Over 700 bike enthusiasts, runners and walkers participated in Benedictine Health Foundation’s Bike for Cancer Care on Sunday, September 18th at Dietz Stadium. The event reached its fundraising goal of $150,000 due to an overwhelming community response.
Now in its 13th year, the event added a 5K Run / Walk through uptown Kingston and a Kids Fun Run inside Dietz Stadium in addition to the existing 50-mile, 25-mile and 12-mile bike rides. Over 175 volunteers were on hand to staff the event.
Lunch donated by Hannaford Supermarkets, ice cream from Stewart’s Shops, and music by Payne’s Grey Sky was enjoyed at the post event awards ceremony. 94.3 FM, The Wolf, was on site to provide announcements and entertainment during the event.
The inaugural 5K honored Carly Elaina Bradley, formerly of Kingston, and Lisa Naccarato Schatzel, a lifetime resident of Kingston, who lost their battles to cancer earlier this year. For the second year, the 50-mile ride was named in memory of Dan Barnes, a graduate of Kingston High School, class of 2003. Dan passed away in 2015 at the age of 30 after a two year battle with Melanoma. Friends, family and community members came out to support the event forming Team Bradley, Schatzel Strong, and Dan’s Fans.
Proceeds benefit the Benedictine Health Foundation’s Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund, which provides financial assistance in the form of gift cards for cancer patients to purchase food or fuel while they receive treatment. The Fund, established in memory of Rosemary in 2004, has distributed over $700,000 to more than 1600 local cancer patients.
The Foundation and Gruner families extend special thanks to its Platinum Sponsors: 94.3 FM, The Wolf, Timely Signs, Anita Williams Peck, Hannaford Supermarkets, Stewart’s Shops and Dr. Zoe Weinstein, and to all event sponsors, donors, participants and volunteers for their generosity.
For further information, contact Barbara Klassen, Executive Director, Benedictine Health Foundation at (845) 481-1303 or bklassen@bhfoundation.org.
Photo: Kingston High School Bike for Cancer Cheering Squad
The Klock Foundation recently awarded a grant of $25,000 to the Benedictine Health Foundation in support of the Foundation’s Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund. The Fund provides direct financial assistance to local cancer patients while they receive treatment. Each eligible patient receives $500 annually in the form of gift cards to purchase nutritious food at Hannaford Supermarkets and/or fuel at Stewart’s Shops to help cover the expense of transportation to treatment. Over 1495 patients have been served by the program with over $655,000 distributed in assistance.
The Klock Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Ulster County to advance education, literacy, the arts, public health and the sciences. “We are once again proud to continue the charitable legacy of Lucia and Jay Klock, and to support health care services in the Ulster County community, stated Sloan Saverine, Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of Key Private Bank. KeyBank has managed the Klock Foundation for 48 years with Mr. Saverine serving as a Foundation Trustee.
The Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund was established in 2004 by the Gruner family in partnership with the Benedictine Health Foundation, Inc., a local not for profit organization in Kingston. “This Fund is a vital component of our work to help patients and their families when faced with the diagnosis of cancer and difficult treatments. We are grateful for the continued generosity and support of the Klock Foundation,” stated Barbara Klassen, Executive Director of the Benedictine Health Foundation.
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