The event benefits the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
At Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, nearly 600 people participated and volunteered in the family and community fundraising event, which included a 25-mile bike ride, 12-mile ride, 5K walk, a children’s 100-yard dash and family activities.
One hundred percent of the event's proceeds go to Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, which identifies the brightest early-career scientists with innovative research ideas and provides them with funding to pursue new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat all forms of cancer.
“In two years, we have raised nearly $1 million for cancer research, which is awesome,” said William Raveis, founder and chief executive officer of William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance. “I want to thank everyone who worked on the event, all the Raveis agents, our family and friends.”
Fundraising will continue through Sunday, Oct. 30, on the web site raveisridewalk.com, which includes fundraising tips and tools, information about the scientists, and photos and video from the events.
“It is so impressive to me the impact this event has,” said Meghan Raveis, director of the William Raveis Charitable Fund. “The money we raised will go directly to brilliant scientists at Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation. This money will be able to fund more research that will hopefully one day, in our lifetime, lead to a cure for cancer.”
In the inaugural year of 2015, the Raveis Ride + Walk raised more than $500,000, which led to the creation of two fellowships for emerging scientists at Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
Dr. Aaron Viny, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Yi Yin, of Harvard University, received four-year grants to pursue new breakthroughs in cancer research.
“We are so grateful for the support of the entire Raveis community for investing in the best young scientists in cancer,” said Lorraine Egan, chief executive officer and president of Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation. “This has been an amazing event.”
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