Mid-South Transplant Foundation hosts its 5th Annual Ride for Life bike ride on June 26, 2016

Mid-South Transplant Foundation hosts its 5th Annual Ride for Life bike ride on June 26, 2016
By:  Michael Lander

Volunteers for the Mid-South Transplant Foundation's
Ride for Life welcome and cheer for the cyclists as
they finish their 25-mile ride.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could ride a bike and support those who can help change or save a life?

There is a really fun way that you might be able to do just that by supporting and participating in the Mid-South Transplant Foundation’s Ride for Life.

The Mid-South Transplant Foundation will host its 5th annual Ride for Life bike ride on Sunday, June 26, at 7:00 a.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located near I-240 and Poplar Avenue, at 5668 Poplar Ave.

The 25-mile non-competitive bike ride begins and finishes at Memorial Park and it has a route that takes cyclists through East Memphis and Mid-town.

In addition to the 25-mile ride for adults, there is also a 1-mile fun ride for children.

Mid-South Transplant Foundation's Community Development
Coordinator and organ recipient, Erskine Gillespie,
congratulates cyclists and hands them their medals as they
complete the Ride for Life.

Event organizers have said that the ride will take place, rain or shine, but if current weather forecasts are correct, the weather for the start of the ride should be perfectly fine with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80’s.

The ride has been held each year since 2012 to promote community awareness about the need for organ and tissue donation and the importance for Mid-Southerners to become registered donors, themselves.

Those who support the Mid-South Transplant Foundation (MSTF), and participate in the ride, help to raise awareness for an organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for thousands of people in our region through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. 

MSTF also works directly with health care professionals and people in the community to increase the donation of organs and tissue transplantation for those who desperately need it.

Community Outreach Manager for MSTF, Randa Lipman,
(in the center with the turquoise shirt), was one of many
greeting the 200 or more cyclists who participated in
last year's 2015 Ride for Life bike ride.

For organ and tissue recipients, a donation can make all the difference in their quality of life or even between life and death, itself.

Anyone who is interested in the ride can register for it at https://midsouthtransplantrfl.racesonline.com/ and participants will also have an opportunity while they are there to also register to become an organ and tissue donor.

As with past Ride for Life bike riding events, there will be a post-ride catered breakfast by CrepeMaker in Collierville with music provided by DJ lil’ Egg Roll.

Medals will also be given out to all those who participate in the ride.

Those wanting more details can visit http://midsouthtransplant.org/ride-for-life/, visit them at 8001 Centerview Parkway, Ste 302 in Cordova, or they can call them at 901-328-4438.