On June 8, UW Radiologists took to the road to help fight childhood cancer by participating in the Trek 100 Ride for Hope. The Department of Radiology counted it a success, not only personally and physically but also for the sustained impact the money they raised would have on important cancer research.
The Trek 100 Ride for Hope, a non-competitive charitable cycling event, is held annually by Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) to raise money and awareness for the devastating condition of childhood cancer and other blood disorders. Since the ride’s inception in 1976, the fund has contributed $42 million dollars for research. In 2006, the MACC Fund pledged $3.5 million to the UW Carbone Cancer Center, and has since provided full laboratory space, totaling 14,000 square feet, to pediatric oncology at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR) on the UW campus.
Team UW Health boasted a total of 62 riders, 50 percent more than 2012. Dr. Bradley A. Maxfield, Chief of Pediatric Radiology and team coordinator, said that although he does not have the final calculations on funds raised, he believes it to be approximately $18,000. “That is a little short of our goal of $20,000,” he said, “but still double our 2012 total.” And, he adds, “The Department of Radiology was crucial to the fundraising success.” Not to be outdone by Pediatrics, Anesthesia, or Surgery, Radiology offered to match the funds raised by those departments up to $1500.
The routes included 19-, 36-, 62- and 100-mile challenges in nearby Waterloo, WI. To start the race off, Dr. Paul Sondel, a team member and UW pediatric oncologist, gave a short speech as the team members started about the impact of the MACC fund on research at UW, WIMR and the Carbone Cancer center. Inspired by the important research they were helping to raise money for, UW Radiologists pushed ahead through the challenging race. “Even things that we couldn’t control, like the weather, cooperated” Maxfield noted. “One of our riders did have a crash that resulted in ï¾… a few stitchesï¾… But he apparently biked back to the Trek Factory from the Columbus Hospital and still managed to run the Capital View Triathlon the following morning. How’s that for showing true grit?”
Radiology felt cohesive as a team, especially with their shared goal in mind. “We tried to enhance the team spirit this year with some new pre-ride events,” said Maxfield. “We encouraged new riders to train with the Capitol Brewery Bike Club on Tuesday and Thursday nights. And we held a team pasta dinner to meet new teammates and ‘carb up’… before the ride.”
Maxfield notes that although the doubling of funds will be difficult to sustain in the long-term, the radiology team is looking forward to an even bigger year in 2014 due to the incredible amount of support they have received.