The reason this ride exists, of course, is to raise money to support pediatric cancer research. However the organizers have created an incredible event that inspires riders to encourage others to participate the following year. This ride was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. It was challenging both physically and mentally, but what made it truly special was the camaraderie shared by all the riders and support team members.

My goal in writing this summary is to give you as much information as possible about the ride itself and invite you to consider joining us in September 2027. This event requires a significant commitment, but is worth every bit of effort. There will be time required both in the saddle for training and off the bike for fundraising in the months leading up to the five days of riding.

Throughout the ride, we knew we were doing something difficult together for a cause that is so important. We experienced the support, teamwork, laughter, excitement, and sadness that came with the journey. The shared challenge brought everyone closer, and I finished with tired legs, but also with memories and friendships that I will always remember.

CBS News – Cal’s Angels cyclists partake in CUREage Ride for pediatric cancer research

The Adventure Begins…..

The Cals’s Angels CUREage ride, now in its 8th year, always begins at Lurie Children’s Hospital, downtown Chicago and ends 5 days later in St Charles, IL after 470 miles of riding up through Illinois and around Wisconsin.

A Typical Day of the Ride

Each day began with breakfast, followed by a brief meeting where we learned about a specific child affected by this terrible disease. Each of us was given a “baseball card” featuring that child to carry with us throughout the ride. We would also have a FaceTime call with the child’s parents, who shared their story and everything they had been through so far. It was a truly emotional way to begin each day—and a powerful reminder that whatever challenges we faced on the road, our hard pedaling was nothing compared to what these children and their families were enduring.

We would take a break every 25 miles or so for a rest where all refreshments and snacks were provided. Many of us brought our own nutrition and hydration products which were available at every stop.

For lunch on some of the days we would stop at the family house of the child we had been riding for that day. Culver’s is a major sponsor of this event and one lunch was at a Culver’s restaurant after a morning visit to their HQ in Sauk City, WI for Frozen Custard ;o) Another lunch accompanied an amazing tour of the Trek bicycle factory in Waterloo, WI….. The benefit of riding for 470 miles in 5 days is that you can eat as much of whatever you want ;o)

We would typically arrive at our hotel for the night around 5:30 pm and immediately handed our room key. We would take our bikes to our room and I would head straight for the hot tub or pool which each hotel had, to start the soothing process! Before dinner we would add the day’s clothes to our personal laundry bags, which were returned washed and dried later that evening – This is what it must by like to be a Tour De France rider! After dinner we would all hang out with our drink of choice and perhaps use the leg compression boots provided to assist in recovery. We would also discuss that day’s ride and go over the plan for the next day.

Three or four of our fellow riders have sadly lost children or spouses to cancer. Each night, one of these courageous people shared their personal story with us. Their stories were heartbreaking and deeply moving, and each one gave us another reason to pause and reflect on why we were there. It reminded us that this ride was about so much more than the miles we rode. It was about the people we were riding for, the lives touched by cancer, and the hope that someday fewer families will have to endure such heartbreaking loss.

The Century Days

4 out of the 5 days were “Century” (100+ miles) rides and despite the physical demands of the ride, every rider completed each mile of the entire journey, without a single gripe or complaint. The stories of these children gave us the perspective, strength, and purpose to keep pedaling.

There were 19 cyclists taking part aged from 20 to 70! men and women, some expert cyclists and 4 or 5 who had never completed even one Century!… and on this ride, no one got left behind. There were 3 or 4 extraordinary cyclists who lead the group, by riding at the front, heading into the wind and “pulling” the rest of us around the course for all 5 days. This enabled us to draft behind them, saving us up to 30% energy…. phew! We were also fortunate that the weather was perfect, cool mornings and warm afternoons with no rain :o)

Climbing for the Kids

On Day 3 we had a short 50 mile day with some very steep hills. This day we called “Climbing for the Kids” – as one hill in particular, Mounds Road in Blue Mountain State Park, WI was an incredible challenge…so steep that many of us zig zagged the whole way up! It was a lot easier going back down…and some crazy riders hit 50 mph (but not me!) – all I got at the bottom of the hill was a bee sting ;o( – but the amazing support staff had gone and retrieved cortisone lotion and benadryl for me by the next stop – Thank You!

The Support Team

I cannot say enough about the dozen+ members of the Support Team – they did absolutely everything to make sure our journey and experience was perfect. Nothing was too much to ask and they were equally part of the success we riders achieved. They transported our belongings from one hotel to the next, so no need for the riders to carry any extra weight on the ride :o) A bike support crew followed the riders, keeping us safe and repairing any mechanical issues we encountered along the way. I had a flat tire on Day 4, for example, which the crew fixed in 5 minutes and the lead riders waited and then helped me catch back up with the group :o)

The Final Mile

We had an emotional finish to this ride, where we congratulated each other at the St Charles police station. We received an awesome escort by the police and Michael, a young man also fighting a battle against cancer. We ended up with a great celebration and a well-earned beer at Pollyanna’s brewery (another sponsor of the ride) which so many well-wishers attended! CBS News – 20 Cal’s Angels cyclists finish 5-day CUREage Ride for pediatric cancer research

WGN – Child finds joy and mobility after battling rare bone cancer

CBS News – Cal’s Angels holds 450-mile bike ride for children fighting cancer

Fundraising

The minimum fundraising commitment for this event is $6,000. That is, of course, a significant amount of money, which is really the point as the goal is to collectively raise as much money as possible. This is such a meaningful cause that your friends and family will be incredibly supportive of your personal challenge to cycle almost 500 miles for this important mission. Once you have raised the minimum commitment, this cycling trip of a lifetime is completely free :o)

This is also an opportunity to get creative with fundraising ideas, for example…

– Several riders formed small fundraising teams to assist in their efforts. I teamed up with two of my training partners, which helped us raise money and awareness in our neighborhood at places such as Beyond Hunger, a food pantry, and F3, a local workout group.

– We also hosted a benefit concert with The Half-Brits, a local rock band which I am a member of with my son, Jack. We had a fun evening at a local music venue which included a 50/50 raffle, raising over $3k in total from the evening.

– Together with Monica Newmark, who has dedicated 28 years to caring for children at the Pediatric Cancer Unit at Lurie Children’s Hospital and Dr Sara Zarnega-Lumley, MD we created an informational video highlighting why philanthrophy is so important for pediatric cancer research.