The Spirit of Survival’s Bike Race is on Saturday, Oct. 4, with the walking and running events taking place on Sunday, Oct. 5. Registration is open until the events begin. The Spirit of Survival is a cherished event in the community, which raises money for the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma and their patients.
Angelina Baker, the co-race director, said they hear stories throughout the year from people about who they’re running for and why they continue to participate.
“We have people who are coming back from other states who were from here originally or have family here, and they’re coming back just this weekend, just for this event,” she said. “So, it’s very meaningful for us to hear those things, and it drives home the importance of us to continue holding the event every year.”
The cycling event, which starts at Elmer Thomas Park, has four distances people can choose from. Mario Lindsey, the director of Lawton’s Major Taylor Cycling Club of Oklahoma, said there will be 14, 27, 52, and 64-mile routes.
“We also have the kids’ fun ride, which is 3.4 miles,” he said. “That ride does not leave Elmer Thomas Park. It is approximately two laps around Elmer Thomas Park, and then they are done for the day, and that event starts 30 minutes after the other cyclists leave, so 8:30, that event starts.”
Lindsey said post-COVID, people wanted to participate in the bike ride again, so they partnered with the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma to bring it back.
“There was a need that needed to be met, and who better than us, the Major Taylor Cycling Club? So, we partnered with them to kinda host this event,” Lindsey said.
People can register for the biking, running, and walking events now through when the races start on Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday events are at Elmer Thomas Park, while the Sunday events start at the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma’s parking lot in Lawton. You can register for either or both events by clicking here.
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