San Diego cyclists ride 5 to 100 miles on Nov. 7 for pancreatic cancer research

Cyclists and families will gather in San Diego on Nov. 7 for the 13th Annual Jim Krause Memorial Charity Cycling Ride the Point. The event begins and ends at Liberty Station and supports pancreatic cancer research at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health in La Jolla.

The ride is sponsored by Point Loma Rotary Club. The club honors Jim Krause, a past president and avid cyclist who died in 2012 after battling pancreatic cancer. The organization hosts the fundraiser annually to continue his legacy. Funds raised directly support research efforts at the local cancer center.

Participants can choose from three ride options. The 5-mile Family Fun Ride runs along San Diego Bay. This route suits beginners, families, and riders with physical challenges. Two street rides are available for more experienced cyclists. These routes are the 25-mile option and the Metric Century. Both are limited to 600 riders each and feature challenging climbs through historic neighborhoods.

Support services are available along all routes. Hundreds of volunteers staff the course. Riders receive SAG support and can stop at five fully stocked rest areas. The routes pass some of the city's most scenic areas, providing a unique view of the local landscape.

A free Healthy Lifestyle Expo will take place at the Liberty Station Conference Center on event day. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2600 Laning Rd. The public is invited to browse local vendors, listen to music, and enjoy refreshments. No ticket is required for the expo portion of the event.

Richard Stakelum, Ed.D., serves as the founder and event director. He stated that the event brings a community together with a shared purpose. “It’s a community coming together with a shared purpose: to make a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer,” he said. “Every rider, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter becomes part of that mission. You may come for the ride, but you leave knowing that your miles meant something.”

Stakelum noted that riders of different ages and abilities participate in the event. “It’s the incredible sense of community surrounding it,” he said. “Cyclists of different ages and abilities come together, supported by volunteers, sponsors, friends, and families, for something bigger than any one of us. It’s a wonderful reminder of what our community can accomplish when we ride together for a cause.”