Back on April 30, the Miami Dolphins announced the third-annual Dolphins Cycling Challenge would take place November 3-4, 2012. I've had the announcement in the queue for a while, but had not found the right time/space to post it until today.
This annual bicycle riding challenge raises money for cancer research, and has a direct tie to the Phinsider. Our own Ohiofinfan4life rode in the DCC last year, riding the full 170-mile course despite only having started road riding a few months earlier.
Obviously, the build up for the DCC has not reached full steam yet, given that it's only May right now, but you can head over to RideDCC.com to check out ways you can help. While you are there, you should read the article about former Dolphins wide receive Mark Duper's brush with cancer last year. Duper, who is the featured rider right now on the site, rode in the DCC last year, just trying to support the Dolphins and help raise money in memory of Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich, who had passed away earlier in the year from cancer. Little did Duper know, he has a cancerous tumor on his kidney at the time.
You can read the entire press release about the third annual Dolphins Cycling Challenge below.
MIAMI DOLPHINS AND SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER ANNOUNCES
THIRD ANNUAL DOLPHINS CYCLING CHALLENGE NOVEMBER 3-4Two-day, 170 mile Trans-Florida 3-County Ride Seeks to Add to $1.6 mil. Raised for Sylvester in Past Two Years
MIAMI, FL (April 30, 2012) - The Miami Dolphins today announced that the third annual Dolphins Cycling Challenge (DCC), a two-day, 170-mile trans-Florida charity cycling event to benefit Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, will take place on November 3-4, 2012. This major community initiative is a collaborative effort between the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, with proceeds going to directly to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
"SteveRoss and the Miami Dolphins are thrilled to be a part of this cornerstone philanthropic initiative for a third consecutive year," said Dolphins CEO Mike Dee. "South Florida is a world-class community deserving of a world-class cancer center. We hope Sylvester can continue growing its footprint and positively impacting those in our community who face the challenges associated with this insidious disease."
The Dolphins Cycling Challenge is a tri-county charity cycling event founded by the Dolphins to increase cancer awareness, encourage healthy hobbies, and raise funds for UM's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, which has facilities in Miami, Kendall, and Deerfield Beach. In its second year, the DCC was an enormous success, attracting more than 800 riders and raising more than $1,070,000 for cancer research at Sylvester.
Describing the 2011 ride as "inspirational," W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Sylvester and co-leader of "Team Sylvester," said it "was a very special experience to ride with so many of my colleagues and patients through the three counties where Sylvester has a strong presence. I know the moral and financial support of our patients and friends will motivate us again this year."
Joining Team Sylvester in 2012 is the newly appointed Director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., who is eager to take part in the signature community fundraising event for the cancer center. "We work in teams at Sylvester to find new therapies and bring hope to patients and families. The Dolphins Cycling Challenge," said Nimer, "similarly brings teams together to work toward our common goal: fighting cancer."
Michael Mandich, whose father and Dolphins great Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich was treated at Sylvester, has been a vocal supporter of the DCC since its inception and rode the full 170 miles last year, working with the DCC to unveil the "88 Mad Dog Lane Water Stop" in honor of his father. "The DCC is near and dear to the Mandich Family, especially to my father. The inclusion of the 88 Mad Dog Lane Water Stop cements his imprint on this event, which has limitless potential for the South Florida community."
On the first day of the ride, entrants will have three options: (1) a 100-mile-long "Century Ride" from Sun Life Stadium to West Palm Beach, during which cyclists will travel through the City of Miami over the MacArthur Causeway to Miami Beach and then up Ocean Drive/AIA to enjoy an end-of-the-ride celebration at CityPlace; (2) a Homecoming Loop starting at Sun Life Stadium that gives riders the opportunity to take in 50 miles of South Florida scenery before ending up back at the stadium; and (3) a 40-mile Palm Beach Loop that provides riders with the greatest vistas West Palm Beach has to offer.
The second day features two unique routes, both of which give riders the opportunity to traverse a secured portion of I-595 before entering Sun Life Stadium: (1) a 70-mile ride from CityPlace in West Palm Beach to Sun Life Stadium; and (2) a 30-mile ride from Ft. Lauderdale to Sun Life Stadium. All Day 2 riders will enter Sun Life Stadium through the players' tunnel and join an on-field Finish Line Celebration.
For child and pre-teen riders, Dolphins Cycling Challenge will offer various courses set-up on the grounds of Sun Life Stadium.
Individuals and teams interested in participating in the Dolphins Cycling Challenge are encouraged to visit www.RideDCC.com.
All adult riders will receive two (2) complimentary tickets to the Miami Dolphins game versus the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, November 25th. Riders who attend the game will be honored in a special on-field pre-game ceremony celebrating their fundraising efforts. There is a registration fee of $150 per rider and a fundraising goal ranging from $250 to $1200, depending on the ride selected. 100% of the rider-raised funds will go to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The DCC is actively seeking participants, corporate partners, and volunteers to assist the Miami Dolphins Special Teams volunteer corps. For more information, please visitwww.RideDCC.com.
About the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins, owned by Chairman of the Board/Managing General Partner Stephen M. Ross, currently play in the AFC East of the National Football League. The organization has played in five Super Bowls, winning championships in 1972 (VII) and 1973 (VIII). The franchise also has won five conference championships and 13 division championships and is the oldest continuous major-league professional sports franchise in the state of Florida. For more information, visit the organization's website at Dolphins.com.
About the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at UHealth-University of Miami Health System. Sylvester handles 1,300 inpatient admissions annually, performs more than 2,400 surgical procedures, and treats more than 4,400 new cancer patients. All Sylvester cancer specialists are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida's only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in approximately 200 clinical trials and receive $55 million annually in research grants. Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties, and now offers appointments with 30 physicians from 14 of Sylvester's 15 site disease groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events. Sylvester also has clinical offices and treatment centers in Kendall and a recently opened facility in Plantation to better serve patients in southern Miami-Dade and Broward counties. www.sylvester.org