While the official PaceDay isn’t until Oct. 16, smaller Paceline events are upcoming including one in Thomson Aug. 7.
Started in 2019, Paceline is a fundraiser for the Georgia Cancer Center.
“It’s a non-competitive cycling event,” said Martyn Jones, president of Paceline, which donates 100 percent of funds raised to the cancer center.
MORE: Local Brew Will Raise Money for Cancer Center
The idea for Paceline came about several years ago.
Ian Mercier, president and CEO of the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, said cycling events to raise money for cancer research aren’t new.
“There’s a massive cycling event in Australia that has raised $50 million for cancer research,” he said.
[adrotate banner=”54″]
In Ohio, Pelotonia is a two-day cycling event to raise money for The James–the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Someone who’d ridden in Pelotonia and later moved to Augusta suggested the idea for the Georgia Cancer Center, he said.
It’s through the backing of the MCG Foundation and other community sponsors that Paceline is able to donate 100 percent of its proceeds. In its inaugural year of 2019, the cycling event raised $230,000 for cancer research in Augusta, according to Mercier.
Grants went to three researchers including one grant to “address the disparity observed in triple negative breast cancer prevalence and treatment outcomes for African American versus Caucasian women,” according to the Paceline website.
Jones said the Georgia Cancer Center is a jewel in the community that not everyone knows is available.
“It’s truly world class,” he said. “We’re doing what we can to raise the level of awareness.”
[adrotate banner=”19″]
The PaceDay ride features three different routes. One is 25 miles; the second is 50 miles and the third is a grueling 100 miles.
“It brings the community together,” he said. “It’s a good sport, and it brings out so much positive.”
In a cycling event, cyclers can have conversations with one another. That’s not usually the case in a run. The event crosses age, gender and racial lines because cancer crosses age, gender and racial lines.
MORE: Augusta’s Breweries Primed to Enjoy Resurgent Summer
The preliminary cycling days leading up to PaceDay are held in places along the routes.
The Thomson Toe Jammers Paceline Tune-Up will begin at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at 111 Railroad Ave. Cyclists should arrive around 8 a.m.
Jones said plans are in the works for an Aug. 28 event in Augusta, tying into the debut to the Happy To Help brew at the Savannah River Brewing Co.
To find out more about Paceline or to sign up, visit pacelineride.org.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”56″]
