By now, you’ve probably heard about Tour de Fox — the epic 2015 coast-to-coast journey led by Michael J. Fox Foundation staffer Sam Fox (no relation to Michael J. Fox). The 2015 Tour covered a 14,000-mile route from Maine to Vancouver (8,000 of those miles biked by Sam!) — passing through all 48 of the contiguous United States and climbing each of their highest peaks. Along the way, the Tour connected thousands of members of the Parkinson’s community and raised $2.5 million for high-impact research. (If you haven’t seen it yet, watch the 2015 Tour de Fox video to relive the moments that made last summer’s adventure so incredible.)
I was lucky enough to join the Tour in California for both the Mt. Whitney climb, where we summited the highest peak in the Lower 48, and at the Wine Country ride — the largest standalone event from the Tour. More than 500 cyclists gathered in Santa Rosa, California for the Wine Country ride and collectively raised nearly $500,000 for research.
This got us thinking: What if we combined the spirit and passion of Tour de Fox with the success of a major biking event like Wine Country? That’s where the Tour de Fox Series first came to light.
In cycling events across the United States and Canada, the Tour de Fox Series is calling on you — our incredible community — to help us close the gap on a cure for Parkinson’s! Building on the enthusiasm of last year, we’ll go back to Wine Country and also make pit stops in the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest. Cyclists of all ages and abilities are invited to hop on a bike and join the fun at one of the following Tour stops:
- Great Lakes: July 16 in Cleveland, Ohio
- Pacific Northwest: August 20 in Vancouver, British Columbia
- Sonoma Wine Country: August 27 in Santa Rosa, California
Not a cyclist? Not a problem! Everyone can enjoy live music, local food trucks and activities for the whole family at the finish-line festival of each ride. And if you can’t attend an event, we also need your support to reach our $1 million fundraising goal. Donate today and 100 percent of proceeds will go directly to supporting the most promising research for a cure.
The summer is fast approaching! Register to ride or volunteer today at www.tourdefox.org.
Questions? Email us at tourdefox@michaeljfox.org.