Ovarian Cycle for research adds registration for teens

There will be something different about this year’s Ovarian Cycle Birmingham.

The event, put on by the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation and Cancer Research Fund, is a three-hour indoor cycling event and will take place on Sunday, Feb. 27. 

This year, the age range has been expanded to include teenage riders. Riders are not required to be a cyclist, athlete, cancer survivor or family member—all members of the community are invited to participate.

Participants can pedal as individuals for one to three hours, or as part of a team that divides the time.

“If you don’t feel up to riding three whole hours, you can do it as a team,” foundation executive director Jenny McInerney said.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. and will take place at the Levite Jewish Community Center, where the cyclists will pedal side by side while “virtual riders” and spectators cheer them on.

Registration for riders 26 years old and up is $50, and $25 for riders 12 to 25 years old. Registration for ovarian cancer survivors is free. Those ages 12 to 25 should use “UNDER25” as their promotional code, and survivors should use “SURVIVOR.” 

All registration fees are also tax-deductible.

“What we’re hoping to do is raise as much money as possible to fund ovarian cancer research” McInerney said. Last year, the event raised over $40,000, and she said they hope to surpass that amount this year.

The majority of the funds raised will come from the personal fundraising efforts participants are encouraged to do prior to the event. Of the total funds raised, 30 percent will go to the national Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 20 percent will go to the Woman to Woman program at the University of Alabama Birmingham and the remaining 50 percent will go to UAB’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology.

“It’s not just to raise money, but to raise awareness of the early signs of ovarian cancer,” McInerney said, adding that most cases of ovarian cancer are not caught until the later stages of the disease.

Registered participants can take advantage of free spin classes at the LJCC, as well as group practice classes on Feb. 14 and Feb. 17.

“It’s a really fun, uplifting event,” McInerney said, “the atmosphere is just really positive.”

For more information about the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation, visit nlovca.org.