FAQ

The Ride to End ALZ South Carolina is a unique 255-mile journey for cycling enthusiasts, previously known as A Ride to Remember. Now in its 16th year, the Group Ride features incredible support and camaraderie along the 3-day cross-state route to Charleston, SC. You can also ride at your own pace through our month-long Virtual Challenge. Either way, you'll fuel support services and cutting-edge research to change the trajectory of Alzheimer's disease.

The in-person Group Ride begins on Friday, July 12, 2024, in Simpsonville, SC, and ends on Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Charleston, SC. Most riders participate all 3 days, but you may choose to ride only 1 or 2 days. The ride is conducted on open roads, and motor vehicle traffic will be present. For more details, see the Group Ride Route and Logistics section below.

The month-long Virtual Challenge takes place anytime July 1-31, 2024. Riders may participate from anywhere they choose (not limited to South Carolina) and ride any way that they choose. For more details, see the Virtual Challenge Logistics section below.

From the moment you register, our Volunteer Planning Committee and Staff will support you with tips and coaching to help you reach your fundraising goals and cross the finish line. Our Group Ride is a fully supported event, offering:

- Medical and mechanical support
- Rest stops every 10-15 miles with water, Gatorade and snacks
- Large directional signs
- Ride with GPS along with printed cue sheets with emergency contact information
- Multiple Support and Gear (SAG) vehicles, including a sweeper that will never pass the final rider
- Police escort in key traffic areas
- Luggage transportation throughout the event
- Friendly, smiling volunteers ready to help with additional needs

While we welcome riders of all fitness and skill levels, less experienced cyclists are strongly encouraged to participate through our month-long Virtual Challenge. The Group Ride is a 3-day cross-state summertime route for avid road cyclists, and even experienced cyclists may find it challenging. Newer cyclists have certainly completed the Group Ride, but adequate training and preparation is essential to your success and the safety of everyone on the road.

The Virtual Challenge makes Ride to End ALZ South Carolina more accessible for cyclists who might not consider the traditional 3-day Group Ride due to mileage, time commitment, out-of-state travel, or summer weather. While our traditional Group Ride is focused on road cycling, we welcome cyclists of all kinds to participate in the Virtual Challenge. Whether you are a road cyclist, a casual cruiser, a spin/Peloton enthusiast or a mountain biker, the Virtual Challenge is a great way for you to ride anytime, anywhere and any way while advancing the fight to #ENDALZ.

Your safety and the safety of all Ride to End ALZ participants is our top priority, which is the reason we review all related policies on an annual basis.

To ensure we’re doing all we can to promote a safe environment, the decision was made to make 18 the minimum age required to participate in any in-person event.

Those under 18 years of age can still participate virtually and fuel Alzheimer’s research by fundraising and volunteering at in-person Ride events.

Absolutely! It takes a lot of people to make our 3-day Group Ride happen. Visit the Volunteers page for more information. Volunteers are also welcome to register for the Virtual Challenge to help collect donations in support of the Alzheimer's Association.

Register online here. The deadline to register for the Group Ride is July 1st. There is no deadline to register for the Virtual Challenge.

The registration fee for the Group Ride is $50 earlybird rate through March 1, 2024, and $100 thereafter, regardless of the number of days you plan to ride. This fee counts as a self-donation toward your fundraising goal ($750 minimum for group ride participants). There is no registration fee to participate in the Virtual Challenge.

For the Group Ride, each rider is responsible for raising a minimum of $750, with your registration fee counting as a self-donation toward your goal. The fundraising minimum must be met by the time of event check-in in order to participate in the group ride. There is no fundraising commitment for the Virtual Challenge, but all participants are encouraged to fundraise to earn the t-shirt and incentive cycling gear. Learn more in the Incentive Gear section below.

Beyond the fun of riding with friends, many teams create their own jerseys, have team fundraisers leading up to the event, train together, and cheer each other on. If you are interested in joining a team, check out the TEAM PURPLE tab and find out how you can become a part!

