The Closer to Free Ride offers five scenic, professionally-supported routes. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers taking care of every detail. A powerful Opening Ceremony and an exhilarating Finish Line Festival at the Yale Bowl. And the opportunity to ride remotely wherever you may be. As always 100% of the dollars raised by Riders and Volunteers go to research and care at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. This is bigger than one person on one bicycle. Because so much is riding with us.
Courage Rides With Us. Determination Rides With Us. People We’ve Lost Ride With Us.
People Undergoing Treatment Ride With Us. The Next Generation Rides With Us.
And above all…
HOPE RIDES WITH US.
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 us from a self-selected location and will be connected to our In-Person Riders through special Event Day virtual activities.
From the moment you register, you’re part of the Closer to Free Ride community. All participants receive a customizable online fundraising page, the CTF Ride App 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.
Whether we ride together or from afar, the power of the Closer to Free Ride remains. One hundred percent of the funds raised by Riders and Volunteers fuel the unparalleled research and care at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. That’s right: One hundred percent of the funds you raise as a Ride participant go directly to patient care and advanced research.
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! And, teams of 5 or more will have the opportunity to choose where your fundraising goes - either to our Closer to Free Fund or a department or specific tumor site that is important to your team (please note that you must select from an existing hospital fund)! 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.
