The Tour de La Porte (TdL) is a cycling, running and walking event benefiting patients with cancer in our community. 100 percent of the proceeds provide direct assistance to patients. The 17th annual event is scheduled for August 24, 25 and 26, 2018 and all events begin at Cummings Lodge.
Presented by the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL), TdL is a three-day event held in August each year. More than 1,500 community members come together to participate in, volunteer at and/or sponsor this event, with the goal of providing the resources that people in our community need after a cancer diagnosis.
These participants are there to challenge themselves physically and mentally, to gather with friends, family and loved ones - all in the name of raising funds for people battling cancer right here in the La Porte community. For that weekend, even the hundreds who come from out-of-state are part of one community, the Tour de La Porte community.
Since 2002, TdL has raised more than $655,000, and the 2017 event attracted nearly 1,200 participants from 11 different states. HFL was able to provide 130 community members with $89,964.09 in financial assistance in 2017. So far in 2018, the Cancer Patient Fund has been used to support 97 members of the community with $54,078.47 of financial assistance related to their treatment.
There are a variety of events spread out over three days, sure to provide serious athletes, casual cyclists and runners, families, and everyone in between with the right event for them. Friday and Saturday include a range of running and walking events, and Sunday is a casual cycling event where riders can choose their distance from 5-100 miles with SAG stops for food and entertainment along the way. Adult registration ranges from $25-45 depending on the event, registration for students age 12-17 are half the adult amount and children under age 11 can register for free. Registration fees will increase $5 per event for those who choose on-site registration.
There is a discount for registering for multiple events ($15 off the second event and $10 off the third event), and participants who take the three-day challenge and sign up for an event each day will receive a special award. To see a full schedule or register for the event, visit tourdelaporte.org. The website also provides maps of the running and cycling routes and a link to Ride with GPS, an interactive website and app that participants can use for free to download the routes or follow GPS turn-by-turn directions during their event.
For those who would like to support the event in a volunteer capacity, there are a wide range of roles that need to be filled so that the event can run smoothly. Go to tourdelaporte.org/volunteers to see the openings and to sign up as a volunteer.
The Run Sign Up Store can be used to purchase the 2018 cycling jersey and TdL t-shirts (note: a complimentary shirt is included for pre-registrants, on-site registrants as supplies last and volunteers). There are also tickets available for purchase for the Rotary Club Spaghetti Dinner on Friday night and guest meal tickets for community members attending but not participating in the events on Saturday or Sunday.
