Neighbor News
CycleHealth Kids Race to Save a Camp for Kids with Cancer
When a camp for kids with cancer and their siblings suddenly lost its funding, CycleHealth kids were asked to save it. They said yes.
The BreakAway Kids Tri by CycleHealth is a swim-bike-run obstacle race for kids ages 7 to 17. Besides being a world class adventure race, the BreakAway Kids Tri is also a chance for kids to fundraise to save the camp. This year, there are two BreakAway Kids Tri events: Sat. Aug. 15 at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford, and Sat. Aug. 22 at Lake Elmo Park Reserve in Lake Elmo. Register here.
Kids who raced in the BreakAway Kids Tri in 2014 raised $62,800 for the new pain clinic at Children’s Hospital. This success kept CycleHealth at top of mind for pediatric oncologists at Children’s when they got the news that their beloved camp had lost its funding. “As camp doctor for our kids with cancer and blood disorders for ten years, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of camp to these children and families. When a child is diagnosed with cancer or a lifethreatening blood disorder, the whole family’s lives becomes consumed by medical visits, hospitalizations, and a constant focus on illness. Camp allows these kids and their siblings to forget about illness for a while, and have fun just being kids,” said Dr. Joanna Perkins, Medical Director of Outreach and Service Excellence at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. “With the generosity of CycleHealth’s kids, we believe this partnership will protect and ensure that the camp continues for years into the future.”
Ten year old CycleHealth kid Ethan is training for the BreakAway Kids Tri, and has set a fundraising goal of $1,000 for the save the camp project. He knows it costs $500 to send one kid to camp, and he wants to send two kids to camp. “It’s awesome to know I am making a difference in my community,” said Ethan.
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CycleHealth, a Minnesota based 501c3 organization founded in 2014, is pioneering the nation’s first Sweat + Service Rx. Doctors in 16 local pediatric clinics are prescribing CycleHealth events and fitness challenges as a way to get kids more active while giving them a chance to serve others. Dr. David Quale, a pediatrician at Wayzata Children’s Clinic, said, “I absolutely love CycleHealth’s mission. It’s nice having something concrete to give kids so they can actually measure their progress and get more active to get ready for the race.”
Visit our website and join our movement to create a new cycle of health in Minnesota starting with kids.