Notify Ride staff immediately at ridesc@alz.org if you know you can't participate. You will not be responsible for any fundraising minimum if you do not ride with us on Ride day. Registration fees and donations are non-refundable and help advance the research, care and support efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.

Our online tools and mobile app, accessible in your Ride Hub, make it easy to get started immediately after you register. A monthly "Ride Round-Up" is held via Zoom (beginning in January) to offer support and tips, especially for first time participants. Check out the Website Support section below to learn how to update your fundraising page, create a Facebook Fundraiser and more. 

The funds raised through Ride to End ALZ South Carolina benefit the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. Learn more about how we put your dollars to work.

Donations can be easily made online through your personal fundraising page (link provided after registration) or through a Facebook fundraiser. Checks may be mobile deposited using the Ride App. Checks or money orders may also be mailed to the Alzheimer's Association. Please submit your personalized donation form with each gift, which can be printed from your fundraising website. Donations can also be turned in upon check-in for the ride. Please do not send cash by mail.

The Ride mobile app helps keep your fundraising fully supported, on and off the bike. You can edit your page, share updates with your friends, fundraise on-the-go, make mobile check deposits, and track your progress. You can download the app from the App Store, or Google Play.

Log in to your Ride Hub at alz.org/ridesc with your username and password. Select "Dashboard" and select Step #4 under the "Reach Your Goal" section to get started. Once you've downloaded the app, simply log in using the username and password you created when you registered. The Ride app is full of tools and templates to make fundraising on-the-go like coasting down a hill.

The Alzheimer's Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our federal tax ID number is 13-3039601.

Online donors will receive an email receipt immediately.

Check donors will receive a paper acknowledgment in the mail.

Yes, Ride accepts matching gift funds, insofar as your donation complies with your employer's matching gift policy. To find out if your employer matches donations made to the Alzheimer's Association, click here and enter the company name. Note that the donor is responsible for following up with their employer to apply for the matching funds, according to the company's policy.

When applying for the matching funds to be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, please specify that you would like your donation credited to Ride to End ALZ South Carolina, as well as the name of the rider who should receive the credit. Please note that matching funds can take weeks or months to process and appear on our website. Please notify us at ridesc@alz.org if you intend for the match to count toward your fundraising minimum or incentive gear levels.

Contact us at ridesc@alz.org. If we are nearing incentive deadlines, please notify us ASAP if you intend for the match to count toward your fundraising minimum or incentive gear levels.

Yes. Contact your financial institution or fund manager to request the contribution. Please request your name and address to be included with your contribution as well as the name of the Ride to End ALZ participant. We recommend that you notify the participant of your gift so that we can assure it is properly credited to his or her fundraising.

Contributions may be sent to:
Alzheimer's Association
Attn: Ride SC
4600 Park Rd. Suite 250
Charlotte, NC 28209

The Alzheimer's Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID: 13-3039601
For assistance, please email ridesc@alz.org.

For Group Ride participants, the t-shirt is included in your registration fee and will be available at packet pick-up. For Virtual Challenge participants, anyone who reaches the recommended fundraising goal of $255 will receive the t-shirt via mail beginning in July and continuing on a rolling basis as Virtual Challenge riders reach the $255 fundraising milestone.

For both participant types, we award exclusive Hincapie cycling gear for reaching fundraising milestones. Check out "The Perks" page for all the details.

To receive earned Hincapie gear in time for the Group Ride, fundraising milestones must be reached by May 1, 2024. This gear will be available at packet pick-up for the Group Ride, or mailed to Virtual Challenge participants. The final deadline to earn incentive gear or other top fundraising prizes will be July 31, 2024. All gear earned after the pre-ride deadline will be ordered after July 31 and shipped to participants in October 2024.

The Group Ride is a road cycling event along South Carolina roadways. We encourage cyclists to ride road bikes. For safety and suitability, we discourage the use of triathlon bikes, TT (time trial) bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids, or cruisers. E-bikes are permitted.

