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Wheels Down for Gear Up 2025
May 3, 2025

Why Was the “Gear Up Against Kids Cancer” Established?

With cycling becoming an increasingly popular activity in San Antonio and south Texas, the inaugural Gear Up Against Kids Cancer was launched on April 2, 2022, to address a critical need for increased support for pediatric cancer research. Recognizing the significant emotional and financial burdens faced by families dealing with childhood cancer, the event aims to channel community energy into a meaningful cause.

This bike ride serves as a fundraising mechanism and a community engagement tool. Participants from various backgrounds unite under a common goal: to contribute to the fight against pediatric cancer. 100% of the funds raised will remain local and directly support the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute – UT Health San Antonio, helping them transform today’s research discoveries into tomorrow’s treatments., increase survival rates, and enhance the quality of life for young patients.

 

Beyond the financial impact, the Gear Up Against Kids Cancer bike ride fosters a sense of solidarity and hope within the community. It brings together individuals passionate about making a difference and creates a platform to share their stories and support each other. By participating in the ride, individuals and families contribute to a broader movement, highlighting the importance of continued investment in pediatric cancer research and reinforcing the commitment to finding cures and improving care for children battling cancer.

Ready to Gear Up? Grab your bikes (don’t forget your helmets) and register today for the FOURTH ANNUAL “Gear Up Against Kids Cancer” on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

—

With heartfelt appreciation,

Gear Up Against Kids Cancer, Organizing Committee

(below is a link to photos taken at this year’s ride on 5/11/24)

Download Your Favorite Gear Up Against Kids Cancer Images HERE!

Thanks to Everyone Who Helped Make Gear Up '24 a Raving Success!

There’s a Route for Everyone!

Full Turn-by-Turn Directions (Strava) Can be Found by Clicking on the Route Distances Below

The Gear Up Against Kids Cancer bike ride routes were carefully designed to achieve several key objectives, each contributing to the event’s success and impact. First and foremost, the routes were crafted to be challenging and accessible, accommodating a range of cycling abilities and fitness levels. By offering different route options, from shorter, less demanding paths to more challenging ones, the event encourages broader participation, allowing more people to engage with the cause and contribute to the fundraising effort.

Finally, the route planning considered safety and logistical factors, ensuring the paths are safe and monitored. This careful planning aims to provide a secure and pleasant experience for all participants, minimizing risks and maximizing the event’s positive impact. By balancing challenge, community engagement, and safety, the routes are integral to making the Gear Up Against Kids Cancer bike ride a memorable and effective fundraising event.

All three routes start and finish at the Floresville Event Center (600 TX-97, Floresville, TX 78114) giving you plenty of flat terrain with great hills to push and challenge you.

Packet Pickup:

TBD

The Routes:

The 28-mile route travels along beautiful ranch and farmland, giving you plenty of distance to cover without going overboard, especially for the riders new to cycling.

The 40-mile route is a great chance to stretch your cycling legs, venture to the far southwest corner of the county, and then wind your way back into the City of Floresville and the River City Park.

The 60-mile route is perfect for those wanting a more challenging ride. The route expands your tour of Wilson County and travels to the City of Poth, TX, makes its way into southeast Wilson County, and, just like the other routes, ends at the River City Park.

Wilson County Sheriff’s Office will be strategically positioned in high-traffic areas to assist riders in safely navigating the routes.

