CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Saturday marks the 16th Ride for Life in North Central West Virginia, organized by Bikers for a Cure, and event organizer Kevin Ashcraft is expecting a great year.
Hundreds of bikers will participate in the Dice Run, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. Registration, along with breakfast, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Texas Road House.
“Last year we figured it out that we had 550 people registered,” Ashcraft said. “And animals. We have one that brings his dog.”
The 2016 event raised over $34,000 for leukemia research. This year’s proceeds will go toward breast cancer research.
“Each year they pick a certain cancer,” Ashcraft said. “This year it’s breast cancer. Last year was leukemia. When I first started, which touched home for me, it was colon because my mother passed away from colon cancer. I really wanted to get involved, and since then it’s been a roll.”
Ashcraft said this year’s hit home for the whole group when the ride’s founder, Chrissy, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“And she has beaten it,” he said. “The breast cancer really did hit home for us when that happened, and we’re thankful that she was able to get through it.”
The annual ride begins in Clarksburg, travels through Lewis, Upshur, Barbour and Taylor counties before returning to Harrison County.
“Now along this route, there’s stops. There’s containers which have dice in them. What they do is, they shake the containers,” Ashcraft said. “It’s just regular dice. Add up all the numbers, and then at that stop, they’ll put the roll and then they’ll get a stamp to verify that they were there.”
Riders will win prizes for the high roll and the low roll. They must be in by 6 p.m. to qualify.
At the end of the ride, a reception will be held at the Best Western. Dinner will be included, along with live music from Eli and the Road Dogs, and attendees will be able to participate in bike games, 50/50 drawings and raffles.