The Oncolliga Girona Foundation's initiative has raised nearly €58,000 to help cancer patients
As with previous editions, a team from Clínica Girona participated this weekend in Oncobike, the solidarity BTT race organised by the @OncolligaGi Foundation. It has been a record-breaking year: 95 teams registered and nearly €58,000 was raised. The money will be used to fund aid and support services for cancer patients and their families with #cancer.
Record turnout and fundraising figures
L’Oncobike, the charity mountain bike race organised by the Oncolliga Girona Foundation, has managed to raise nearly €58,000 in its fifth edition, held last weekend in Vall de Llémena. A new record was achieved thanks to an increase in registered teams, a total of 95, of which 89 started the race in Sant Gregori. The money will be used to fund the help and support services for cancer patients and their families offered by Oncolliga.
Of the 89 teams, 69 have completed the longer route of 200 km, and 20 have opted for the shorter option of 110 km. In the short race, the first to cross the finish line in Sant Gregori were Doctor J Bikes Ebike, who participated with electric bicycles and completed the course in a time of 06:53:56. Following them in the standings are Surgical Boys SSIBE, who rode conventional bicycles and finished in a time of 07:32:13.
Five editions
The Oncobike was born in 2016 with the aim of offering MTB enthusiasts a sporting and solidarity challenge in the style of the Oncotrail, the race of Trail running which Oncolliga has organised for the past eight years in Baix Empordà. To participate, teams of between four and six cyclists must be formed, of which two must always be on the route. Each team must make a minimum donation of 500 euros to be able to register, money that goes entirely to helping cancer patients.
The nerve centre of the event is located in the town of Sant Gregori, which hosts both the start and finish. To avoid crowds, this year the event started in two waves: at 8:00 am, the teams for the 200 km race set off, and at 8:30 am, those for the shorter race began. The route for both races takes place entirely within the Llémena Valley, one of the best-preserved areas in the Girona region, straddling the Gironès and Garrotxa districts. The support of the town councils of the Vall de Llémena Commonwealth (Sant Gregori, Sant Martí de Llémena, Sant Aniol de Finestres, and Canet d’Adri) has been crucial in moving this sporting and charitable initiative forward, which also has the collaboration of the Sant Gregori Cycling Club and the Cingles de la Llémena association. Around 150 volunteers from Oncolliga were responsible for the logistics and assisting runners at the refuelling stations.
Over €200,000 raised
To date, the Oncobike has raised €204,000. In the first two editions, the funds raised were allocated to improving the home-residence service that Oncolliga offers to cancer patients and their families. In 2018 and 2019, the money raised helped to fund the launch of the new Integrated Oncological Aesthetics service, which aims to prevent and minimise the side effects that cancer treatments have on patients' skin and mucous membranes, especially in women. In this 5th edition, the approximately €58,000 raised will not be allocated to a specific project, but will be used to continue supporting the services that Oncolliga offers as a whole, from oncological aesthetics to psychological support, including home physiotherapy, Nordic walking, lymphatic drainage, equipment loan, and the home-residence service.
“The pandemic situation led to a drastic loss of income for our organisation, which relies heavily on fundraising activities organised by our branches and which were affected by the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus.”, explained the president of Oncolliga, Paqui Badosa, who thanked the public for their positive response to the resumption of solidarity activities promoted by the organisation. Badosa also thanked the efforts and commitment of the dozens of volunteers who made this fifth edition of the Oncòbike possible.
