The Ride to Conquer Cancer Raised $2.1 Million

The Ride to Conquer Cancer Raised $2.1 Million

The Ride to Conquer Cancer announced 663 Riders helped raised over $2.1 million for Cancer Society Auckland as the first annual Ride commenced Saturday in Auckland. Funds raised through the largest single fundraising event in New Zealand history powers life-saving cancer research and clinical trials through Cancer Society Auckland.

"We are absolutely thrilled and offer our thanks and gratitude to this incredible community of riders, sponsors, crew, volunteers and all those who generously donated to help make our inaugural Ride to Conquer Cancer an incredible success for Cancer Society Auckland," said John Loof, CEO of Cancer Society Auckland.

"Cancer is the leading cause of death in New Zealand with one in three Kiwis developing the disease in their lifetime. Annually across the country over 22,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed as over 8,000 people die from the disease. Cancer Society Auckland is dedicated to reducing the incidence of cancer and ensuring the best cancer care is accessible for everyone from the Waikato border to Cape Reinga. The funds raised this year are currently powering world-class cancer research and clinical trials at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre; programs which are leading to more, better outcomes for Kiwis and changing the way cancer patients are diagnosed and treated around the world," Mr Loof added.

2013 is the inaugural Ride in New Zealand. In three years The Ride raised over $44.2 million for cancer centres across Australia. The annual two-day, 200km journey draws thousands of participants, hundreds of crew members, volunteers and brings together communities of survivors, cyclists and supporters who train and fundraise for months in order to participate.

“Last year, just before her 3rd birthday, my daughter Jasmine was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and died 14 months later after a courageous fight with the disease,” said Gary Smith of Auckland.

“I have committed the rest of my life to fundraising in an effort to find a cure and assist children suffering as Jasmine did. Like many of my team mates, I am 40 something, unfit and haven't been on a bike for 30 plus years. But we are doing this. We have dieted, trained and invested all of our spare time to enable a successful effort to Ride with Jasmin and anyone suffering from cancer in our hearts and minds,” Mr Smith added.

Mr Loof says funds raised through The Ride are put to use immediately to power a range of world-leading cancer programs including the PR-610 clinical trial, a first-in-class drug designed to be activated only in the oxygen-poor regions of solid tumours, enabling doctors identify and treat the cancer more precisely in patients who have developed resistance to current treatment available. Loof says Ride funds also support the developed of a protein called OCTN1, which will play a pivotal role for limiting the side-effects of certain treatment drugs.

Ride organisers announced the second annual Ride to Conquer Cancer in New Zealand will take place on 15 and 16 November 2014 and registration for the 2014 Auckland Ride commenced.

"We invite all Kiwis to join us next year for our second annual Ride to Conquer Cancer," said Mr Loof.

“To register, stop by the 2014 Registration Tent, visit conquercancer.org.nz or phone 09 887 RIDE (7433) today,” Mr Loof concluded as thousands of Riders commenced their journey.

To register, donate or access more information, visit www.conquercancer.org.nz or phone 09 887 RIDE (7433).

Ride organizers expect hundreds of people to attend public cheering stations along the route. For a map of The Ride route, visit www.conquercancer.org.nz.
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