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Pure Cycle raises pancreatic cancer awareness
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the Canfield Police Department participated in the second annual Turn It Purple Ride at Pure Cycle Spinning Studio to honor the memory of retired police dispatcher Patty Remias, who passed away after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. The ride took place on Nov. 15 to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Riders at Pure Cycle Spinning Studio participated in the second annual Turn It Purple Ride to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and raise money for research Nov. 15.
By ABBY SLANKER
Pure Cycle Spinning Studio had its second annual Turn It Purple Ride to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer and to honor the memory of Ronnette Pierce, Barbara Louise Hutch Cene, Laura Cene, Jeanne Tyson, Patty Remias and loved ones lost to the disease on Nov. 15.
The studio offered three free classes to promote Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. The number of classes was increased from last year due to high demand.
“Last year, we offered two free classes to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer and this year we upped it to three because we had so much support and we even had a wait list. Each class holds 25 riders, so we have 75 riders this year. We are hoping to up it again next year to four classes,” said Nicole Billak, one of the event organizers.
The studio also offered purple T-shirts to commemorate the ride, which were donated allowing 100 percent of the proceeds from the T-shirts to go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. A Chinese auction also took place, with all baskets being donated by riders. The Turn it Purple Ride raised more than $2,300.
Shelly and Chuck Colucci, owners of Pure Cycle Spinning Studio, once again hosted the event. This year, the ride had a special significance for Chuck, who is chief of the Canfield Police Department. Patty Remias, a Columbus Police Department dispatcher, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has passed away. The third ride was full of many members of the Canfield Police Department participating to honor Remias’ memory.
Recently, the Mahoning County Commissioners signed a proclamation declaring Nov. 13 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day in Mahoning County.
“There is no early detection for pancreatic cancer. Seventy-five percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will die within the first year of diagnosis. Our goal here today is to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funds to help in research of the disease,” Billak said.