Michael J. Fox Foundation Calls Cyclists to Pedal for Parkinson’s Research in Tour de Fox 2016 Series

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has announced the start of the Tour de Fox 2016 Series.

The summer cycling events in Canada and the U.S., invite cyclists of all ages and abilities to check bike tires, grab helmets, and take on the challenge of helping find a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive condition that affects about 5 million people worldwide.

Tour de Fox is a signature event of Team Fox, the Foundation’s worldwide grassroots network of community fundraisers. The event is the brainchild of ultra-athlete and MJFF staffer Sam Fox (no relation to Michael J. Fox) who, at the South by Southwest Festival in 2013, crowd-sourced ideas to create an extraordinary Parkinson’s fundraiser. Ideas led to the inaugural Tour de Fox in 2015.

Sam Fox began to combine his athletic skills with his entrepreneurial spirit to raise money for PD research in honor of his mother, Lucy Fox, who was diagnosed in 2000. He first undertook a 14,000-mile ride across the U.S. into Canada which entailed climbing 49 high peaks. Eventually joined by 3,000 members of the PD community, the effort ended with $2.5 million raised for PD research.

Today, Team Fox members raise millions annually, with 100% of the proceedings going directly to MJFF’s cutting-edge research programs. The Foundation works non-stop to accelerate the development of better treatments and a cure.

“The unwavering passion and support of this community ensure that the Tour de Fox will live on and continue supporting research toward a cure,” Sam Fox said in a press release. “I’m ready to tackle this new challenge, meet new faces and saddle up.”

Sam Fox will attend all Tour de Fox 2016 Series events.

The Tour de Fox Series events offer a wide range of options for all experience levels, from leisurely scenic rides to physically demanding routes. Non-cyclists are also invited to join finish-line festivities with live music, food and more.

Tour de Fox 2016 Series schedule:

July 16 (Saturday) – Great Lakes, Cleveland, Ohio;

August 20 (Saturday) – Pacific Northwest, Vancouver, British Columbia;

August 27 (Saturday) – Wine Country, Santa Rosa, California.

Each event will feature its own course distances and start times. Short, medium and long course options are available to ensure participation of cyclists of all ages and fitness levels. Starting at noon, every event will have a finish-line festival style celebration with live music, food trucks and children-friendly activities. Family and friends are encouraged to attend whether they ride in the event or not. All are welcome to join in and connect with the local PD community.

The event organizers encourage riders to register early (registration is $50 per person). A minimum of $200 raised is required by the day of the event. Registration is open. Donations toward the event will be accepted until the end of 2016.