Yes, we'll have rest stops every 10-15 miles with water, Gatorade and snacks. In addition, SAG vehicles will be in operation for the duration of the ride, including medical support, mechanical support, and a sweeper that will never pass the final rider. For the safety of our riders, personal SAG vehicles are not allowed on the route. 

Please be familiar with our guidelines for group riding, available by logging into the Ride Hub after registering. If your bike has aero bars, only ride in the aero position when you are away from other cyclists. Riding in aero position is prohibited within a group. This is for your safety and others around you.

We ride rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, our Command Center will notify riders via text message with safety instructions.

Each rider receives a wrist band with a printed emergency number that connects to our Command Center. Command will dispatch the appropriate help (SAG, mechanical, medical) to you as soon as you call.

The ride is conducted on open roads across South Carolina, and motor vehicle traffic will be present. Check out route descriptions on our Routes page.

For the safety of all riders and volunteers, riders are expected to complete each day's route by 4:00 PM.

The route will be well marked with directional signs each day. Ride with GPS routes may be downloaded the week before the group ride. Printed cue sheets are also available at the start of each day's ride.

Yes, meals are provided each day of the Group Ride, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. Before the Ride starts on Day 1, water and light snacks are available in the check-in area. On Days 2 & 3, breakfast will be available at designated lodging locations. Water, Gatorade, fruit, snacks and peanut-butter-jelly sandwiches are provided along the route. Lunch and celebratory beverages are provided at the finish line each day. We also provide dinner each evening for riders and registered volunteers.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available at all dinners. Beer and wine will be available at Sunday's celebration dinner only. Bus transportation will be provided for riders as needed.

Friday: Pasta dinner at Newberry College, 6:00 PM

Saturday: BBQ Chicken & fixins at Orangeburg First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 6:00 PM (hosted by Orangeburg Rotary Club and Orangeburg Lions Club)

Sunday: Celebration Dinner, location to be announced, 6:30 PM.

Guest dinner tickets will be available for purchase a couple of months before the event.

Yes. However, NO overnight parking will be permitted at Heritage Park. Riders needing to leave cars at the start will need to park at Hampton Inn Simpsonville, located at 3934 Grandview Dr, Simpsonville or Holiday Inn Express, 642 Fairview Rd, Simpsonville. We will provide a shuttle to transport you the few short miles to Heritage Park. Shuttle service will be at 7:00 AM, so please plan accordingly.

There are no restrictions on bag size, but please only bring one bag per person. Keep in mind that volunteers will need to be able to lift your bag. Due to limited cargo space on our buses, personal coolers or other items are discouraged. Please be sure to label bags with your name. The luggage transporation process will be explained in the Ride Guide that will be distributed in the months leading up to the event.

Bus transportation from Charleston to Simpsonville is available at no charge for registered riders on Thursday, July 11 and Monday, July 15. Group Ride participants should indicate your bus plans when you register; you can edit your response in your Participant Center by clicking "Update Question Responses".

Thursday, July 11th- Bus will load at Hampton Inn Patriots Point (255 Sessions Way, Mt. Pleasant, SC) at 1 PM and will depart for Hampton Inn Simpsonville at 2 PM.

Monday, July 15th- Bus will load at Hampton Inn Patriots Point (255 Sessions Way, Mt. Pleasant, SC) at 8:30 AM and will depart for Heritage Park at 9 AM.

If you need to leave a vehicle at Hampton Inn Patriots Point during the Ride, you are welcome to do so.

Rider transportation and luggage pickup will be coordinated each day only for these designated discounted lodging locations. If you've made alternate lodging arrangements, you may drop off your luggage at the ride start and pick it up at the end location each day. Ample signage will be posted daily with more directions.

Lodging is the responsibility of each rider and each volunteer. To assist with your arrangements, discounted lodging information is available here.

Inside your Ride Hub, you will find tools to help you meet and exceed your Ride goals. You will be able to edit your personal fundraising page and share your story with friends and family.

Click on the "Log In" link and enter your username and password that you selected at the time of registration.

