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HOPE RIDES WITH US

The Closer to Free Ride is an annual cycling event that offers five scenic, professionally-supported routes. Participants may register to ride a 10, 25, 40, 65 or 100-mile route. A remote ride is also available for those who want to support from outside Connecticut.

100% of the dollars raised by Riders and Volunteers fuel the life-saving research and compassionate patient care at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, helping to transform lives and offer hope to those impacted by cancer. This is bigger than one person on one bicycle because so much is riding with us.

Courage Rides With Us
Determination Rides With Us

And above all…

HOPE RIDES WITH US

YOUR RIDE

Ride or Volunteer with us in-person or join us remotely from a location of your choosing. Either way, we’ll support your fundraising and training with resources and tools to help you meet and exceed your goals.

In-person Riders will choose from five fully supported routes all starting and ending at the historic Yale Bowl in New Haven, CT. Remote Riders will join the community by tracking their activity within our Strava Group, sharing photos and tuning into the Opening Ceremony and festivities online.

In-Person Riders commit to raising either $500 or $1000 ($250 or $500 for youth/students) to ride and we’ll be there to help. Remote Riders have no fundraising minimum but we hope that you will raise $500 so that you earn your CTF Ride Jersey!

YOUR EXPERIENCE

From the moment you register, you’re part of the Closer to Free Ride community. All participants receive a customizable online fundraising page and access to In-Person and Remote cycling and community activities. Plus all In-Person Riders get our custom Closer to Free Ride jersey produced by Primal!

On Ride Day, In-Person Riders will experience our powerful Opening Ceremony before heading out on professionally-supported routes filled with rest stops, food and drink, bike tech, SAG and more. Upon returning to the Yale Bowl, our Finish Line Festival, complete with a beer and wine garden, food trucks and live music, will be waiting! Remote Riders will join the community by tracking their activity within our Strava Group, sharing photos and tuning into the Opening Ceremony and festivities online.

YOUR IMPACT

Funds raised through the Closer to Free Ride are directed to the Closer to Free Fund at Smilow Cancer Hospital. The Closer to Free Fund provides critically needed resources to advance research, provide extraordinary care, and recruit exceptional clinicians and physician-scientists. We are proud that 100% of participant fundraising fuels this lifesaving work, allowing leadership to direct funds to where they are needed most. Now, more than ever, this flexible funding is critically needed to support priority areas within Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.

We recognize that some participants have a specific area of interest and may wish to allocate their fundraising dollars. To be eligible to restrict funding, a minimum amount of $25,000 must be raised, and 1/3 of the amount raised will be directed to the Closer to Free Fund, with the remaining 2/3 restricted to the area of interest. To learn more about restricting funds through the Closer to Free Ride, please reach out to us at rideclosertofree@ynhh.org, no later than 9/2/25.

Your dollars will be put to good work in New Haven and beyond. Hope Rides With Us and we can’t wait to welcome you to the CTF Ride community. 

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