Alvien Lee, LifeBridge Health
During the seventh-annual Save-A-Limb Ride, Walk and Festival, presented by Stryker on Saturday, October 20, nearly 1,000 cyclists from throughout the mid-Atlantic region will take to the rolling hills of northern Baltimore County to raise money for the Save-A-Limb Fund.
The event begins at 8 a.m. at Oregon Ridge Park with a metric century (100 km) bike ride followed by rides of 30, 15 and six miles. All participants in the metric century, 30-mile and 15-mile rides receive a Gran Fondo timing chip to keep track of their times.
Participants will be riding alongside Olympic Cyclist and 2011 Tour of California Winner Chris Horner and Pro-cyclist and Tour de France Commentator Robbie Ventura.
"There is an amazing energy surrounding this event,” says Ventura, “from the organizers to the participants. And, what is so unique, a lot of the people who benefit from the Save-A-Limb Fund attend the event, allowing you to see them progress year to year.
“The procedures that lengthen limbs and grow bone are astounding,” adds Ventura. “I'm proud to support their work."
"Having Robbie and Chris participate takes the ride to the next level,” says Dr. Ronald Delanois, an orthopedic surgeon and one of the chief organizers of the event. "Participants really enjoy the chance to interact and ride alongside them. I am grateful that professionals like Robbie and Chris are willing to be a part of the Save-A-Limb Ride."
The Save-A-Limb Event also includes a one-mile family walk at 10 a.m. and a fitness fair and carnival at 11 a.m. Lenny Robinson, aka the "Route 29 Batman," will be making a special appearance as will 2007 Survivor: Fiji Winner Earl Cole.
The event concludes with a special fundraising dinner and auction.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Save-A-Limb Fund of LifeBridge Health’s Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics (RIAO) to provide limb, hip and knee surgery to deserving patients in the United States and around the world. The RIAO is home to some of the world's most renowned orthopedic surgeons and offers state-of-the-art treatment for a variety of orthopedic services.
To register or sponsor the Save-A-Limb Ride, visit SaveALimbRide.org. Participants can register the day of the race, although advanced registration is encouraged.
Laura Hager is an assistant account executive at Nevins & Associates.