If you're having trouble with our website, please contact our support team.

Visit alz.org/ride, and click "Log In" in the top right corner (or "Ride Hub" if you are already logged in). Once logged in, a menu will slide out on the right. Click the "Edit My Profile" option near the bottom of your screen.

Connect your fundraising efforts directly to your Facebook account in the Ride Hub or on your Ride app home screen. But first, we suggest that you edit your personal page to share your reason for riding.

Log in to your Ride Hub at alz.org/rideor the Ride app with your username and password.

• Ride Hub: Select "My Page" and scroll down to edit and save your story.
• Ride App: Select "Edit Pages" and "Personal" for quick editing on-the-go.

Then return to the "Home" screen and proceed to "Connect Fundraiser to Facebook". You will be prompted to log in to Facebook and click OK to allow permissions to link to your page. Then your friends will easily be able to support you by donating through Facebook.

First, log in to your Ride Hub at alz.org/ride with your username and password. Select "Community" to be directed to our exclusive online Ride Community.

We suggest that you edit your personal page to share your motivation for riding.

• Ride Hub: Log in to your Ride Hub at alz.org/ride with your username and password. Select "My Page" and scroll down to edit and save your story.
• Ride App: Log in to your Ride App with your username and password. Select “Edit Pages” and “Personal” for quick editing on-the-go.
• Pro Tip: Fundraisers who add a personal story and photo raise more money, on average, than participants who don't.

• Ride Hub: Log in to your Ride Hub at alz.org/ride with your username and password. Select "My Progress" to see who has supported you.
• Ride app: Log in to the Ride App and select "Donations". Review the list under "My Donations".

• Ride Hub: Log in to your Ride Hub at alz.org/ride with your username and password. Select "My Team" and scroll down to see your team roster.
• Ride app: Log in to the Ride App and select "Team". Team captains can scroll down to see a listing of all team members.

• Ride Hub: If you are on a team, log in to your Ride Hub and visit the Email section. Near the bottom of the page, click the link to "send email through your Ride Hub." Go to the Contacts tab and use "Teammates" filter to identify your team members. Select all of your team members and click "Email."
• Ride app: Team captains can contact their Team via the mobile app. Log in and select "Team". Then select the "Contact Team" button. This will take you to the email client on your phone and all of your teammates email addresses will be populated in the bcc line (to protect their privacy).

To edit the Team Name, you must be a captain of the team

• Ride Hub: If you are on a team, log into your Ride Hub on alz.org/ride and click the edit icon next to your Team Name in the top left corner.
• Ride app: Log in and select “Team”. Then select the pencil icon next to “Edit Team Name” button, enter your new team name, and choose “Save”.

To edit the Team Goal, you must be a captain of the team

• Ride Hub: Log in to your Ride Hub and find the "Team Progress" bar on the Dashboard. Under the progress bar, click the edit icon next to "Our Goal".
• Ride app: Log into the mobile app with your username and password and find the "My Fundraising Progress" section on the home screen. Select the pencil icon next to the Team Goal.

We do not recommend making your personal page private. A private personal page will not show up when a friend or family member performs a search on our website. Keeping your page public allows you to be found by friends and family who want to support your journey and donate to your Ride.

• Ride App: Use the Ride app for mobile depost. This is the quickest way for fundraising donations to be reflected on your Ride page. Most appear instantly, but some may take up to 48 hours. Click "Donations" and then "Enter Donations" and then "Check Deposit." Just like online banking, you can scan both sides of the check and the name and amount will be added to your fundraising total. You can download the app from the App Store, or Google Play.
• Ride Hub: Log in and select "My Page" and then select the "View Your Page" button. Scroll down and under "My Donors" you will see a Donate via Mail link. This link opens a personalized donation form that can be printed and given to potential donors, or emailed. Please include this form with any mailed checks or money orders.

We sure can! Please contact our support team for assistance.

We sure can! Please contact our support team.

Do not hesitate to reach out to ridesc@alz.org with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.