Local Sports Notebook: Longest annual charity bicycle ride stopping in Rochester

The longest annual charity bicycle ride in the world, the Texas 4000 team, will be rolling through Rochester on Saturday, 29 days after departing from Austin, Texas on the way to their final destination of Anchorage, Alaska.

While in Rochester, the 2014 Texas 4000 team says it “will celebrate and share hope, knowledge and charity with friends and family” before continuing on their 70-day journey. Riders will be at RochesterFest at the Mayo Civic Center on Saturday, beginning around 6 p.m. Public is invited to attend.

Seventy-nine undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Texas at Austin are braving the rain, sleet, wind, snow and heat and will pedal more than 4,500 miles in support of the fight against cancer.

Along their journey, riders will volunteer at community events that contribute in the fight against cancer and visit with cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and family members to make educational presentations about cancer prevention and early detection.

They also use this time to offer hope, encouragement and share their personal stories to cancer fighters of all ages and to those who have been affected by the disease.

by Craig Swalboski

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