Dolphins Cycling Challenge
100 mile ride benefits Miller School of Medicine
The Miami Dolphins Foundation held a special ceremony at Sun Life Stadium to announce the second annual Dolphins Cycling Challenge (DCC), a two-day, 170-mile trans-Florida charity cycling event to benefit Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.The Challenge will take place on November 5-6, 2011.
During the ceremony, the new 2011 DCC ceremonial jersey was unveiled in honor of Dolphins great Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich.
Several local and state dignitaries were in attendance wearing shorts and the new ceremonial jerseys. Paul Castronovo, who lost a lot of weight from cycling, and Kim Bokamper led the ceremony that featured words from Miami Dolphins CEO Mike Dee, Vice Chairman Jorge Perez, Sylvester Board of Governors member and cancer survivor Jennifer Stearns Buttrick, Dean of the Miller School of Medicine Dr. Pascal Goldschmidt, Bonnie Mandich, widow of the great Jim Mandich, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.
Rubio gave an inspirational speech, which was highlighted by a touching account of his final days with his father who died from cancer. The senator shared a story of how he sat by his father’s side and watched a Dolphins pre-season game. He also recalled with great affection many of the great Dolphins moments from his childhood that he shared with his father: Mark Duper’s one-handed grab during Monday Night Football, as well as Superbowl XVII where Joe Thiesmann batted the ball from Bokamper’s hands at the goal line. Even Bokamper couldn’t help but smile.
The event concluded with about 50 people, including each of the dignitaries and several former Dolphins players, taking to their bikes and doing a lap around the parking lot outside of Gate G at Sun Life Stadium.
The DCC is a major community initiative and collaborative effort between the Miami Dolphins Foundation and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine with proceeds going to directly to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The DCC is actively seeking participants, volunteers and corporate partners. For more information, visit www.RideDCC.com.
