it all possible,” said Jennifer Powell, Head of Delegation for the SOCI 2023 World Games Team.
“Seeing the athletes at the finale made every minute of planning and taking part worthwhile,” commented founders Michelle Fisher and Maya Lewis.
Lewis, whose son inspired the event when he passed away in 2019, spoke of the need for charities like SOCI to ensure inclusion for those with any sort of disability is championed and facilitated across the Cayman Islands.
“Had Leo lived, he would have needed a lot of support, and we had to ask ourselves whether that support would exist in the Cayman Islands or whether we’d have to move. That shouldn’t be a choice others have to make – the resources and support in a sophisticated jurisdiction such as Cayman should exist, so it's essential that we help those trying to make that a reality.”
The organizers would like to thank event sponsors HLB Berman Fisher, FFP, Ogier, H2Only, The Agency, and Rampt Consulting for their support.
Ryde Cayman is a unique indoor cycling studio offering the next generation of indoor cycling by bringing the latest technology and equipment such as Stages SC3 bikes, to a state-of-the-art venue in Camana Bay. The studio offers a full schedule of classes where Ryders pedal to the beat and sounds of a range of musical genres in an exhilarating high-intensity fitness experience.
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