Illini 4000 for Cancer

Illini 4000

The 2012 Illini 4000 Bike America Team
Abbreviation	I4K
Motto	Uniting Students, Families, and Communities in the Fight Against Cancer
Formation	2006
Type	501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Location	Urbana, Illinois, U.S.
Website	illini4000.org

The Illini 4000 is a non-profit organization raising funds for cancer research and patient support services, as well as spreading awareness through annual cross-country bike rides.

History

The Illini 4000 began as an idea between two University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign students, Jonathan Schlesinger and Anish Thakkar. While both studying abroad in Spring 2006, Anish, who had been involved with early cancer detection research, thought that there was not enough available funding for cancer research. Schlesinger, who had been affected by cancer by a family member, also wanted to contribute to research funding. ^[1] Upon returning to campus in Fall 2006, the students combined their love for cycling with their determination in the fight against cancer and the Illini 4000 was born. The organization began as a registered student organization at the university but soon became a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization. ^[2]

Bicycle trips

Every summer since the Illini 4000 was born, the team sends 20–25 students on a cross country bicycle trip. Each group of riders is named the Bike America Team and completes the journey beginning in late May and finishing in early August. Each day, the team rides between 40–110 miles with a support vehicle carrying their supplies. In the past, the Bike America teams have been able to visit the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the UIC Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. ^{[2] [3]}

In summer 2007, the first Bike America Team was on the organizations's first cross-country trip. The trip started in New York City and ended in San Diego, California with 18 people riding. In 2008, the 20 rider bike team rode from New York City to Seattle, Washington. In 2009, the 23 riders rode from New York City to Portland, Oregon. For the 2010 ride, 28 riders biked from New York City and finished in San Francisco, California. From 2011 through 2014, the Bike America Team rode from New York City to San Francisco, with the 2012 Team riding through Washington, D.C. ^{[2] [3]}

Fundraising

To date, the Illini 4000 has looked primarily to their riders in regards to securing funds with which to both function as an organization and donate to various beneficiaries. Each rider of the Illini 4000 Bike America Team is required to fundraise $4,000.

Corporate sponsors include Trek, Champaign Cycle, That’s Rentertainment, Isostatic, OILUBE, NetTrust, AMS Mechanical Systems, Rushville State Bank, Grove Dental Associates, St. Martin Bank & Trust Co., and others.

Beneficiaries

The Illini 4000 have chosen a variety of organizations including the American Cancer Society, Camp Kesem, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, the Ishan Gala Foundation, The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, TLC Camp, Prairie Dragon Paddlers, and University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign researcher Dr. Brendan Harley, to help us achieve our mission.

In 2015, Illini 4000 was able to donate $100,000 thanks to the fundraising efforts of the 2015 Trek Bike America Team. Of the $100,000, $46,000 went towards funding patient support services and the remaining $54,000 went to funding cancer research. The Beneficiaries donated to in 2015 include American Cancer Society, Camp Kesem, B+ Foundation, and Prairie Dragon Paddlers for patient support services; and Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, and University of Illinois for cancer research.

In 2018, Illini 4000 surpassed $1,000,000 in fundraising efforts since its beginnings. The 2018 Bike America team consists of 23 riders who will bike from New York City, New York to San Francisco, California from May 18 to August 3, 2018.

Illini 4000 Fellowship

In recognition of the funding from Illini 4000 in 2015 and the funding over the past several years totaling $214,000, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named one of their Fellowship awards after Illini 4000. The first Illini 4000 Fellow was Rand Miller, who was studying how cancer evades current therapies.

What People Do (film)

During the summer 2007 ride, documentary filmmaker Zachary Herrmann followed the Bike America team across the United States as he created the documentary What People Do. The film, which is now freely available for viewing online, was made for the production company Films That Move which is entirely made of volunteer filmmakers from across the country. ^[4] The filming took place over the course of 4 months, in 7 states and gathered 35 hours of footage.

What People Do was the first film created by the production company. The goal of Films That Move is to make films that generate emotion while inspiring the audience to take action for a social cause. ^[4] They chose to follow the Illini 4000 based upon the politically divided state that the country was in at the time. While on the journey, the filmmakers documented the generosity the team found during their nightly stay-overs as well as stories from the riders and their hosts. The goal of these stories is to show that regardless of the condition of the country, there are still issues that can unite the population. ^[5]

References

1. Smiley Politely: Illini 4000 Trek Across America
2. Personal Consultation with I4k president, Conor Canaday, October 2009
3. Illini 4000 Website
4. Films That Move
5. Films That Move: About Us

External links

• Illini 4000