Jim Bull's - Outdoorz Magazine: 2019 CMATVA

9th Annual BMC - CMATVA Cruise for a Cure

Riders Raise Money for Cancer Patients

June 8, 2019

Renovo, Pa

By: Jim Bull – BrappMag.com

Nine 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.

Hence the Renovo ATV Cruise for a Cure was born and over the years has raised close to $75,000 that comes right back to local people who are both fighting and have survived cancer.

Riders Line Up to Start The 2019 Cruise for a Cure

I learned in speaking with Tim Reeves, the CEO for Bucktail Medical Center, that their facility which 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 help open riding areas in the state.

State officials participate in the 2019 Cruise.

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.

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

The Cruise for a Cure is a 50 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 take a break while out on the trail.

In 2019 – 216 machines participated plus passengers. I didn’t have final numbers prior to this writing but I’d bet we had close to 400 total participants. One big treat for this year’s ride was the involvement from the DCNR. Both DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn and John Norbeck the Deputy Secretary for the Parks and Forestry Service rode along to get a “real feel” for what we love to do. Both have been and continue to be instrumental in helping get trails opened here in Pa. We thank you for participating in the ride and all that you are doing to help the cause of getting both Pa residents and non-residents out in the Wilds of Pennsylvania.

Sandy and Floyd from Friedens, Pa still love to ride off road.

I even had one couple approach me to have me, “let them know” with them both being in their late 70’s, that riding their side by side is really the only means they have to get out into nature anymore. That these trails let them get to places in our great state that they would never see otherwise.

Thanks go out to everyone involved, especially the riders for turning out. 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 year’s 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

We hope you all return in 2020 – I know I’ll be there.