The Alpha-1 Foundation was proud to partner for the 28th year with the American Lung Association (ALA) at the 40th Annual Autumn Escape Bike Trek from September 27 to 29 along beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The highly anticipated Escape to the Cape ride allowed rides to choose between one, two or three days this year, reintroducing the 3-day ride option.
Riders rode in-person and throughout the month of September Riding for a Reason campaign and raised over $127,000. Participants created teams and generated excitement on their online fundraising platforms engaging family and friends from around the country in raising dollars towards a cure. Team Alpha-1 had 175 riders and volunteers engaged in this annual 30- day Building Friends for a Cure (BFC) Fundraiser.
Alphas, friends, family, physicians, researchers and industry joined together in-person for a weekend of riding on Cape Cod at the 40th anniversary of the Autumn Escape to the Cape Bike Trek. Riders of all abilities, all types of bikes, including electric bikes rode together on Team Alpha-1. This unique race supports everyone of all abilities, even those riding with their oxygen in tow.
Riders began the trek at the beautiful Oyster Pond Beach in Chatham, MA. Team Alpha-1 gathered for a photo along the water on the sunny morning. Riders chose the 45- or 35-mile routes back to Camp Burgess in Sandwich, MA. The spirit and excitement were palpable as volunteers and spectators cheered on riders at the starting line.
Team Alpha-1 volunteers were busy each day making sure that the rest stops were stocked with snacks, drinks and the infamous Fluffer Nutter Sandwiches (equal parts peanut butter and marshmallow fluff on white bread), a rider favorite. The rest stop on Day 1 was held in front “CHIPS House” in Centerville and provided a perfect site on the route for riders to take a well-deserved break and a photo.
Saturday began at Camp Burgess and riders had the option of either 55- or 25-mile routes circling back to the camp. The Day 2 rest stop had the picturesque ocean view on Surf Drive Beach in Falmouth. Riders stopped and were interviewed on camera about why they ride and what impact Alpha-1 has had on their life. Trek Tent City is the heart of the excitement at Camp Burgess on Saturday. After riding, everyone joins together for a festival-style celebration where tents are set up for the largest fundraising teams and sponsors to decorate. The Alpha-1 Foundation adorned the Team Alpha-1 tent with purple décor and served cupcakes with red icing honoring the 40th anniversary of the trek. Before the annual highly anticipated lobster dinner, Team Alpha-1 was awarded the ALA Silver Spoke award for the largest team again this year.
Sunday’s route ended with a 44-mile loop. The final day’s rest stop was at the Cape Cod Art Center and provided the perfect spot for a quick snack and breather before the last leg of the trek. The hardworking volunteers packed up the supplies and loaded up the truck one last time before heading back to Camp Burgess.
Thank you to our top ten fundraising teams from Escape to the Cape and Riding for a Reason, Alpha Team Grifols (Team Captain: Gary Bouton), Alpha Dogs (Team Captain: Jon Hagstrom), Keeping the Faith (Walsh Family), Team BU/BMC (Team Captain: Dr. Andrew Wilson), Korro Krew (Team Captain: Maria Strakosha), Team Mitch (Team Captain: Lori Mitcheroney), Team Alpha-1 (Team Captain: Kari Black), NY Alpha’s (Team Captain: Michael Allen), AlphaRiders (Team Captain: Lianne McLean) and Cycling for Claire’s Cure (Team Captain: Jessica Gross).
Top ten individual fundraisers include, Harry Long, Chase Scott, Jon Hagstrom, Gary Bouton, Thomas Brown, Tom Dombrowski, Ryan Schmidt, Andrew Wilson, Lianne McLean and Lori Mitcheroney.
Thank you to our outstanding volunteers at this year’s event: Kari and David Black, Kathi and Dan Coffin, Toya and Dee DeLeon, Shirley Dennis, Daniel Grimm, Jules Hagstrom, Danielle Holms, Mary Kaufman, Patricia Keoughan, Rebecca and Steve Lebryk, Richard Lovrich, Patsy and Joe Masterson, Julie and Jeff Murray, Karin and Michael Pittsley, Mayla Rodriguez, Julie and James Roy and Rachel and JW Sprunger.
Thank you to our outstanding riders at this year’s event: Diane Allen, Mike Allen, Kari Black, John Brislin, Cuitlahuac DeLeon, Dr. Dawn De Meo, Tom Dombrowski, Joelle Hotchman, Jon Hagstrom, Lauren Hauck, David Mitcheroney, Lauren Mitcheroney, Lori and Michael Mitcheroney, Robert Plotke, Karin Pittsley, Michael Pittsley, Magdi Sobeih, Jeff Murray, Scott Santarella, James Wright, Ellen Wright, David Pumpelly, John Riordan, Tom Minogue and Barry Wolfield.
Leadership from across the Alpha-1 Foundation joined on the Cape for this annual event including Scott Santarella, President and CEO, Jon Hagstrom, Chair of the Board of Directors and Dr. Andrew Wilson, Scientific Director.
A very meaningful and important part of the ride are the Alpha Angel patches. The patches are worn by the Team Alpha-1 riders each year to memorialize Alphas in the community. The yellow and purple patches adorn their jerseys and always remind us why these events continue year after year. It is a very special way that riders can pay tribute to Alphas that have passed.
Fred Walsh, VP of the Board of Directors, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2024, after the weekend of the trek concluded. He was with Team Alpha-1 in spirit and on the phone throughout the ride and we know that Fred lives on in each of us and will always be a big part of this annual event. Fred had attended the event each year since A1F became involved 28 years ago. He helped build fundraising efforts through annual events like Team Alpha-1 Escape to the Cape and A1F Celtic Connection. (Read more about Fred’s legacy here)
Thank you to our Building Friends for a Cure sponsors for making this event possible: AlphaNet, CSL Behring, Grifols and Takeda.
Please join us on Thursday, October 10 at 7:00pm ET on zoom for your Closing Ceremony call. We will celebrate the success of the month and recognize our top riders and fundraisers. We look forward to seeing you there. (Click here for Zoom Link)
Photos from the weekend event will be linked on social media and on the A1F website shortly. Thank you, Richard Lovrich!
