Shrewsbury/Grafton Kids Ride benefits Jimmy Fund

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By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer

Colin Spinney, 6, of Grafton (center) is recognized as a Breakaway Fundraiser for collecting at least $750. He’s joined by participants named Heavy Hitters for raising at least $250: (l to r) Owenn Simpson, 9, of Shrewsbury; Parker Stewart, 13, of Grafton; Austin Damien, 9, of Grafton; Eliya Gladstone, 6, of Grafton; Catherine Spinney, 9, of Grafton; Naomi Lee, 7, of Shrewsbury; Ethan Lee, 4, of Shrewsbury; and Nick Vanfleet, 7, of Grafton.
Colin Spinney, 6, of Grafton (center) is recognized as a Breakaway Fundraiser for collecting at least $750. He’s joined by participants named Heavy Hitters for raising at least $250: (l to r) Owenn Simpson, 9, of Shrewsbury; Parker Stewart, 13, of Grafton; Austin Damien, 9, of Grafton; Eliya Gladstone, 6, of Grafton; Catherine Spinney, 9, of Grafton; Naomi Lee, 7, of Shrewsbury; Ethan Lee, 4, of Shrewsbury; and Nick Vanfleet, 7, of Grafton.

Shrewsbury/Grafton – Bicyclists ages 3 to 13 participated in the fifth annual Shrewsbury/Grafton Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) Kids Ride, held May 16 at the UMass Medical School South Street Campus in Shrewsbury. Proceeds go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and its Jimmy Fund.

The fundraiser honored Colin Spinney, 6, of Grafton as its PMC Pedal Partner. The Pedal Partner program connects riders with a child affected by cancer. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012, Colin has recently been declared cancer-free. He’ll visit Dana-Farber for annual checkups.

Colin was also recognized as a Breakaway Fundraiser for collecting at least $750. Eight participants ages 4 to 13 were named Heavy Hitters for raising at least $250 each.

After bicyclists travelled around the mini or super loops, they joined family members for raffles, a barbecue, ice cream and samples from Wicked Twisted Soft Pretzels of North Grafton. Mingling with guests were this year’s titleholders Miss Massachusetts USA, Polikseni Manxhari; Mrs. Massachusetts International, Patricia Sandoz; and Miss Teen Massachusetts International, Samantha Berg. Music was provided by 105.7 WROR.

The Shrewsbury/Grafton ride was started by the Wagner family to honor a family member. It was led this year by Benjamin Wagner, a junior at Bancroft School in Worcester. About 50 volunteers were from Bancroft School, Shrewsbury Lions Club and Worcester Academy.

Fundraising can continue through Tuesday, Sept. 1. Last year, the Shrewsbury/Grafton PMC Kids Ride raised over $16,000.

 

Joshua Lee, 4, of Westborough rides between dangling foam tubes.
Joshua Lee, 4, of Westborough rides between dangling foam tubes.
Jaxson Mater, 4, of Shrewsbury happily rides his Angry Birds bike.
Jaxson Mater, 4, of Shrewsbury happily rides his Angry Birds bike.
Madeline Spinney, 5, of Grafton takes another lap around the mini loop. (Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.)
Madeline Spinney, 5, of Grafton takes another lap around the mini loop. (Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.)

 

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