April 2021
June 12 marks the eighth annual Million Dollar Bike Ride and the second year it will be virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If Team NBIA Disorders raises at least $20,000, every dollar will be matched, up to $30,000, to support a grant for BPAN research.
This is the fifth year Team NBIA is raising money to support new discoveries in BPAN, and anyone can take part — with as much or as little exertion as desired. Last year’s ride resulted in a $71,471 BPAN grant award.
The ride is organized by the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Medicine Orphan Disease Center, and participants can cycle in their own neighborhood or even their living room. Others can support the team by spreading the word. Registration for riders is available at https://www.milliondollarbikeride.org/registration.
Choose Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation when registering to be connected to Team NBIA Disorders.
With the fundraising period heating up, anyone wanting to take part can register for $25 to join Team NBIA Disorders to cycle and raise donations by creating your own MDBR page with a link to send to friends and family to donate to your page. Those who don’t wish to create a fundraising page can register for $45, with the money going to Team NBIA Disorders as a donation toward the fundraising goal and then can participate in all the weekly challenges and cycling events.
Weekly challenges and classes for riders are in the works now. A virtual presentation is planned, along with a live spin class on June 12 at 11 a.m. EDT with pro cyclist Nikki Theimann. As an added incentive, cyclists will be receiving goody bags this year.
Individuals who want to help but don’t want to register to ride can post information about donating on social media or by sending an email to friends and family requesting their support for Team NBIA Disorders page at http://givingpages.upenn.edu/CureNBIA. Our team has made the match the last four years we’ve participated, and with your help, we will succeed again this year.
For more information, pictures and a video on Team NBIA Disorders and the Million Dollar Bike Ride see https://www.nbiadisorders.org/mdbr-2021.
