Ride for a Child 2026

Posted Summer 2026

2026 is Jordan Zettle’s first year being a part of the Ride for a Child team, and he’s riding for a very personal cause. Jordan’s son, Cohen, is one of this year’s Honored Children. Cohen was diagnosed with ewing sarcoma in 2025 at just four months old. 

When Jordan initially became involved with Candlelighters, Ride for a Child was one of the first activities he learned about. As someone who's been biking for 10+ years, Jordan saw Ride for a Child as an opportunity to support the organization’s mission to help families facing pediatric cancer like his. 

“I know Candlelighters first hand, I know that the challenges of pediatric cancer don’t go away when the treatment ends. I can’t stop cancer, but I hope to raise money and awareness so it can be better for the next family and their diagnosis.“

So far, Jordan has enjoyed getting to meet all of his fellow riders and learning what inspires them to partake in Ride for a Child year after year. Jordan’s hopes and goals for this year’s rally are to “raise awareness for Candlelighters, enjoy the ride, and revel in the privilege of getting to do this ride for Cohen.” This year’s rally is especially significant for Jordan. Just last year, Cohen was in the midst of treatment. Now, he’ll have the chance to celebrate Cohen’s second birthday as a team!

Jordan has lots of hobbies. He loves anything outdoors–hunting, fishing, backpacking, skiing, foraging, gardening, cooking and more. Biking has become extra fun for Jordan since he’s now able to bring Cohen along for rides.

We’re so grateful to have Jordan on the team this year, and Cohen as one of our 2026 honored children!

Posted Summer 2026

David Leslie has been a dedicated member of the Ride for a Child (RFAC) team since 2015, marking more than a decade of riding in support of Candlelighters For Children With Cancer. David first learned about RFAC in 2004 through his uncle, Dick Hartung. Dick founded RFAC in 2002 in honor of the life of his daughter, Jill. Since then, David and his family have been deeply connected to the ride and its mission.

The highlight of RFAC for David is getting to spend time at camp with the team. David’s goal for RFAC this year is to promote the youth movement for RFAC. He’s excited to get newer riders involved in the fundraiser, helping ensure that RFAC can continue long into the future!

When he’s not on his bike, David enjoys playing pickleball, coaching soccer, traveling, and creating and hosting board game parties.

Thank you David for your many years of involvement with Ride for a Child!

Posted Summer 2025

Cyclists Glenn Pransky and Terry Snyder travel all the way across the country from the East Coast to participate in Ride for a Child! We are excited to share what inspires Glenn to ride, and what RFAC means to him.

Q: How long have you been a cyclist?
I started riding in college and have been riding lost distances since 1973 - my first 200+miles was in 1974... on an ancient Raleigh, wearing cutoff jeans. No surprise that I couldn't sit down for a week afterwards!   

Q: Has cancer impacted your life?
One of my favorite cousins succumbed to cancer in 1994, and I joined a ride to support cancer research in her honor - and have participated in that ride ever since.   We've lost many friends and family members to cancer, but have also seen how our fund-raising efforts supporting cancer research have led to new treatments that have changed deadly illnesses to very treatable chronic diseases.   

Q: When and how did you first hear about Ride for a Child?   
In 2022 we met Dick Hartung on Cycle Oregon, and he told us the story behind his jersey and his wonderful bike.  The mission of the Candlelighters is so important  - we wanted to participate, so signed up for RFAC the next year.

Q: How long have you participated? This will be my third year.

Q:What motivated you to ride with RFAC, and why do you travel so far to participate?
Cycle Oregon is one of the best state rides in the country - well organized, great mission to bring people from diverse backgrounds together, and of course an opportunity to visit spectacular places.  Well worth the trip across the country to participate.   And being able to join the RFAC crew and contribute to a worthwhile cause is a great bonus.

Q: What motivated you to fundraise? Has that changed since you first started riding?
We are part of a major fund-raising campaign every year to support cancer research here in Massachusetts, so it's hard to tap our donors twice - so we're happy to make a personal contribution to support RFAC.

Q: What is your favorite memory so far from RFAC?
Terry's first year was last year, and she enjoyed how friendly and welcoming everyone was.  And she loved her first experience riding in a paceline last year - 13 miles uphill at a fast pace!

Q: What is something you do not look forward to?
Sleeping on the ground... seems to get harder the older I get.

Q: Did you get a chance to meet your honored child in the past, and if yes, what was that like for you?
Yes, met my honored child and their family in 2023  - that was a great opportunity to hear first-hand about how our contributions make a difference.

Q: What are your hopes or goals for this year's RFAC?
Reconnecting with our RFAC friends, revisiting spectacular scenery, enjoying great rides, good food, and a few laughs.

Posted Spring 2024

Going into his third year as a Ride for a Child (Candlelighters biggest fundraiser), John Donnelly is leading the training ride schedule and part of the planning committee. We’re happy to have him on the team, and wanted to learn more about him through a Q&A.

