For the last seventeen years, the La Porte community has gathered together to support healthcare activism by participating in the the Tour de La Porte, an event filled with cycling, running, and walking. All participants, the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, and other organizations work together to raise money to fund and support cancer patients in the area.
Maria Fruth, CEO and President at the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, spoke more on the event’s compassionate mission.
“Tour de LaPorte is an exciting event that we started 17 years ago,” she said. “The purpose of the event goes right along with our mission: to make sure we are inviting the community to be active and healthy. 100% of the dollars we make assist cancer patients in the LaPorte area.”
This assistance varies from transportation back and forth between hospitals, medication, or even covering a doctor bill.
“We have helped a lot of people through the years. It adds up and makes a difference for everyone, “ Fruth said. “As of this morning, 1,108 participants have signed up online for the Tour de LaPorte. That number doesn't even include our on site registrations.”
125 people signed up for the trail run/walk, which is known to be quite a challenge. As participants prepared for the annual event, the Rotary Club of La Porte was on the scene serving spaghetti to them. Brett Binversie, President of the Rotary Club of La Porte, spoke on his affiliation with Tour de LaPorte.
“We have been doing this for several years with the Healthcare Foundation and Tour de LaPorte,” he said. “We think it’s a great way to give back. It’s what we call a Friend-raiser.”
The spaghetti dinner raised money for the Rotary Club’s fun projects around the city. Some of the projects they sponsor are the Slicer Excellence Program at La Porte High School and scholarships for graduating seniors.
Lisha Watts, who drove three hours to participate in both the trail race and the half marathon, was attending her first Tour de La Porte. She spoke on why participating in the event was important for the community and herself.
“I’m a nurse, and any kind of activism for cancer is a good thing. We are trying to find a cure and continue the fight,” Watts said.
If you are interested in the Tour de LaPorte, and the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte’s outreach, there is still time to participate! Click here to see upcoming events this weekend https://tourdelaporte.org/schedule/ and become apart of the mission to support cancer patients in your community!
