WHY WE RIDE

Cancer affects way too many men, women and children in America. Our team's namesake, Victoria Drier, grew up in St. Louis but spent many a winter and summer in Sun Valley at her grandparent's (Carolyn & Jay Henges) house on Greenhorn. Victoria learned to ski on Dollar and learned to love skiing on Baldy. She hiked the trails behind Greenhorn, rode horses in Galena, tried her hand at Sporting Clays, loved searching for treasures at the Gold Mine, bought gifts and clothes at the Country Cousin, enjoyed Wrapcity, The Wicked Spud and Perry's. You might have spotted her from time to time with a Bowl of Soul from Java too! Victoria lost her 12-year battle with brain cancer in December 2018 at age 28. She was such a lover of life and especially enjoyed her time in Sun Valley over the years.

In Victoria's memory, we are proud to be joining Pedal the Cause in the fight against cancer. We know that it takes world-class research to create a world without cancer. And by participating in Pedal the Cause, we know that 100% of our donations will go directly to funding innovative cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children's Hospital, where Victoria was treated. All of the cancer research we fund is with the world-class scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Pedal the Cause is the venture capital arm for this cutting-edge research. We have funded $32M in start-up research over the past 11 years that once proven has in turn attracted an additional $225M in federal funds. Pedal funded research is leading to clinical trials, break-through treatments and cures MADE AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD, Sun Valley included!

I am Victoria's cousin, Ben Frank, now a year round resident of Hailey with my fiancée, Marie Gallo. I'm happy to be team captain of Team Victoria Sun Valley and along with my son Sheldon, taking the lead organizing this Rally in the Valley in Victoria's memory. Join us by registering for our team or making a donation today. We are leading a group ride 36 miles roundtrip on the Harriman Trail from the SNRA Visitors Center (North Fork) just north of Ketchum to Galena Lodge and back on Sunday, September 26 starting at 10:00am. You can ride at whatever pace is most comfortable. A map of our route: https://www.visitsunvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Harriman-Trail-Map_Summer.pdf

Victoria's grandmother, Carolyn Henges, will be at the start line on Sunday morning sending us off with great fanfare, and welcoming us back at the end.
You can join our group ride or you can do any other ride, walk, hike or run on your own anytime September 25 or 26 to fulfill your athletic endeavor as a teammate. Choose your own route and duration based on your ability and comfort zone.

Time to turn that mountain, gravel, road or e-bike into a CANCER CURING BIKE!! Join the fun. Join the cause. Join this fight for a world without cancer. Join the first ever Rally in the Valley and help raise some serious dollars for cancer research.

With thanks and gratitude for your consideration and support --

Ben Frank