Q: How long have you been cycling? How long with RFAC?

I completed my first cycling tour during freshman year of high school. We rode from Cave Junction to the Golden Gate Bridge. I didn’t resume riding until 2022 when I was introduced to RFAC. This will be my 3rd year participating.

Q: What got you interested in RFAC?

I was introduced to RFAC by Jeff Yandle. Immediately, I was drawn to the camaraderie of the group. Everyone is incredibly motivated by the mission of RFAC and fundraising for children and families affected by cancer.

Q: What has been your favorite thing re. RFAC? What’s been challenging?

RFAC and Cycle Oregon is such a departure from day to day life. For one week a year, there are no concerns about work meetings, emails, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, etc. We spend the entire day outdoors riding through beautiful Oregon landscapes. It can be challenging finding the time to fundraise, train, and prepare your bike for the event, but it’s always worth the effort!

Q: How do you fundraise? What has worked best for you?

Starting early has been the biggest help for me. It’s an opportunity to share in a great cause with friends and family.

Q: Do you have a favorite place to ride?

I grew up in Southern California, and enjoyed biking around the Conejo Valley. Potrero Road and the farmland surrounding Camarillo are still favorites of mine.

Q: What are you looking forward to about this year’s ride?

I’m looking forward to the new “Rally” format. It will be great to more thoroughly explore the regions surrounding our camp locations. As well, the ride with the honored children is always a highlight of the experience and something I look forward to.

Posted in 2023

Ride for a Child (RFAC) is Candlelighters biggest, and longest running fundraiser. The cyclists who ride and fundraise are a super-dedicated group of volunteers. In this case, volunteering means miles of training to prepare for the weeklong Cycle Oregon Classic ride that covers about 400 miles – while sleeping in tents. Now that’s dedication! It’s heartwarming to see the group grow through generations of riders.

Mary Holt, one of the newest and youngest cyclists explains what it’s all like.

Q: How long have you been cycling? How long with RFAC?

I was introduced to both cycling and RFAC at the same time. I first got on a bike in August 2022, just in time to join the RFAC crew at Cycle Oregon in September. I don’t know what cycling would be like without RFAC and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Q. What got you interested in RFAC?

I was recruited by other RFAC riders – my dad (Greg Holt), Tim Leslie, and Sarah Breece all encouraged me to give cycling a try and I am so glad I did! My dad has done Cycle Oregon with RFAC for a number of years, but I was drawn to the RFAC community and wanted to be a part of it when I met Sarah. It was refreshing to see another woman in the group who was also giving cycling a try; she encouraged me and made me feel like I could do it, too.

Q. What has been your favorite thing re. RFAC? What’s been challenging?

My favorite part of RFAC is being part of a team. It is inspiring and empowering to be part of a group that has a common goal, especially one that feels so important. RFAC has given me purpose and community among others who are also passionate about supporting families and children who are impacted by cancer.

Q. How do you train?

Most days I hop on my bike after work and do a few quick miles on the Spring Water Corridor or waterfront. My favorite way to train is by joining other RFAC riders for as many group rides as possible. On the weekends I will often train with my mom and dad who also love to cycle and explore new routes with me.

Q .Do you have a favorite place to ride?

My favorite place to ride is the Riverview Cemetery – it’s a beautiful and peaceful climb in the shade with a great view at the top!

Q. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s ride?

This year I am looking forward to some epic coast views and spending time with my RFAC people! Cycling with my dad and the rest of the RFAC team was a blast last year, and I’ve been so excited to do it all again!

Friendship and Loss

When asked how he first heard about Ride for a Child, rider Paul Brandes is quick to respond. Dick Hartung – founder of RFAC – has been his best friend since they attended grade school together. Even as they grew up and had families of their own, they remained lifelong friends. For twenty some years, each summer the families headed to the beach, kids in tow, for a fun multi-family vacation. During that time, Dick’s daughter Jill became sick. She was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, at 5 years old.

Dick and Denise were introduced to Candlelighters For Children With Cancer, as a way to get support and connect with other parents going through a similar experience. Paul remembers, “As soon as they got involved, they were all in.” Jill passed away in 1997 at the age of 9 after a 3 ½ -year battle with Osteogenic Sarcoma. After the loss of Jill, Dick and Denise remained involved in the organization that had brought them hope and comfort, and by 2002 Dick had recovered enough to resume leadership within Candlelighters. Serving on the board of Candlelighters as the VP of Development, Dick was tasked with raising funds for an organization that was rich in compassion, purpose and mission, but like most small nonprofits, poor in funding.

