Recently, we presented donation checks to Wooster Community Hospital and the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Fund for funds raised through the WooMan cycling tour in Ohio as well our Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign. In it’s second year, the WooMan has now raised nearly $22,000 towards raising breast cancer awareness in the mid-Ohio region.
The WooMan is a bicycle tour between Wooster and Mansfield consisting of 20, 50 and 100 mile routes. This year we had 180 riders turn out on a beautiful sunny September day. The tour itself is an emotional journey for many of the riders who raise pledges and ride in memory of loved ones lost to breast cancer or in honor of those who are survivors.
Thanks to the efforts of our Mansfield team lead by Clint Saiben and our Wooster team lead by Brett Martin who provided all of food and hospitality in the 50 mile distance between their cafes. Special thanks goes out to Chris LaPointe for setting up and managing the mid-point rest stop at The Winfield Bed & Breakfast and to Mark Cacchio for his overall direction and leadership of the event.
Our Wooster partner is Wooster Community Hospital (WCH) represented by Tricia James, Development Specialist at WCH and our Mansfield partner is the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Fund (PKBC) lead by Dave Kracker who lost his first wife to breast cancer in 1996. We have been blessed with the efforts needed to plan and run the WooMan by a committee of volunteer members including Tricia James, Dave Kracker, Bill & Jackie Buckwalter from Ride On Bicycles in Wooster, Terry & Sheila White and Diane Hammett from Mid-Ohio Bikers (MOB) cycling club, along with the efforts of many others from MOB, WCH, PKBC and our own Panera Bread associates as well as Tricia James’ husband Peter who created our website, www.woomantour.org.
It has been a special honor working with these community partners towards affecting an important cause in the local region.
Thank you all and God Bless!