You can join hundreds of people from Darien, Norwalk and surrounding towns who will be running, walking and riding, then listening to Bob Marley’s legendary reggae band, The Wailers, this Sunday, Sept. 30 at the fourth annual Raveis Ride + Walk at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk.
The Wailers will perform when the riders and walkers have finished. This year is the first time the family-friendly event will include a musical performance.
Contributed photo
Chris, Bill, Meghan and Ryan Raveis at the Ride + Walk fundraiser in a previous year.
— an announcement from the William Raveis Charitable Fund
The fundraising event includes a 5K walk, a 12-mile, 25-mile and 50-mile bike ride, and a children’s 100-yard dash.
The proceeds from the event benefit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, which funds research to find a cure for cancer.
If You’re Going
The event takes place at Calf Pasture Beach. 48 Calf Pasture Beach Road, Norwalk.
Participants can register for the event now at RaveisRideWalk.com. The web site also includes fundraising tips and tools, information about the scientists, and photos and video from 2017.
The minimum fundraising amount for adults is $250 for the walk, 12-mile and 25-mile rides and $400 for the 50-mile ride.
Contributed photo
Riders at the event
Minors under 17 must be accompanied by an adult and have a $25 fundraising minimum. There is a suggested minimum donation of $25 for people who would like to participate but not ride or walk.
Schedule
7 to 8 a.m. — Registration
8:05 a.m. — Bikers Depart
8:40 a.m. — Walkers Depart
10 a.m. — Riders and walkers finish
10:30 a.m. — Raffle drawing
10:45 a.m. — Kids dash
11 a.m. — Kids tug of war
11:10 a.m. — Raveis Kole musical performance
11:30 a.m. — The Wailers performance
About The Wailers
Steered by famed bassist and founder Aston “Familyman” Barrett, and joined by the band’s original guitarists Junior Marvin and Donald Kinsey, The Wailers continue to make musical history. Since 1981 when Bob Marley passed away after a four-year battle with skin cancer, Familyman and Junior have carried on his mission to keep The Wailers together.
“Bob Marley wanted us to continue performing because as he said, ‘By doing that, you keep me alive through the music,’” said Familyman of The Wailers. “Cancer hit us close to home, so we’d like to think Bob would be even more touched we’re performing to raise money for innovative cancer research.”
There have been more than 250 million Bob Marley & The Wailers recordings sold, including 1977’s “Exodus,” anointed Best Album of the Century in 1999 by Time Magazine, and “One Love,” named Song of the Millennium that same year by the BBC.
Spin Magazine listed Bob Marley & The Wailers at number four of the 50 Greatest Bands of All Times, while The New York Times named Bob Marley the most significant musician of the 20th century. These accolades were made possible by the creative, timeless, and distinctive music, lyrics and production by the incomparable Wailers musicians.
Where the Money Goes
The annual Ride + Walk has raised more than $1.5 million since its inception. In 2017, approximately 700 people participated and volunteered in the Ride + Walk, raising more than $519,000.
One hundred percent of the donations from this family-friendly event benefit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, which funds the most promising scientists conducting cutting-edge research to find a cure for cancer.
Since 1946, Damon Runyon has invested more than $340 million in more than 3,650 exceptional scientists. Damon Runyon identifies the brightest early-career scientists with innovative research ideas and provides them with funding to pursue new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat all forms of cancer.
Money raised by previous Ride + Walk events has been granted to 14 scientists who are researching eight different types of cancer.