On October 12, the Dodge Million Dollar Challenge, a 620-mile charity bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego, kicked off, according to The Herald. The riders set out from the Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito, California. This was the eighth annual Dodge Million Dollar Challenge, which is held by the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). The proceeds of the event go to raise funds for and awareness of those with physical challenges.
“The MDC journey is about so much more than the miles you cover,” Dean Roeper, Co-Chair of the Dodge Million Dollar Challenge told The Herald. “It is about discovering the incredible capabilities of the human body and spirit.”
The million dollars in the title of the event refers to the goal of more than $1 million raised by the Challenge to fund grants for adaptive sports equipment, training and competition expenses, mentoring and sports clinics. Each participant in the event raises $12,500 or more to reach the goal.
Entry in the seven-day ride down the California coastline sells out quickly. In fact, this year’s event sold-out in a record nine hours. Of the more than 100 cyclists participating in the Million Dollar Challenge, 12 are physically challenged athletes.
“Riding side-by-side with the very challenged athletes who benefit from this event is truly a life-changing experience, and the speed with which this event sells out is a true testament of that,” said Roeper.
Events such as the Dodge Million Dollar Challenge are a great way to raise awareness and funding for wonderful causes and organizations such as the Challenged Athletes Foundation. That being said, just because a ride is for a great cause and cyclists are riding as a large group, does not mean that they are not exposed to same dangers that they would be at any other time they take to the road. It would be very unfortunate for an event such as this to be marred by a bicycle accident, but it can happen.
For more information about bicycle safety laws, bike accidents and how we can help if you or a loved one has been injured, please visit our website. To schedule a free consultation with our San Diego bicycle accident attorney, contact our firm today at (858) 261-5454.
Tip of the Week: When riding in large groups, give hand signals when stopping or turning, call hazards, call when passing and listen to others.
Bonnici Law Group, APC—San Diego bicycle accident lawyer