Jim Bull's - Outdoorz Magazine: 8th Annual BMC

Riders Raise Money for Cancer Patients

June 9, 2018

Renovo, Pa

By: Jim Bull – BrappMag.com

Eight years ago, the Relay for Life Team from the Bucktail Medical Center teamed up with the Central Mountains ATV Association (CMATVA) looking for an “out of the box” way to raise money for cancer patients and cancer research.

Riders Line Up to Start The 2018 Cruise for a Cure

Hence the Renovo ATV Cruise for a Cure was born and over the years has raised close to $60,000 that comes right back to local people who are both fighting and have survived cancer. Matter of fact the 2017 Cruise set a record, raising over $10,000 after all expenses were paid.

I learned in speaking with Tim Reeves, the CEO for Bucktail Medical Center, that their facility that was founded in 1909 is not only the local hospital for the residents of both Renovo and South Renovo but is also a Critical Access Hospital which is a designation given to rural hospitals that meet guidelines to receive certain benefits, such as cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services.

Mr. Reeves explained that their Relay for Life team that was started by local cancer survivors was looking for a different type of fundraiser when they stumbled across the CMATVA who was looking for additional opportunities to ride in the area.

CMATVA President Henry Sorgen and BMC CEO Tim Reeves

thank the riders for coming.

The two groups teamed up for what has become the largest fundraiser that the Relay for Life Team sponsors each year. “That first year we had 60 riders,” explained Reeves. Due to the CMATVA’s involvement and the support of the local community the event has grown tremendously. He also wanted to thank the DCNR and the local fire companies and landowners for cooperating and opening the town and sections of trail to ATV traffic that would not otherwise be allowed. He also wanted to thank the Jimmy Dremel family and Hope Enterprises for opening their property for parking and camping for the close to 400 participants that rode in this year’s Cruise.

The Cruise for a Cure is a 46 plus mile controlled guided trail ride that starts in downtown Renovo and South Renovo and travels to the Quiet Oaks Campground in Tamarack, Pa. (Near Cross Fork) There, Boy Scout Troop 137 offered a catered lunch to help raise money for the cause before riders traveled an alternate route back to Renovo to enjoy a Chicken BBQ dinner at the Renovo Fire Company that was included in their donation for the ride.

Riders enjoy lunch prepared by the local Boy Scout Troop at Quiet Oaks Campground

Click Here to book your stay at Quiet Oaks Campground

What will this year’s numbers look like? It was too soon to tell at the writing of this article. I would guess however with the large participation plus all the extra fund raising going on during the event that 2018 might yet set another record.

Riders take a break out on the trail.

Thanks go out to everyone involved, especially the riders for turning out. It is a different type of ride that many are not used to but I believe well worth the cause. It just goes to show that the off-road community wants to give back and what better way to do it than helping someone improve their quality of life.

If you couldn’t make this years Cruise and still want to help you can contact the Bucktail Medical Center directly at: (570) 923-1000 or a member of the Central Mountains ATV Association at: www.cmatva.org