Fifth Cycle For Survival Returns Wednesday

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College's annual Cycle for Survival event will be held on Wednesday, May 3 – an event that has become a beloved annual tradition in the Eagles' Athletics Department.

Now in its fifth season, the Athletics' Cycle for Survival event is held in memory of Lisa Gallup '09, daughter of Vicky and Barry Gallup, Senior Associate Athletics Director – Football and Alumni Relations and long-time department mainstay.

The day-long event brings together student-athletes, coaches, staff and department friends to spin for a cause close to the Gallups' hearts.

Lisa was as an overnight oncology nurse at New York Presbyterian Hospital after graduating from Boston College. While working in New York, she met Dave Linn who founded Cycle for Survival with his wife Jennifer. The movement and its philosophy inspired Lisa, and even more so when she herself was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2011.

Starting bright and early at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, the BC community will come together to raise money for rare cancer research at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the fifth straight year. The world's oldest and largest private cancer center, MSKCC is dedicated solely to rare cancer care and research.

Riders and supporters make donations and cycle for 25-minute intervals throughout the day in support of Team FabuLisa – the Athletics department's dedicated Cycle for Survival team.

Once again, the team's goal is to reach $10,000 in donations, a benchmark that has been met – and surpassed – the last three years.

Since its inception in 2007, Cycle for Survival has been grown into one of the most recognizable active fundraisers. Cycle for Survival has raised over $140 million for rare cancer research and funded more than 100 clinical trials and research studies.

Originally based in New York City, Cycle for Survival began expanding nationally and launched in Boston in 2013, powered by Lisa's drive to see the event in her beloved hometown.

With the Gallup family's support, the Boston event debuted on February 13, 2013 with unprecedented success. In its first year in the Hub, Cycle recorded its highest proceeds for new locations. The day was full of emotion for the Gallup family, as Lisa had passed just three months earlier after her 14-month fight with cancer.

Boston College continues to show its support for Lisa's mission, the Cycle for Survival goals and the Gallup family. The Boston College Cycle for Survival outpost launched in 2013, shortly after the open Boston event.

With a busy spring schedule in full swing, the day's events will kick off early with the softball team – which will close its home slate at Shea Field later in the day – jumping in on the first rides with several sailors at 7 a.m. in the Flynn Recreation Complex.

Throughout the day, all 31 of the Eagles' teams and every administrative department will be represented by riders, filling 470 slots scheduled every 30 minutes through 4 p.m.

Following the event, all student-athletes and staff members are invited to a Pizza Party in Conte Forum where the Gallup family will thank the riders for their continued support.

Registration for the event will take place in the Conte Forum Student Athlete Lounge on the North Side. Participants receive a fifth-anniversary green FabuLisa Under Armour shirt as well as refreshments to fuel up for their ride. All riding slots have been filled, but for more information, visit the FabuLisa Cycle for Survival page.

Fifth Cycle For Survival Returns Wednesday

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