Armstrong wishes the riders well (Image credit: Janet Peshek)
The 18th annual Trek 100 Ride, a charity event in Pewaukee, Wisconsin that benefits the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund (MACC) broke its previous fundraising record at the weekend, generating a combined total of $1.3 million from a Friday night reception and auction followed by Saturday's Trek 100 ride.
"If someone would have told me 18 years ago this ride would one day raise $1.3 million and host 3,300 riders, I would have said they were nuts," said John Burke, President of Trek Bicycles. "I want to acknowledge the terrific staff of the MACC Fund for their leadership and the thousands of riders who have chipped in to make this remarkable milestone."
Lance Armstrong was also on hand at both the reception and ride. Armstrong addressed the crowd on Friday night about the work of his cancer foundation and then proceeded to auction off a special edition Livestrong Trek Madone. When bidding was hovering around $25,000 Armstrong offered to match the winning bid. Two bidders remained until the price hit $40,000 and then the gavel fell. Victory went to Jim Hoyt, owner of Richardson Bike Mart in Dallas, who sold Armstrong his first bike at age 10.
Congressman Jim Oberstar, a leading bike advocate in Congress, also addressed the crowd with a speech on his intention to make cycling a safe form of recreation and transportation throughout the US.
The next day a record 3,300 riders, including a certain seven-time Tour de France winner, took to the roads of Pewaukee for the Trek 100. "Lance Armstrong was an incredible addition to the Trek 100 this year and could account for an increase in 1000 additional riders," said ride director Colleen O'Neil Moran. "It was a thrill for everyone to see Lance at the start of the ride on Saturday."
The Trek 100 raises money for childhood cancer research and related blood disorders and is the MACC Fund's largest fundraiser of the year having raised $7 million for the fund since its inception.
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