PRESS RELEASES
May 6, 2004
3rd Annual R.A.T.P.O.D. for Camp Mak-A-Dream
On Saturday, June 26th hundreds of bicyclists will take to the road in Dillon, Montana in the 3rd annual R.A.T.P.O.D. (Ride Around The Pioneers in One Day) event. It’s a 157-mile, one day bicycle tour to raise money for Montana’s own Camp Mak-A-Dream, a cost-free, medically supervised camp experience for children, teens and young adults with cancer.
Camp Mak-A-Dream is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year of offering programs for young cancer patients from all across Montana, the United States and even Canada and Mexico and has served more than 2,700 individuals since opening it’s doors in 1995. Cancer patients (as young as six) come together for a week with others their own age who understand what it means to have cancer, to have fun, to learn new things, build confidence and their self-esteem and to simply feel like “normal” kids – all while being well cared for in a medically supervised, safe environment.
R.A.T.P.O. D. was the brainchild of several Missoula area physicians who are also bicycling enthusiasts – they were looking for a way to create a great ride and an event to benefit a good cause. The ride has grown in each of the first two years with riders coming from out of state to enjoy the scenic route through the Big Hole River Valley of western Montana.
This year’s event sponsors include: Missoula Anesthesiology, Missoula Bone & Joint, Montana Cancer Specialists, Western Montana Medical Society, Community Medical Center, Five Valleys Urology, Jerry Locati Architects, St. Patrick Hospital & Health Sciences Center and Western Montana Clinic. Riders are also asked raise pledge donations for each mile they ride to help raise funds for the camp. Last year’s event helped raised over $66,000 and drew nearly 170 riders. Organizers hope to have over 250 riders at this year’s event.
Camp Mak-A-Dream appreciates the support of not only the event sponsors and volunteer organizers, but also the support from local Dillon-area businesses, organizations and individuals for donating their goods and services to this event including: the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Maselich, the Elks Lodge, the University of Montana-Western, Montaqua Spring Water, Great Harvest Bread Co. and Patagonia, plus Partners Creative of Missoula for donation of design services and Gateway Printing for discounted printing of event materials.
For more information on R.A.T.P.O.D. or any of Camp Mak-A-Dream’s programs, please contact Jennifer Benton at Camp Mak-A-Dream: P.O. Box 1450, Missoula, MT 59806 or (406)549-5987. Web sites: www.ratpod.org and www.campdream.org.