Minnesota Major River-to-River ride rolling into Woodbury

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Combining his love for cycling and commitment to raising money for cancer research, motocross champion Ryan Dungey will be in Woodbury Sunday leading a scenic bike ride to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The event, Minnesota Major River-to-River ride, will kick off its inauguration at the Bielenberg Sports Center.

Dungey partnered with Target Corp. to organize the ride, where 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The bicycle ride will feature different lengths along the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers, with an award ceremony held at the end of the event.

Participants who haven’t pre-registered can register the morning of the ride, where they will learn about the 100 kilometer (62 mile) “Major” ride and the 25-mile “Minor.” There will also be a kids ride featuring a mile-long loop on the paths of the Bielenberg Sports Center.

Everyone will start cycling by 8 a.m.

“I think (Dungey) is excited to see how long he can hold the lead,” Devin O’Brien, marketing manager for Target Corp, said with a smile. “But the idea is we all roll out together.”

A Minnesota native, Dungey lost his grandmother to liver cancer in 2005 and has since dedicated much of his charity work to finding a cure.

“She fought it for many years, and it was really tough on her, obviously, and our whole family,” he said in a video posted on the event’s website. “I feel like I’ve been put in a good position to help and give back.”

He goes on to explain how important it is to support cancer research and help families going through the disease.

“I really want to see everything done possible to help any family ever having to deal with it,” Dungey said. “It’s a pretty powerful experience but I think with a lot of help and hard work we can all get behind and just keep things moving forward.”

Target has had a longstanding partnership with St. Jude Children’s Hospital through Target House, the annual St. Jude “Thanks and Giving” campaign and involvement of Target’s celebrity partners, according to a company press release.

“We thought this is a great opportunity to work together and create an event in both of our hometowns,” O’Brien said.

They chose Woodbury for its central location between the Mississippi and St. Croix. More than 200 cyclists have already registered to participate on Sunday.

“The site in Woodbury is phenomenal for this type of thing,” he said. “It’s situated in the heart of some great riding, so it works out perfect.”

The routes will also provide for some challenging hills, he added, with prizes for the top fundraiser and runner-ups.

Dungey is currently competing in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, aiming for the top spot on the circuit. In three years, he has won every tittle in professional motocross, including the 450 Supercross Championship and 450 Motocross Championship in his rookie year.

For more information on the Minnesota Major, visit www.mnmajor.com.

Tags: area news, news, woodbury