Ride Cincinnati

After her mother died from breast cancer four and a half years ago, Allison Gordon and her family wanted a way to help raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. As her dad is an avid cyclist, he recommended starting a bike event. So the family worked to make Ride Cincinnati a reality.

Ride Cincinnati benefits the UC Barrett Cancer Center at University Hospital, with 100 percent of the event's proceeds going toward the cancer center. "All our money stays local, and it goes into different grants and different studies that are actually already proving to make a difference," Gordon says.

For their first year, the Gordons hoped to raise $30,000 but surpassed their goal with a whopping $132,000. In three years, the event has raised more than half a million dollars, and this year's ride is on course too.

This year's Ride Cincinnati takes place this Sunday, June 13, at Yeatman's Cove. Events include rides from 8.2 miles to 62.8 miles, a Kids' Rally; and a huge celebration of food and entertainment.

Online registration ends at 5 p.m. today, June 7, but you still can register at the packet pick-up places listed on the event Web site. For this listing and more information about the event, head to RideCincinnati.org.

Great Fashion Cycle

Elizabeth Ricketts, a soon-to-be fashion design graduate of the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, is taking her cycling skills overseas to participate in a 300-mile ride from London to Paris to support the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).

This London-based charity organization promotes human rights, and the Great Fashion Cycle will raise funds to raise awareness and put a stop to child exploitation in the cotton industry. "As a fashion student I am very passionate about setting this standard for myself and for others to expect of me in my future endeavors," Ricketts says. "I will be one of two Americans in the challenge and am very excited to make connections which I can bring home to help fight for this cause within the community."

For more information about the EJF, head to EJFoundation.org, and click here to learn more about the Great Fashion Cycle.

PHOTO CREDITS

Top Photo

Photo courtesy of Ride Cincinnati

Bottom Photo

Photographer: Neysa Ruhl

Model: Elizabeth Ricketts

Location: Lofts@4120

More articles by this author

Hairapist in Training

Hairapist in Training As your hair is cut, sculpted and shaped,...

Read More >>

Picking Herself up, Aiming High

Picking Herself up, Aiming High After 20 years in business, this...

Read More >>