Canary Challenge September 27, 2014

Save the Date! September 27, 2014 for the Canary Challenge

Join us for an amazing day of cycling beginning and ending in Palo Alto, CA with proceeds to benefit Canary Center for Cancer Early Detection at Stanford and the Stanford Cancer Institute. In 2013, cyclists raised over $825,000!  

Best Routes

From the Century that traverses the coast line to the 5K family Canary Cruiser, the routes have something for every level of cyclist. Canary Challenge features the 100-mile; 100K; 75K; 50K (flat) and 5K routes. 

The Century loops on Highway 1 and Stage Road for a much more interesting ride than your average coastal Century! The 100K heads out to the coast and takes in Tunitas Creek. The 75K (as do the Century and 100K) takes on the incline up Kings Mountain Road and then the fast descent down 84 from Skylonda. The 50K is beautiful, mostly flat and cruises through Woodside and Redwood City over to the Pulgas Water Temple. For the 5K, walk run or ride a quick and enjoyable traipse around Page Mill Road in Palo Alto.

This event is wildly popular, with more than 90 percent of cyclists who participated in 2013 declaring they will return to ride again.

The Village and the SAG Support

Meals, snacks, bike support, SAG support, and all of the logistics are included when you reach your fundraising minimum of $400 per cyclist. On the road, the Canary Challenge support team is always nearby to assist you, keep you happy and healthy, and make your ride exceptionally memorable. Hands down our rest stops are the best!

Introducing the 2014 Canary Team Challenge!

The team challenge is a fundraising competition designed to make fundraising, training, and riding the Canary Challenge more enjoyable, and impactful. Companies, government agencies, friends and family, departments or other groups within the Stanford community can participate by recruiting team members and getting them all focused on a common purpose – raising donations of which 100% goes to the Stanford Cancer Institute and have fun along the way!

Signing up for a team competition is easy. All it requires is at least 4 riders from the same company or group to form a team, choose a Team Captain, and commit to fundraising and riding any one of the routes within the Canary Century (5K, 50K, 75K, 100K, 100mi).

Teams are responsible for reaching the same minimum fundraising threshold of $400 per rider plus registration of $100, and to participate in the ride, but will have more support and resources to achieve and hopefully exceed these goals, and more opportunities to have fun!

Decide on team classification

Corporate Teams – teams established by company employees, who want to ride for a good cause and are looking to improve teamwork and camaraderie.Local Government Agency Teams – teams made up first responders, city and county government agencies and districts, interested in building stronger ties to the local cycling communityStanford Community Teams – teams established by Stanford University and Hospitals – students, faculty and staff, alumni.Friends and Family Teams – informal group teams motivated by riding for a good cause, and/or to honor someone touched by cancer.

Compete for bragging rights!

Within each classification teams will compete based on the amount of donations each team raises. Teams can keep track of their progress by going to the Canary Challenge website and checking the Team “Scoreboard” to see how they stack up against their competition. The deadline for donations to count in the competition will be released closer to the event date.

At the ride event, the teams that raise the greatest amount of charitable donations will be recognized as the winner of the Team Challenge award. The Team Challenge award trophy will then go home with the team (along with the bragging rights), and the winning team names will be inscribed on a permanent Canary Challenge Award Plaque that will be on display at the Stanford Cancer Institute.

Within each classification, there will be two team awards.

Highest total dollar amount raised by a teamHighest average dollar amount per rider

The two awards make it possible for teams of all sizes to be recognized for their fundraising achievements!

Special recognition awards

Besides total amount raised, the Canary Challenge will recognize outstanding participation by teams:

Highest level of company employee participationFixie bike (fixed gear) and tandem bike participation

Team Assistance

Canary has put together a complete package of support resources to assist teams in reaching their fundraising and training goals for the Canary Challenge.

Recruitment tools and support

Discounted registration fees for teams.Team site fundraising resources – A dedicated Team Page that your team can use to communicate with one another. It features fundraising email/letter samples, digital media content, and other tools to help you reach and exceed your fundraising goals.Custom Jerseys – Your team can create a custom look for your jersey design.Team Village – Teams will have their own special staging area at the start/finish area.Training support – Training programs to help your team conquer fitness goals.Teams can coordinate with Canary staff to support “lunch and learn” events that can be used to solicit donations, or recruit new members.