HANOVER, N.H. -
The Prouty is an annual bike ride in the Upper Valley that raises millions for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Competitors can ride either a 20, 35, 50 or 100 miles course. Walking and rowing events were also scheduled. More than 5 thousands participants took part this year, raising a record "day of" total of almost 2-point-4 million dollars for cancer research.
"We've done this for a number of years, we don't have a particular person that has had cancer," said Lyme New Hampshire participant Stephen Maddock. "But, a number of friends have, and we think this is a great idea and it's gotten bigger and bigger every year."
Along with the thousands of riders who help make the event a success, organizers also rely on scores of volunteers. This year, 11-hundred 50 people offered their time, manning rest stops along the route. One group from a camp in New Hampshire was using the Prouty to earn merit badges.
"I come here every year to go to camp, I want to get my brave and you have to do a certain amount of things to get it. You have to do volunteer work. It's really fun, people are coming in all the time, and you get to cheer them on and it's just really fun," said volunteer Darren Mangan.
This is the 31st year riders have been biking Prouty.
