Hello everyone, my name is Stephanie Wilkins and I’m pictured here to the left with one of our Camp Smile-A-Mile campers. I began the Ride of Love in 2001 because of my love for the children and desire to support such a worthy cause. Thanks to everyone who has joined me on this ride and those yet to come!!!!
THE RIDE OF LOVE 2009 was a huge success! 62 cyclists and raising ~$108,000 for Camp Smile-A-Mile!!
The Ride of Love is a very unique ride that leaves from my hometown of Tuscaloosa, AL and travels to the Camp Smile-A-Mile campsite, which is located on the shores of Lake Martin in Alexander City, AL….when we arrive at Camp Smile-A-Mile we are welcomed by the screams and cheers of the children and families that we have ridden for since we will arrive during the first Family Weekend Camp. Why is the ROL so unique? The ROL is not simply a charity ride where you ride for the cause, you get to ride into the physical location of the charity and see what and who you have ridden for. I promise your heart will be touched forever!!
Camp Smile-A-Mile (SAM) first began in 1985 with the mission to provide challenging, unforgettable recreational and educational experiences for young cancer patients across Alabama at no cost to their families.
Camp Smile-A-Mile gives kids with cancer a place to go for camp. A place for them to forget about cancer and just have fun being a kid. A place where they can be themselves….get treatment, go without prosthetic limbs and hair, and simply be around others who are just like them. Camp Smile-A-Mile provides these children and their families with hope and love. More than 500 children/year and their families participate in Camp Smile-A-Mile programs/activities.
Camp Smile-A-Mile is the only program statewide that offers year round programs and helps the entire family deal with the diagnosis of a child with cancer. Eight different camp sessions are offered during the summer but we don’t stop there—there is a program offered each month for our campers and their families all throughout the year.
To date close to ~500 cyclists have participated in the Ride of Love, raising over $600,000 for Camp Smile-A-Mile. Each cyclist is asked to raise a minimum of $250 to participate in the ROL (this is the cost for Camp SAM to send one child to week long camp). The Ride of Love has helped to send over 2,500 children to Camp Smile-A-Mile. That’s a lot of kids with smiles a mile wide!!!! Thanks to all who support this wonderful cause!!
