Spinodyssey is a fundraiser to support scientists finding a cure for breast cancer. Over 60 women and men spin for one to six hours while listening to a live band or an eager instructor. According to the bikers, the positive energy is infectious and the cause is incredibly important.
“I do the Spinodyssey because I know a lot of people who have had breast cancer and I don’t want my daughters to have to worry about it,” Ruby Dener ’16 said.
Spinodyssey started in 2000 when Delia Thompson and Amelie Badkey posted the idea in a spinning chat room and got a positive response. Thompson’s sister had died from cancer, which was her inspiration to start the event. Patty Kondub, the organizational chair as well as the girls golf coach at Staples, gave some insight into where the money that is raised goes.
“We get proposals [scientist who need sponsors] from the American Cancer Society that have always been vetted out and with the committee we pick out which ideas of the scientist we think are the most interesting. Actually, one of our researchers got a national medal of honor from the American Cancer Society and we helped fund him.”
Kondub explained what cancer patients gain from SpinOdyssey, “SpinOdyssey research benefited one of my best friends. She was being treated for her stage three stomach cancer with a breast cancer drug, Herceptin, as she also has the breast cancer gene.
Herceptin is a drug created by Dr Dennis Slamon when he was a young researcher at ACS, and we gave him $250,000 for more research in 2004-2009 which lead to the drug being used in stomach cancer treatment. Right now, Terry is cancer-free after pre-surgery chemo (Nov 2012-March 2013) and surgery (2 weeks ago). She will be taking Herceptin for the next year.
Ruby Dener, Anna Daytz, and Olivia Daytz were the three Staples students that rode in Spinodyssey. They learned about the event from two spin instructors, one at Joy Ride and one at Intensity, where they spin weekly.
Part of the process is to get sponsors. The three said family, friends, teachers and camp were very generous with sponsors. “It was so awkward to ask people for money but people were so generous. Staples showed a lot of support,” Dener’16 said.
“Our aunt had breast cancer, but she survived. We want to make sure by raising money that others can have the same positive outcome,” Anna Daytz ’16 said.
The bikers in the event said the biking was tough. “It’s impossible. I am a yoga instructor and personal trainer and its still impossible. But the energy is so great that it motivates you to keep going,” one said right after she got off the bike.
The energy was something many participants noted. “It’s surreal. I am motivated by energy around me to volunteer. It’s just a great event for any age,”a full-day volunteer said.
