The seventh annual Bike For Boobs fundraising bicycle ride and event for breast cancer awareness will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, starting at The Wine Club at 2907 Shelter Island Drive, #108. The first 25-mile ride kicks off at 2 p.m. The second 1-mile fun ride gathers at 3 p.m., departing The Wine Pub at 3:15 p.m.
A $25 entry fee includes either ride, entry to the post-ride party with a glass of wine/beer and live music, as well as lots of raffle prizes and silent and live auctions. Those not wishing to ride can join the post-party at 4 p.m.
Sandy Hanshaw, The Wine Pub owner and breast cancer survivor, said it was actually her husband, Andy, president of the San Diego Bicycle Coalition, who suggested hosting a fundraising cancer ride while she was undergoing treatment.
“Spouses feel so hopeless,” said Sandy. “He came up with the idea while I was going through chemotherapy. I saw it as a way to get something good out of something that wasn’t so good.”
Hanshaw said female breast cancer affects 1 out of every 8 women, noting the disease “happens to a lot of people and affects their lives in many different ways.”
Of how it affected her life, Hanshaw said, “I’m sure a lot more grateful for every day that I’ve got.”
One message Hanshaw would like Bike For Boobs to get out is that “you can come out on the other side [of cancer] and do good with it.”
Hanshaw chose nonprofit Shades of Pink Foundation California as the benefactor of Bike For Boobs for a second straight year, because she wanted a local organization to benefit. All Bike For Boobs ride proceeds will go directly through Shades of Pink toward supporting women who are experiencing financial distress as a result of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Vembra Holnagel, president of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Shades of Pink board, noted the organization awarded its first grant in July 2014. It has since given out more than $184,000. Such grants typically pay for basic living expenses like housing, transportation, food and other essentials of daily living.
“Usually, these women who get referred to us are in trouble financially as they try to stay ahead of the game with medical treatments,” said Holnagel. “We try to help them out with gap fillers. All of our funding comes from direct public support, either through foundations or private individuals.”
Holnagel said Shades of Pink does not draw a distinction between the nature of the cancer a woman is stricken with, or how advanced their illness is.
“As long as they show us they have a financial challenge in their lives as a result of breast cancer, we can help,” she said. “We have a lot of generous donors, and we take that relationship very seriously. We make sure their dollars are being used wisely, and as intended.”
Hanshaw anticipates 80 to 100 men and women will participate in the Nov. 9 Bike For Boobs rides.
