Page 8 - HFA Dateline 2021 Q3 Fall

Gears for Good National Bike Ride back in person in 2021

BY MEGHAN LAWTON,
HFA ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ADVANCEMENT

Water bottles were full. Helmets were donned. Shoes
were clicked in. It was time to saddle up. Hemophilia
Federation of America’s (HFA’s) 2021 Gears for Good
National Bike Ride was underway!
September 17–19 marked the 12th edition of the annual
bike-riding fundraiser to benefit HFA’s Helping Hands
program, which provides assistance with urgent basic
living expenses, medically necessary items, plus medical
travel and educational support for people with inhibitors.

While ongoing COVID-19 restrictions changed the ride
slightly, nine in-person riders set off down the C&O
Canal from Arlington, Virginia, with a goal of reaching
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and back by the end of the
weekend. The riders were joined in spirit by two virtual
riders logging miles in their hometowns.

HFA would like to extend a special thanks to Tom
Knoerzer and Get Out & Go Tours for coordinating the
ride’s logistics. After the event switched to fully virtual in
2020, riders were eager to get back together in person
this year and ride along the C&O. Although ongoing
pandemic restrictions forced changes to this year’s ride,
the cyclists were still able to log over 150 miles on their
bikes over the course of the three days.

Even with the paired-down event, riders raised over
$16,000 in donations, all of which supports the HFA
Helping Hands program. A big thank you to all of our
2021 riders, both in-person and virtual, and those that
donated to their fundraising goals.
Information for the 2022 Gears for Good rides will be
released soon. Stay tuned to the HFA website at
www.hemophiliafed.org and be ready to sign up your
team to ride!