Athens to host Pedal for Pink this weekend

Hosted by the Ohio Pink Ribbon Fund, the second annual Pedal for Pink event takes place Saturday at the Athens City Pool.

The event is a fundraiser for emergency assistance for breast cancer survivors in Southeast Ohio and Wood County, West Virginia.

Stop by the Athens City Pool between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 601 E. State St. in Athens — all registrants will receive a raffle ticket, and the first 100 registrants receive a t-shirt and extra goods — the entire registration fee funds financial resources for survivors.

The Ohio Pink Ribbon Fund is a non-profit organization that provides breast cancer survivors with emergency funds to assist with essential bills, groceries, medical supplies, early detection education and survivor information. Donations, sponsorships and fundraising efforts like Pedal for Pink entirely fund those efforts.

Lee Wood, the director of the Ohio Pink Ribbon Fund, said she was inspired to start the organization after fighting her own battle against breast cancer.

“When I started, we had to go stay at a hotel the night before surgery. Then my husband stayed the next night because I had to be in there two days,” Wood said. “But I started thinking: we were able to cover that, but what if somebody didn’t have that kind of money? That’s not something insurance pays for…I just felt like there needed to be an organization out there.”

Wood met with her first survivor after filing and receiving approval for 501(c3) status for the Ohio Pink Ribbon Fund.

“I met with them in July 2013 and remember helping with a busted water heater. She was in treatment, and she didn’t have a way to pay for it,” Wood said. “So, a friend contacted me because they were able to install it if I could pay for the water heater, and that’s how we got started. It was so fun to be able to do something like that.”

In addition to financial support, Wood said the organization provides community and emotional support for survivors and people currently fighting breast cancer.

“Breast cancer can be a pretty tough thing to go through, so [it’s important] to know that there are other people out there rooting for you,” Wood said. “I think just being able to connect with those people is really what I want to do.”

Born from board member Heather Slaybaugh’s passion for biking, Pedal for Pink combines the financial and community support Wood envisioned.

“Heather thought it would be a good idea because people could ride the bike path and see the beautiful colors,” Wood said. “I really hope that I can enjoy meeting people who are survivors and are coming out to honor someone.”

The Ohio Pink Ribbon Fund welcomes participants to bike or walk the event. Registration is $35 for adults and $20 for children. Participants can register at ohiopinkribbon.org/pedal-for-pink.