28mi turn-by-turn cue sheet (PDF)

40mi turn-by-turn cue sheet (PDF)

60mi turn-by-turn cue sheet (PDF)

Birds-eye view of all routes

Downtown, Turn-by-Turn Detail

Gear-Up-'23-Map---2024
Gear-Up-Downtown-Detail

Individual & Team Registration

Early-Bird Registration: 

  • $50

Full Registration:

  • $70
Dates to be made aware of:
  • TBD
How do I Register a Team:
  1. When a person wants to register, they must first click on one of the categories (28mi, 40mi, 60mi)
  2. When they click on that, they can “Create/Join a Team.”
  3. The first person to register on a team registers as captain and enters the team name  (this can be changed later)
  4. Anyone who wants to join that team will register as a teammate and choose the team name from the drop-down menu.
How do I Register Multiple Riders on a Single Payment:
  1. When the first person registers, they fill out their information, then hit “Add Another” at the bottom of the form.
  2. Make sure to click on each rider’s ride distance category (28/40/60).
  3. You can keep doing this with as many people as you like, and when you get to the payment page, you can put in one credit card.
I am a UT Health San Antonio Employee. Can I Pay for an Individual/Team with a PID?

Yes, we need an email sent to Brian Phillips (phillipsb@uthscsa.edu) from the PID approver with the following:

      • IDT Dept #
      • PID #
      • Fund #
      • Total amount
Can I make a donation to support the Greehey CCRI’s mission without participating?

Absolutely!  Please click on the “Donate” button below.

 

Sponsorship & Fundraising

Your fundraising efforts will help advance local childhood cancer research.

There are countless ways you can create a dynamic and engaging fundraising campaign that resonates with your community and maximizes support for local childhood cancer research.
  • Have a Specific Fundraising Goal
    One of the top fundraising tips is to set a clear and specific goal. Whether it’s $100, $500, or $10,000, specifically define how much you aim to raise and communicate this goal to your supporters. It provides a concrete target for people to rally around.
  • Sponsor a Mile
    Ask friends and family to sponsor you for each mile you ride. They can pledge a set amount per mile or a flat donation.
  • Partner with local businesses to host fundraising events.
    For example, a restaurant could donate a percentage of a night’s sales, or a coffee shop could hold a “giveback” day.
  • Bike Maintenance Workshops
    Offer a workshop on bike maintenance and repair. Charge a fee for participation and provide valuable skills to fellow cyclists.
  • Pledge Drive
    Set up a pledge drive where supporters can commit to donating a specific amount if your team reaches certain milestones, such as fundraising targets or training goals.
  • Social Media Campaigns
    Run a social media campaign with a specific fundraising goal. Use eye-catching graphics and stories to encourage people to donate and share.
  • Donation Matching
    Find a sponsor willing to match donations made to your campaign. This can double the impact of each donation and incentivize people to give more.
  • Host a Workshop or Seminar
    Hold an educational workshop or seminar on cycling, fitness, or childhood cancer awareness topics, with a suggested donation for attendance.
  • Host an event.
    Have your Gear Up team organize a small event, like a barbecue or a trivia night, and use it to raise funds. You can also combine it with a small donation for entry.

Stay Tuned for 2025 Sponsorship Levels!

Gear Up 2024 Supporters
Silver Level Sponsor

Mays CC

(first aid support)
In-Kind Supporters

Buyer

SA Parks & Rec

HEB #25

Mechanical Supporters

Britton Bikes

Crossroads_Logo_150

Safety Tips

While this is not an exhaustive list, following them can greatly increase your safety and help prevent injury to yourself and others.

Additional Safety Information

Connect With Us

Future Gear Up Dates

  • Sat, May 3, 2025
  • Sat, May 2, 2026
  • Sat, May 1, 2027
  • Sat, May 5, 2028
Contact US
Sending

Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute – UT Health San Antonio
8403 Floyd Curl, MC 7784
San Antonio, TX 78229-9880
gccri.uthscsa.edu
(210) 562-9000

Gear Up Organizing Committee:

Brian Phillips, BA
Greehey CCRI Program Coordinator – Sr.
phillipsb@uthscsa.edu or 210-450-8271

Gregory J. Aune, MD, PhD
Greehey CCRI Principal Investigator

Norman Mendez
Greehey CCRI Operations Manager

Victor Aguilar
Greehey CCRI Executive Assistant to the Director

David Rodriguez
Greehey CCRI IT Specialist