Cyclists Ride “Across America” to Benefit Cancer Patients and Families

More than 100 riders joined the race Saturday morning to ride across America and against cancer — from inside Malibu Fitness at 15 Executive Drive in Farmington. The indoor cycling event raised money to help Connecticut cancer patients and their families struggling with the financial pressure of the disease.

The cyclists worked in teams from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to keep the pedals moving. The event is called Ride America because participants pedal the equivalent of riding across the country and back again during the event.

This year’s event will especially benefit Unionville native Abbie Brouker, now 4, who was diagnosed with high-risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 16 months old. She was later diagnosed with a rare subtype of the cancer, Myeloid Leukemia Lineage, which traditional treatments cannot cure. Abbie and her family moved to Boston in 2008, where she received a bone marrow transplant, which she struggled with. Abbie continues to go to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center for treatment and her mother participated in Ride America Saturday at Malibu Fitness.

According to the Ride America site, Saturday's event has raised $89,783. Since beginning in 2009, Ride America has raised $125,000 for Connecticut cancer patients and their families.

Ride America is organized by Connecticut Sports Foundation and sponsored by Farmington Bank. Panera Bread provided food and drinks for riders.