The Davis Phinney Foundation

Make a Difference!

The Sub-5 Ride originated in 2010 to support the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in 2007 and located in Geneva, Illinois. In 2014 Paul Ruby joined forces with the Davis Phinney Foundation whose mission is to help people living with Parkinson’s disease to live well today. Of net funds raised at the Sub-5 Ride, 25% go directly to local Parkinson’s research at Northwestern University.

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Davis Phinney is an Olympic medalist, Tour de France stage winner, former broadcaster, sports marketer and author of “The Happiness of Pursuit”. Diagnosed at the age of 40 with young-onset Parkinson’s in 2000, his tenacity coupled with his infectious positive attitude and dedication to wellness laid the groundwork for the Davis Phinney Foundation, which he founded to help to inspire and inform others living with Parkinson’s.

It is the aim of the Sub-5 Ride organizing committee to enable 100% of all donations and entry fees to go directly to the Davis Phinney Foundation. All attempts will be made to cover the operating expenses for the event through private and corporate sponsors. In addition to the entry fee, riders are encouraged (but not required) to raise donations in support of the Davis Phinney Foundation. Any rider who raises $250 or more in donations will be awarded a commemoration Sub-5 Jersey. Note that jerseys can not be purchased and must be earned. All moneys donated qualify as a tax deductible gift to the non-for-profit charity.

Fundraising Support

The following tools will help you meet your personal fundraising goals when seeking the support of others:

Parkinson’s Stories … why we care:

Mark Ackerman, Sub-5 Ride participant since 2011

Let me tell you a little bit why this event means so much to me.  Back in 2011 I was looking for a source of motivation to help me get back into cycling after taking four years off due to both a setback due to an injury and work obligations.  You’ll recall that large pill we swallowed at the office back in 2007.  I had little time for cycling back then because we absorbed an entire department by hiring 3.5 people only.  Wild stuff, but we succeeded, so the long hours were worth it.

In any event, in February 2011 I ran into a nice guy representing the Sub-5 Century (The Sub-5 Ride’s name at the time) named Paul Meier.  It just so happened he lives in the same suburb that I do.  He described the event to me, and the whole thing just clicked.  I was hooked at the start.  Not only did it sound like a really challenging event, but the charitable aspect of the event got my attention, as I have witnessed family members suffer from Parkinson’s.  Anyway, I participated in the event in 2011 and liked the event and the organizers so much, I joined the Organizing Committee in 2012.   I either joined or I was drafted;  I simply can’t recall…    I see this event being part of my cycling life for years to come.  Here’s what the event is like:

The featured event of the Sub-5 Ride for Parkinson’s is a timed, 100 bike ride completed as a team.   You probably know the drill—the riders form a pace line and take turns taking the wind at the front.  The idea being that the team as a whole can ride faster than a solo rider can.  Let me tell you, once you get humming along, it’s a blast.  For this year, we are enhancing the Recreational Rider routes for those who are not up to riding 5 hours @ 20+ mph.  All riders are encouraged to raise funds.  Last year I raised about $1,300.

Jim Duran, Sub-5 Ride participant since 2010

This is a report I wrote up for my sponsors to let them know about what occurred on this sponsored ride. Note – it was late, so read at your own risk.  Click http://tinyurl.com/JimDuranSub5 for Jim’s story.

Paul Meier, Sub-5 Ride participant since 2010

“A rider’s personal account of his Sub-5 Ride experience”
Click http://pmbiker.blogspot.com/2010/09/sub5century-challenge.html for Paul’s story

Greg Layer, Sub-5 Ride Volunteer

The following is my story as told by me in the 9/27 service at the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship church. Click Greg Layer’s Story .