Smilow Cancer Hospital's Closer to Free Bike Ride Community Fundraiser

Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven announces the first annual Closer to Free bike ride fundraiser with 100 percent of funds raised supporting cancer research.

“We are very excited about this event,” said Kevin F. Walsh, vice president of development, Yale-New Haven Hospital. “The ride will not only help raise awareness and money for cancer care at the hospital, but it is also a great way to bring the community together and channel its energy and spirit toward a very important cause.”

The first annual Closer to Free bike ride fundraiser starts at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Yale Bowl complex, where it will also finish with a celebration of entertainment and refreshments. The ride will pass through 12 towns throughout Greater New Haven, including New Haven, East Haven, North Branford, Guilford, Madison, Killingworth, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton and Branford.

“The Closer to Free Bike Ride is a real community effort,” said Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., MD, physician-in-chief, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven and director of Yale Cancer Center. “With strong community support, corporate sponsors and hundreds of riders and volunteers, the success of this event will support our efforts in ground-breaking science and patient-centered care at Smilow and Yale Cancer Center.”

Cancer survivors, patients, family, friends, trained athletes and riders or all skill levels and abilities over the age of 18 are encouraged to ride. For anyone interested in riding or volunteering, visit www.rideclosertofree.org or contact Jessica Scheps, Office of Development at 203-688-8727 or rideclosertofree@ynhh.org.

This is a Closer to Free press release.