In 1955, Minnesota Freemasons established the Masonic Cancer Center Fund and helped raise $1 million dollars to help build an 80-bed hospital for terminally ill cancer patients at the University of Minnesota. Since that time Minnesota Freemasons have been committed to helping find a cure for this horrible disease that has touched so many of our lives.  Minnesota Masonic Charities has recently pledged $65 million dollars to the U of M to help build the new Masonic Oncology Pavilion. In honor of this generous gift, the U of M renamed the center the Masonic Cancer Center. On September 20, 2008, please join Red Wing Masonic Lodge #8 and Cannon Falls Oriental Lodge #34 as we raise money for the Partners for Life Campaign, which was established by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota to help raise funds for the Masonic Cancer Center. Through the help of Minnesota Masonic Charities, every dollar raised from the Cannon Valley Cancer Ride will be matched dollar- for- dollar!

The Cannon Valley Cancer Ride is a 20-mile, fun, family-orientated, roundtrip bike ride that will take place on the Cannon Valley Trail, a paved trail that runs between Cannon Falls and Red Wing. This year the event will start at River Side Park, in Cannon Falls, and will go to Welch and back. We will have a water and snack station in Welch. If riders wish to ride the entire way to Red Wing and back (40 miles roundtrip) they are more than welcome to do so!  The trail follows and old railroad route and takes you through beautiful prairie lands and the Cannon River Valley.  The cost of the ride will be $35.00 for riders 12 and older and $20.00 for riders under 12.  Both prices will include lunch, which will be served at Riverside Park in Cannon Falls, and a t-shirt. There will also be a free will offering and you may opt to donate more money on the entry form below.  The day of the event the cost will be $30.00 for riders over the age of 12 and $15.00 for riders under the age of 12, and will include lunch, but no t-shirt.

Registration and t-shirt handout will start at 8 a.m. at Riverside Park in Cannon Falls. The ride itself will start at 9 a.m. For more information on the Cannon Valley Trail, including a map with directions to River Side Park, please check out the official website of the Cannon Valley Trail at www.cannonvalleytrail.com. We will have signs posted the day of the event so please be watching for them! If you have any questions about the event please contact Gary Thomas, Jr. at 651-385-0714, or e-mail him at gcbthomas@gmail.com.

 Thank you, and the Brothers of Red Wing Lodge #8 and Cannon Falls Oriental Lodge #34 hope to see you there!