Published August 12, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Reid’s Ride community certainly lived up to its motto this year: Stronger together while apart.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 virus pandemic, the Reid R. Sacco Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Alliance was forced to hold a virtual Reid’s Ride instead of the traditional 28-mile bike-a-thon from Lynnfield High School to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. The annual fundraiser, which is a North Shore summertime tradition, raises money for the alliance and serves as a tribute to the life and legacy of Reid Sacco. Reid was a Lynnfield High School graduate who passed away in April 2005 after a courageous two-year fight with sarcoma.
“Despite going virtual, the 2020 Reid’s Ride continued its 16-year history of successful fundraising to support the fight against adolescent and young adult cancers,” said Reid R. Sacco AYA Cancer Alliance Executive Director Lorraine Sacco, who is Reid’s mom. “This year’s event raised nearly $100,000.”
Sacco said Reid’s Ride participants were able to select their favorite form of exercise, workout or other activity to serve as their own personal ride. She said participants were asked to set goals for themselves such as running five miles a week for five weeks. She said participants needed to complete their goal by Sunday, July 19, which was the original date scheduled for the bike trek.
“This year was the first Reid’s Ride for many of our participants,” said Sacco. “The virtual format drew participants from across the country and even overseas. It also drew those for whom our traditional date, location and format made it challenging to participate.”
Dream Team 2020 captain Karen Pischke said the virtual format was a “blessing in disguise.” She has been a longtime Reid’s Ride volunteer, as she and her Dreamtime Wellness staff provided complimentary Reiki sessions at Stage Fort Park following previous rides.
“Thanks to the pandemic, I got to cycle with them for the first time, making the best out of a bad situation,” Pischke stated in a Facebook post. “Exercise and fundraising with Reid’s Ride have been my antidote for the COVID-19 quarantine.”
Pischke noted that Dream Team 2020 participants undertook a number of different activities such as kayaking, surf skiing and riding bikes as part of their fundraiser.
Reid’s Ride supporter Tim Averill recalled in a Facebook post that his team dedicated this year’s ride to his wife, Lauren, who passed away from thyroid cancer in December 2019.
“Reid’s Ride was virtual this year, but the Beverly Bocce Players Association still did the distance on a hot Saturday,” Averill wrote. “John Schutter was in Ohio. It was good to continue the tradition and our team was third highest in fundraising to honor the memory of Lauren Roberts Averill.”
Sacco rode 28 miles each week for five weeks and dedicated each week’s ride to a different family member or friend who passed away from cancer since last year’s Reid’s Ride.
“I dedicated my first week’s ride to my own sister-in-law, who died in November from colon cancer,” said Sacco.
Sacco also recalled that the alliance donated three bicycles to Wilma Doresca’s three children in June so that they could participate in this year’s virtual Reid’s Ride in order honor their mom, who passed away from COVID-19 in April. The Doresca family volunteered at the 15th annual Reid’s Ride.
“Wilma had worked on the front lines during the height of the pandemic at an elder care facility,” said Sacco. “Without the generosity and compassion of the Reid’s Ride community, these children would have not been able to honor their mom for the 2020 Reid’s Ride.”
Sacco said, “COVID-19 added another set of complications to the lives of AYA cancer patients and survivors.”
“These lives have already been derailed from the normal trajectory of their peers: College, career, family, social networking, financial independence and robust health,” said Sacco. “Because it is extraordinarily critical to protect their weakened immune systems and organ functions from COVID-19, AYA cancer patients found themselves more isolated than ever from family and friends upon whom they depended for emotional support during hospitalizations and convalescence.”
Sacco said the proceeds from this year’s virtual Reid’s Ride will be used to fund basic research, including “the next generation of cancer therapies.” She also said the funds will be used to support clinical trials as well as help support AYA patients financially while they are going through treatment.
“The cost of cancer treatment often drives AYAs into debt and makes it impossible for them to receive the treatments critical to their health and survival,” said Sacco. “The alliance will support programs and policies that help AYAs afford the short-term and long-term treatment and care they need.”
Sacco also said the alliance will use the funds to support “onco-fertility programs that will make it possible for AYA cancer patients to have families of their own.” She also said the alliance will use the fundraiser’s proceeds to continue supporting cancer survivors.
“The alliance will continue to support programs that make it possible for these patients to receive the specialized monitoring and treatment they need to assure that their ‘survivorship’ lasts a lifetime,” said Sacco.
Sacco thanked the major sponsors of this year’s Reid’s Ride. The major sponsors were Cape Ann and North Shore Dunkin’ Donuts franchises, the Boston Bruins Foundation, Boston North Cancer Association, Cataldo Ambulance, CAM Media, Clear Channel, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Everett Bank, JM Electrical, Lynnfield Rotary, MarketStreet Lynnfield, Northern Business Machines and SBLI.
“I am especially grateful to this year’s participants, sponsors and donors,” said Sacco. “Their participation and generosity will be especially important for AYA cancer patients and survivors during this enormously challenging year.”
