Maimonides hosts 11th annual Ride2Live to benefit breast cancer

Ride on for breast cancer.

Maimonides Medical Center hosted its 11^th annual Ride2Live to benefit its Breast Cancer Center on Saturday, October 14.

The Maimonides Breast Cancer Center partnered with Bikers of Brooklyn to host the benefit.

It was led by Chair of the Department of Surgery and Director of the Maimonides Breast Cancer Center Dr. Patrick Borgen.

According to Michael Brincat, Cancer Center liaison, the tradition has played a key role for Maimonides. “About 11 years ago, the Bikers of Brooklyn came to Dr. Borgen, who’s an avid motorcycle rider also, and wanted to collaborate to raise money and awareness for breast cancer here in Brooklyn,” he said. “Our first ride, we started out with about 15-20 bikes. Now 11 years later, we have grown to, if its nice weather, over 250 bikes.”

This year, 150 bikers participated in the event. “We raised about $35,000 this year,” Brincat said. “We do a scenic ride throughout Brooklyn,” including Fourth Avenue to the Barclays Center, Ocean Parkway, the Belt Parkway to Mill Basin and back to Sheepshead Bay.

The riders — some of whom have been riding in the event since the beginning, he said — stand out. “Motorcycles were covered in pink,” Brincat said. “These guys are just trying to spread awareness for breast cancer and early detection.”

The bikers bring extra helmets and put breast cancer patients on the back of their bikes, according to Brincat.

The event has deep meaning for those that are a part of the event each year, he stressed. “I think it shows that people care about the disease and finding a cure, and early detection is the best way to overcome it,” Brincat noted. “A lot of people want to be involved. We have a large amount of bikers whose wives were affected by breast cancer. We actually had a biker who has an uncle that was diagnosed with breast cancer; it doesn’t discriminate between male and female.”

After the ride, attendees linger at the Baron Dekalb Knights of Columbus Hall in Sheepshead Bay for an after-party featuring live music, raffles and barbecue favorites for lunch.

“Our physicians have a band called Mazel Tov Cocktail that played for four hours,” said Brincat, adding, “Every one of the members is a physician.”