After hearing about Cycle Oregon, in June of 2002, Dick pumped up the air on the tires of his 10 year-old mountain bike and started to train to ride in honor of Jill. During his ride, he started a fundraising appeal that went out to his family, friends and business associates. The ride was a huge success. Not only did he challenge himself and conquer the week of riding, he honored Jill’s life by enriching the lives of other families impacted by childhood cancer.

A Recruit

Following the success of his first ride, Dick started recruiting his friends to join him, and the Ride for a Child team grew. Each year, Paul found himself being asked to ride by his friends, who by now made up a core group of RFAC riders. Paul says “I was never a big cyclist. I liked to ride, but I didn’t have time. But when I retired, I ran out of reasons to say no to the pressure.” Joking aside, Paul cites his main reasons for riding as his love for his friends – Dick and Denise Hartung – and to honor the memory of their daughter Jill. He is continually inspired by his friend, saying “Dick is strong. He’s a leader, and he’s charitable.”

To date, Paul has participated in 4-5 Ride for a Child events. During COVID, with the group event off the table, he decided to do an independent ride to fundraise. As he suspected, his supporters weren’t concerned about the number of miles ridden or the route and remained faithful to funding his ride. But when the week-long group ride returned post-COVID, Paul found himself being pulled back in: “When you ride, you develop deep relationships and bonds with others during a relatively short period of time because the ride (around 450 miles) is hard.”

Why Keep Riding?

Asked if he has considered doing shorter rides – or none at all – Paul quickly answers yes, a yes immediately followed by “But it’s always the people who pull you back in. You get so much out of it.” Through the years, Paul’s wife Jane has enjoyed becoming part of the RFAC support team. The couple, who often vacation in their RV, now bring it to the ride, where it has served as a welcome respite from the standard sleeping bag in a tent for the occasional injured rider.

As much as friendships, the beauty of the PNW and group camping are integral to the RFAC experience, so is fundraising. Paul has proved a leading fundraiser in the group. When asked for his secrets, he says, “I just tell my supporters my story. It’s all about my commitment to Dick, Denise and Jill.” In the past, his first touch point was a written letter to each prospective supporter.

This year, he’s trying something different. He emailed supporters earlier than usual, and will follow up with a written letter. He finds that email gets a quick response, whereas letters are a bit slower, as they often tend to be left “for later” and lay around the house for a while. Still, he will follow up his initial emails with a letter, and likely repeat the process. As of writing, he is the top fundraiser in the group.

Honored Children

How does Paul stay motivated throughout? One important piece is connecting with the Honored Children.

Each year, around 6 kids who have been diagnosed with cancer are chosen to be an Honored Child. Each Honored Child has a team of cyclists riding, fundraising, and creating awareness around childhood cancer. Ride for a Child provides several opportunities for Honored Children and their families to meet each other, and to meet the riders. Paul says that meeting the Honored Children and their parents brings the mission of the ride into focus.

“The kids are amazing. But what really gets you is the look on the parents’ faces. Understanding and knowing what they are going through cements that you are part of something much bigger than just a bike ride. Last year, when I met my Honored Child and his family, I found out that they live just 10 blocks away from us.” Meeting kids and their families who are facing cancer really brings the cause front and center..

The Past and Future of Ride for a Child

Asked about his favorite RFAC memories, Paul recalls a reunion that took place a few years ago, in Central Oregon between Dick and Mathew. 13 years prior, Dick Hartung rode for Honored Child Mathew, a cancer survivor with Downs Syndrome. When Mathew’s mom, Pat, found out that her town, La Pine, was on the cyclist’s route, she reached out to share the impact that being an Honored Child had on Mathew many years ago, and asked how she could help. What followed was a joy to witness – Mathew – now cancer free and a very inspirational figure – and RFAC founder, Dick Hartung catching up after many years. Paul also recalls a memorable route that coincided with the Pendleton Roundup, giving cyclists a great reason to change from their gear into cowboy duds and let loose.

The future of Ride for a Child is something Paul takes seriously. The team, he says, is a close knit group who are extremely committed to the ride, fundraising, and their friendships. As many of them head into their 60s and 70s, the group looks to the next generation to carry on. “The real key to the future of RFAC is to have a group that is motivated. That takes strong relationships within the group, and/or a personal connection to childhood cancer.” Paul admits that right now, much of the energy is within the core group of bonded riders whose lives have become intertwined over the many years of friendship. That works well for them, but, he says, they also need to look to the future.

“On the outside, we look like a bunch of older white guys, with a few young women and men. I can see how that would not appeal to women – or younger people in general. We need to figure that out.” Paul goes on to speak of several first time female riders who joined last year. One of them was Candlelighters’ Executive Director, Sarah Breece, who rode for the first time in 2022. As the organization’s leader and a childhood cancer survivor herself, Sarah was a strong voice for the RFAC cause. And after some initial doubts and rocky training rides, she returned from her first RFAC event as a full convert to the team. Paul takes this as a very good sign for the future of RFAC.