Published in the July 4, 2018 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — One of the town’s most highly anticipated events is inching closer to making its triumphant return.

The 14th annual Reid’s Ride bike-a-thon will take place on Sunday, July 15. The 28-mile bike trek spans from Lynnfield High School, 275 Essex St., to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester.

The incredibly popular tradition will once again give townspeople the opportunity to raise funds for the betterment of adolescents and young adults fighting cancer by supporting new treatments with the goal of finding a cure.

Reid’s Ride raises funds for the Reid Sacco Cancer Alliance and serves as a tribute to the life and legacy of Reid Sacco. Reid was an LHS graduate who passed away in April 2005 after a courageous two-year fight with sarcoma.

The 13th annual Reid’s Ride shattered fundraising and participation records, as the bike-a-thon raised over $220,000 and featured more than 420 riders. Reid’s Ride has raised over $2 million the past 14 years.

Lorraine Sacco, Reid’s mom, is looking to surpass last year’s record-breaking Reid’s Ride.

“We’re 14 years strong,” said Sacco. “We got here together. Reid’s Ride continues to lead the way nationwide in raising funds exclusively earmarked for launching and supporting clinical programs and research specifically designed to find better care and treatments for adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer. This year’s 14th annual Reid’s Ride will help even more AYA cancer patients find the specialized care, clinical expertise and clinical trials they need to beat a disease that threatens to steal so much from them at the worst possible time in their lives.”

After Reid passed away, the Sacco family started the Reid Sacco Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Alliance. The alliance has been actively supporting research treatments for the cancers that strike adolescents and young adults, with the goal of fulfilling Reid’s dream of finding a cure.

Since the alliance’s inception, the organization has funded scientific and clinical research geared toward finding better treatments and cures for the cancers predominantly striking young adults. The funds are also used to grant one or more scholarships each year to Lynnfield High School seniors.

The Reid Sacco Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Alliance has supported a number of different programs over the years. Reid’s Ride’s proceeds enabled Tufts Medical Center to launch the Reid R. Sacco AYA Program, including the Reid R. Sacco Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic for Cancer and Blood Diseases, located at the Tufts Cancer Center in Boston.

“The work of the AYA Cancer Program at Tufts was featured in a 2017 episode of ‘Chronicle,’” said Sacco. “In 2018, the episode was awarded an Emmy.”

The alliance has also collaborated with Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and a number of adult cancer treatment centers in Hartford, Connecticut.

Similar to previous years, the route for the 14th annual Reid’s Ride begins at LHS at 7:30 a.m. and concludes at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Riders will be able to travel through some of the most popular and beautiful cycling routes across the North Shore ranging from hilly cornfields to seaside communities along the Cape Ann seashore.

The 28-mile route is moderately challenging depending on a rider’s cycling experience. Rides of all ages and abilities have conquered the last 13 rides with great success. All riders are required to wear helmets. There will also be technical chase teams monitoring the entire route for riders who need assistance.

Additionally, a rest and refreshment stop will be set up at the ride’s halfway point, located at Endicott College’s lower parking lot. The lot is located across the Wylie Conference Center and Inn.

Sacco noted the theme for the 14th annual Reid’s Ride is based on “Star Trek.” She said two quotes from the iconic science fiction show — “Things are impossible until they’re not” and “Make it so” — will both serve as a rallying cry for this year’s Reid’s Ride.

“We’ve incorporated one quote and one catchphrase attributed to the fictional captain of the USS Enterprise-D, Jean-Luc Picard,” added Sacco. “The two are intended to reflect the perseverance and optimism of Reid’s Ride riders, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, all of whom are devoted to achieving the mission of vanquishing the cancers that strike adolescents and young adults.”

Sacco said this year’s ride has adopted another catchphrase that was inspired by “Star Trek.” She said the catchphrase will be appearing on billboards across the state including Route 95 in Peabody.

“Beam us up to a cancer free future,” said Sacco. “It is intended to reflect the event’s commitment to a vision of seeing that day when, for future generations of AYAs, cancers are routinely curable or entirely preventable.”

How to register

If townspeople want to register for the 14th annual Reid’s Ride, they should visit the ride’s fundraising page at https://www.firstgiving.com/Reidsride.

Residents can register to ride, join or create a team of riders and create a personal or team fundraising page. The registration fee for riders who are also riding in next month’s Pan Mass Challenge is $100. If riders are not registered to ride in this year’s PMC, townspeople will need to make a donation of $150 or more. Participants can raise funds from family members, friends, classmates and colleagues. Prizes will be awarded to the riders and teams who raise the most funds.

If residents cannot attend this year’s ride, townspeople can become a virtual rider if they want to raise funds in order to fight the cancers impacting adolescents and young adults. The virtual rider fee is $100.

The online registration site will close at 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 14. If residents miss the deadline, townspeople will still be able to ride in the event. Registration for same day riders opens at 6:30 a.m. at LHS, where participants can pay the registration fee and the donations collected. Participants will also be able to pick up a complimentary 2018 Reid’s Ride T-shirt and a bib number.

Riders will depart at LHS at 7:30 a.m. Residents will be able to rent bikes from Urban AdvenTours once again. The company will be delivering rental bikes at LHS on the morning of the ride and will be picking them at Stage Fort Park. Participants must reserve a bike in advance by calling 617-670-0637. There will only be a limited number of bikes available to rent.

Sponsors

Reid Ride’s admiral partnership sponsor is Dunkin’ Donuts. The lieutenant admiral sponsor is the Lynnfield Rotary Club. The captain sponsors are Cam Media, Inc., Cataldo Ambulance Service, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Everett Bank, Fuddruckers, North Shore Smiles and Tufts Cancer Center.

The lieutenant sponsors are BMW of Peabody, Dreamtime Wellness, JM Electrical, Lahey Health Shared Services, Landry’s Bicycles, People’s United Bank and The Priestley’s Fine Art Photography.

The Cadet sponsors are Amy Lou Photography, Baubles, Inc., Boston Hides and Furs, Buonfiglio’s, B-Yond Music, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Futures, Keane Fire and Safety Equipment, Kellco Management, Inc., Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association, Liberty Bay Credit Union, Mariposa, Northern Business Machines, Rainbow Balloons, Robert McNeill, CPS, PC, Rotary Club of Beverly, Rotary Club of Peabody, Sachetta and Callahan, Sherr Financial Associates, Stop and Shop, Universal Screening and Printing and YMCA of the North Shore.

Reid’s Ride’s supporting sponsors are Bianco and Sons, Brothers Kouzina, Cerra’s Market, Christine’s Café, Countryside Deli, Jacobson Floral Supply, Kayem Foods, Legal Seafood, Prince Pizzeria, Roman Limousine, S. Strock and Company, Seaside Graphics, Tube Ice Company, Wakefield Co-operative Bank and Wolf Hill Nursery.

“It is the generosity of Reid’s Ride sponsors, and the tireless work and devotion of more than 150 Reid’s Ride volunteers that make it possible for 100 percent of all funds raised by Reid’s Ride to be delivered to clinical programs devoted to fighting for the lives of AYA cancer patients,” said Sacco.