Planning the 2020 Less Cancer Ride

Cody Sovis
Nov 7 · 2 min read

Next week, we’re getting the Less Cancer crew together to start planning our annual charity ride. It’s crazy to think that we’re already talking about one hundred mile bike rides just as the snow is starting to pile up in northern Michigan, but to do it right, that’s how long it takes to put all the pieces together for a ride that makes a really big difference.

The 2019 Less Cancer Ride saw us tackle two days and nearly 250 miles. The first day’s jaunt from Midland to Traverse City was incredible, with over a dozen riders working together to tackle nearly 150 miles and explore new bike paths and quiet country roads winding north from the heart of Michigan. For the second year in a row, the weather was simply perfect for Day One, and the support crews did an amazing job leap-frogging the group to keep us well fed, hydrated, and upbeat.

The next day, we took our Less Cancer pals on some of our favorite roads in world-famous Leelanau County. The weather wasn’t quite as cooperative, but aside from a few sprinkles, we enjoyed the cool weather and quiet roads on a weekend that normally may have been heavily trafficked. Leelanau County is a world-class cycling destination, and we curled through some of our favorite places to show off the views to riders visiting from out of town.

As has become tradition, the day ended at the Cowell Family Cancer Center at Munson, where the Cancer Survivor’s Picnic was already in full swing! It’s a change to come together with an entire community of cancer survivors and their families and put a very human face to the cause we’re all so passionate about.

For 2020, we’re working to make the event bigger and better than ever. Our main focus is on Sunday’s ride, where we want to see over 500 riders join us on routes ranging from 50 to 100 miles. It’s not about staggering numbers and leg-breaking climbs; we want to bring all sorts of riders into the fight for cancer prevention by supporting Less Cancer through the ride.

To get more people on bikes in 2020, we’re looking to make any changes necessary to attract more riders. It has us thinking; what drives you to join charity rides? From great food stops, prizes, and giveaways, to even the possibility of some Strava challenges on certain hills, we’re open to all your input! Leave a comment with some of the favorite perks from rides you already sign up for, or what you’d like to see us add to the 2020 Less Cancer Ride specifically!

Less Cancer Journal

A collaborative cancer prevention platform reporting on lifestyle, health, education, policy and community based efforts in cancer prevention cancer. The Less Cancer Journal is brought to you by Next Generation Choices Foundation, 501c3 more widely known as "Less Cancer".

Cody Sovis

Written by

Less Cancer Journal

A collaborative cancer prevention platform reporting on lifestyle, health, education, policy and community based efforts in cancer prevention cancer. The Less Cancer Journal is brought to you by Next Generation Choices Foundation, 501c3 more widely known as "Less Cancer".

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade