We ended October with a treat and a trick. The treat was we had more than 20 committee members, family, and friends come to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Elkins Park the Tuesday before Halloween. We came in costume to prepare and serve a delicious dinner to the 65+ guest staying there while in the Philadelphia region receiving their cancer care and treatment. The trick but also a treat of the evening was the surprise for longtime committee member Meghan McCormack of the unveiling of a dedicated gold leaf on the Tree of Hope that is at the Lodge in memory of her dad and our beloved Hugh McCormack, SAG Volunteer Extraordinaire whom we lost in the spring. With the leaf, Hugh will always be a part of ACS!! For more information about Hope Lodge, what you may be able to do to support it and the Tree of Hope, please feel free to contact us at philadelphia.bike@cancer.org.

November has arrived and has also brought with it a few treats and tricks. As for the treats, we are continuing the offer to qualify for receiving the promotional riding jersey for 2026 by just raising $350 before the end of November. For those who received the jersey in the past two years, you know what a sense of satisfaction and pride you get while wearing the jersey during your training rides, while showing support for our cause. Another treat is “Distilling Hope” , an event hosted by NextGen, a group of young professionals in the Philadelphia region who put on events to support the American Cancer Society. This will take place on Friday, November 14th at Philadelphia Distilling (Bluecoat Distilling) at their Philadelphia, Allen St location. It is going to be a great evening of activities, including beverages to sample, food, and a variety of opportunities to win raffle items. The distillery is a proud supporter of Bike-A-Thon and has sponsored a team for a number of years who ride and have raised a significant amount for us. Consider putting it on your calendar. If you go, come by and say hello to me since I will be taking advantage and enjoying the evening and its offerings.

As for the tricks, on a personal note, my immediate family, friends and my extended family,  (i.e. Bike-A-Thon committee members and some co-riders) played one on me. They showed they can keep a secret, having planned for a birthday celebration for the better part of five months and keeping it from me. It was a great surprise and tons of fun and laughter. Also, many of the guests attending came in the spirit of the day and also decided, in lieu of a gift, to make a donation to my Bike-A-Thon page. So the party was both a trick and fabulous treat with Bike-A-Thon benefiting, adding to the multitude of fantastic memories I have accumulated over the 30 years of riding. 

We also have an upcoming treat. Many of our committee members along with other friends and family will be participating in the 6ABC Thanksgiving Day parade in Philadelphia as balloon handlers. As you know, 6ABC is our media partner and gives Bike-A-Thon shout outs and support throughout the year. If you will be at the parade, look for them. If you are not attending, but will be watching on TV, keep an eye out as they come on the screen. As soon as we learn what balloon they will be handling, we will share with you.

With all of the above going on, our committee still has not lost sight of the task of planning for June 2026. We are excited seeing how the planning is taking shape and the activities that we have in store for you. If you have not already registered, take advantage and join the 825+ riders who have already registered and at the same time, qualify for your promotional riding jersey. Finally, all of us here want to wish all of you and your family, a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Mark Feinman

In the blink of an eye, we are now into Fall and we often put riding on the back burner. This is a big mistake! This time of year happens to offer some of the best riding conditions outdoors. The change in the foliage and vegetation makes for a colorful ride, especially in the countryside (suburbs) of the city with invigorating weather! Take advantage. This is also an opportunity to stay in shape and get some additional conditioning in before shutting things down for the winter for most.

It is also the time of year where we can be setting our plans in motion for fundraising ideas and staying connected to those who support our efforts of raising funds for the American Cancer Society. Feel free to contact us if you have any fundraising events taking place so that we can promote them to our broader community. 

Our organizing committee is here to assist you in these efforts and to support the long-term goals of hosting a fantastic ride in June, which continues to raise much needed funds for the American Cancer Society helping it lead the fight against cancer.

By now you should have received the results of the voting for the choice of the 2026 promotional jersey. This successful initiative enables each of us to qualify to receive this fantastic riding jersey just by increasing our fundraising efforts ever so slightly. Take advantage of the opportunity so that you will qualify for and receive the riding jersey and be ready to show it off when you get out in the spring.

I had an opportunity to participate in a phenomenal event hosted by a tremendous corporate supporter of the American Cancer Society, Nucor Steel based in Alabama. For the past nine years, they have hosted a unique cycling event known as “Cycle the South”. This four day ride changes routes each year and affords the participant an opportunity to ride through different regions and states in the south. This year, the ride went from New Orleans, La. to Jackson, Ms. Covering a challenging 360 miles over the four days, this x ride consisting of approximately 35 riders, creates a strong sense of camaraderie and intimacy for its participants while riding on fantastic roads with great scenery. Feel free to reach out to me for details and information for their ride next September.

There are also many opportunities still available this Fall including being a part of the Bike-A-Thon volunteer balloon handler team for the 6ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade, serving a meal at the ACS Hope Lodge in Elkins Park, Pa., attending an ACS Relay for Life and/or walking in a local Making Strides against Breast Cancer. For more information, reach out to us. Involvement in one of these activities is no trick but a rewarding treat. Let’s stay in the spirit. 

Sincerely,

Mark Feinman

We welcomed September with the closing out of our 2025 fundraising year having raised more than $1.26 million! Thank you for all who rode, donated and were able to secure donations to help support the mission of the American Cancer Society. Not skipping a beat, our organizing committee for 2026 met for its first official meeting for the year. We welcomed three new members to the committee, and we are excited about the new perspective, insights, and ideas that they will bring to our event.

Our initial meeting focused on the framework of our ride and how we can continue to enhance your experience and achieve continued success. We have outlined our objectives and areas to concentrate our attention upon as we develop our plans for the 2026 ride. Watch for periodic updates as we meet throughout the fall and help our visions take shape.

We are pleased to report that three of our teams (Team Medi- Dose, Team WMMR and Team Evesham) have been recognized on a national level as being a part of the Top Performers by raising in excess of $75,000 each this past year. Their achievement places them within the top echelon of all ACS community based fundraising events nationally and brings additional recognition and accolades to the achievements of Bike-A-Thon, which also happened to be the #2 Endurance community based fundraising event nationally in 2025. As a perennial top fundraising event for ACS nationally, we look forward to maintaining this standard for 2026.

We must be doing something appealing and right given that we have more than 775 riders already registered to ride in 2026 and have raised in excess of $40,000. These figures encourage and energize us to continue to work to deliver a 5 star experience for everyone. If you have already registered, thank you. If not, take advantage of the low $50 registration rate and sign up now. You want to be on board in preparation for some of the promotional offerings that will be announced in the ensuing weeks. To be eligible, you must be registered to ride. 

Continue to follow us on social media and other platforms so that you can see what activities and events are taking place and put them on you calendar. You will see, there are far more opportunities then just riding and fundraising. The more you learn of the vast array of what ACS is doing in the community, the more you will want to become engaged.

Sincerely,

Mark Feinman