On Sept. 3, Wolfson Children’s Hospital welcomed back cyclists Moi Monroe and Jason Rogers from their cross-country cycling ride.
Over the course of their 45-day journey, which started in Anchorage, Alaska, the two traversed Canada and the United States, traveling nearly 5,000 miles by bicycle. Their goal with this cross-country ride was to raise awareness for families battling childhood cancer as well as raise money for childhood cancer programs at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Georgia-based Mattie’s Mission. Each day of the ride was dedicated to a child who has had or currently has cancer.
The current fundraising total for the initiative has surpassed $140,000. Donations are still being accepted through the end of the month at mattiesmission.org/event/cross-country-ride.
Mattie’s Mission, which will split all donations for this fundraising initiative with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, honors Mattie Goble, a former patient who lost her battle with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an inoperable, incurable brain stem tumor.
“As hard as the ride was, we continually reminded ourselves that this cycling challenge was nothing compared to what childhood cancer patients and their families go through fighting this disease,” said Monroe. “It gave us a daily dose of strength even on the worst of days.”
Fittingly enough, Monroe and Rogers’s arrival at Wolfson Children’s Hospital coincided with the start of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This month aims to bring more awareness to childhood cancer and honor the courage of the children who are fighting cancer as well as the support that their loved ones provide them with.
A Wolfie plush toy, representing the official mascot of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, accompanied Monroe and Rogers as they made their way from Alaska back to Jacksonville. Stopping in a myriad of towns and roadside attractions along the way, Wolfie returns to Jacksonville as a seasoned traveler after spreading hope for those fighting childhood cancer throughout the ride.
“We are excited to welcome Jason and Moi back to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and are incredibly grateful for their support of our mission,” said Allegra Jaros, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “Their dedication to helping fight childhood cancer is evident in their arduous cross-country cycling journey. The funds Jason and Moi raised will continue to allow our doctors, nurses and entire medical staff to provide advanced pediatric care to our kids with cancer.”
