Pan Ohio Hope Ride announces $100K match for month of April to support Cleveland Hope Lodge
The 18th Annual American Cancer Society Pan Ohio Hope Ride, a fully supported bicycle tour of the State of Ohio, is thrilled to announce that a generous donor has issued a $100,000 Cleveland Hope Lodge Match Challenge to encourage supporters to give more in April in the fight to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
For every dollar Pan Ohio raises in April, the anonymous donor will contribute a dollar directly to the Cleveland Hope Lodge up to $100,000. This dollar-for-dollar match means the event’s fundraising will go TWICE as far to help people with cancer and their caregivers who benefit from the patient support services offered by the Cleveland Hope Lodge.
The 31-guest room Cleveland Hope Lodge is consistently full and often has a waiting list. Construction of a new 10,000 square foot wing with 12 new guest suites is underway to expand to 43 guest rooms, which adds 4,000 more free night stays. Proceeds from past Pan Ohio Hope Rides contributed $1.2 million to the Lodge’s expansion and renovation funding. This expansion will be ready to host patients in August 2024 and will save an estimated $2.9 million in hotel stays for cancer patients annually.
For Pan Ohio participants like Shawn Sines, the cause hits very close to home.
"No one thinks they will be touched by cancer at 29 years old. A father of three at the time and our family’s sole source of income, after mentioning a family history that included colorectal cancer, I earned a preventative colonoscopy,” he recalls. “During the procedure, the doctor made the discovery of cancer in my colon. They found it so early, and it was so new, that it had not yet spread, but it was present and growing. Because of ACS and its early detection research, the disease never got far enough to kill me.”
The ACS recommends people at average risk start regular screening at age 45, however, individuals with a family history, like Sines, or genetic predisposition should begin screening earlier to reduce risk.
“If I would have waited to get screened, cancer could have sent me on a very different life journey,” Sines said. “A few years ago, my wife and I also lost our fathers to cancer - two days apart. Cancer has affected so many people I know and love. That is why I ride. Taking part in this event gives me the chance to make a difference by raising funds to support patients and their families also impacted by cancer.”
For more information about the Pan Ohio Hope Ride, visit www.pohr.org.
About the American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800- 227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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