Contact Us
Fan Mail:
Breast Cancer Ride
P.O. Box 464
Rosemount,
MN 55068
Digits:
651-209-8387
Web & Email:
www.breastcancerride.org & info@breastcancerride.org
Staff:
Kari Mitchell | executive director (bio)
Kari@charityeventsofminnesota.org
Bo
Mitchell | communication director (bio)
Bo@charityeventsofminnesota.org
Event
Management Crew:
The Event Management Crew is a group of
dedicated volunteers that go above and beyond the call-of-duty to help
make the Ride possible.
They put in hours all year long to make your experience a great one. If
you want to throw out any thank you's, these are the folks to thank!
Kelsey Nolander | crew director (bio)
Kelsey@charityeventsofminnesota.org
Kyle Schmit | road manager (bio)
Kyle@charityeventsofminnesota.org
Sue Courteau | camp manager (bio)
Sue@charityeventsofminnesota.org
Maureen Carlson | recruitment manager
Maureen@charityeventsofminnesota.org
Gretchen Harris | route manager
gretchen@charityeventsofminnesota.org
Rachel Rudy | the intern (bio)
Rachel@charityeventsofminnesota.org
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Besides God, my mom ("Big Jean") is the biggest influence on my life. She was an 18-year breast cancer survivor before passing away due to lung cancer in 2002. I always felt a connection to breast cancer because it was a disease that tried to take my mom away. But I was lucky. After her diagnosis and treatment, I got 18 more wonderful and amazing years with her. She is the primary reason why I created the Breast Cancer Ride. I could go on and on for days about my mom, but this is neither the time nor the place. A bio is what you came for, so a bio is what you shall get. I started my multi-day cycling adventure in 1995 when I signed up to ride in the Twin Cities to Chicago AIDS Ride. I was 20 years old when I completed that 6-day, 525 mile ride and for the first time in my life I felt like a hero. I was so moved that I decided to ride in 5 different rides around the country the next summer tallying up about 2,500 miles and raising about $12,000. Then, the following summer I started working for the company that produced the AIDSRide by signing on as staff of The Big Ride Across America where I helped run the logistics of a cross-country bike ride. I stayed with that company producing the AIDSRide until 2002 when the company shut down. However, as fate would have it, I was hired by nine different Minnesota-based nonprofits to create and produce the Red Ribbon Ride, which I did - and loved - for the next 5 years. But after a friend was diagnosed (at age 40) with breast cancer I decided it was time for me to finally follow my passion for helping those with breast cancer and I quit my job and started a new nonprofit to produce this event. To me, the Breast Cancer Ride is a moving monument to the lives of my mother, my friend Jen (who is still kicking breast cancer's butt) and all of the other women and men touched by breast cancer. This is not just a job to me. This is more than what I do. This is who I am. (Oh, I am also the wife of a wonderful man named Bo who has given me a very cool stepson Holden, a lovely and talented step-step-daughter Kourtney, and an adorable fur baby Chihuahua, Dobi. Life is good!) Return to top.
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Bo has been by Kari's side helping since Day 1 of The Ride... primarily because he is married to her. However, Bo also "officially" serves as the Communications Director of the Ride and assists by doing everything from recruiting participants and sponsors to writing press releases and creating ads. Bo did his first multiple day bicycle ride back in 1997 when he rode in the Twin Cities to Chicago AIDS Ride (with Kari) and is a veteran of the first two Breast Cancer Rides in 2008 and 2009. Thus, when it comes to the joys and pains of doing a multiple-day biking event, he gets it. When not helping with the Ride, Bo's writing can be found at FoxSportsNorth.com and he can be heard weekly talking sports on the airwaves at KFAN. Return to top.
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What can we say about Kelsey? She is the reason why our Ride runs so smooth. She volunteers an absurd amount of hours so that the Riders and Crew have a positive and worthwhile experience. Return to top.
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With ten years of experience managing multi-day cycling events, Kyle Schmit brings knowledge, passion and dedication to the Ride. Kyle’s Crew experiences on 11 AIDS Rides, 4 Red Ribbon Rides, AIDS Trek, Minnesota AIDS Walk and now with The Hartford Breast Cancer Ride, have allowed him to focus his volunteer endeavors with grass-roots organizations directly helping those who need it most. Professionally, Kyle’s role at Minneapolis based Aveda Corp. as Show + Production Manager is to produce more than 20 high-level events annually for the company around the world. At Aveda, he is well respected for constantly working to protect and further Aveda’s environmental mission. He has been featured in Meetings & Conventions Magazine talking about the unique challenges of producing events from an environmental perspective. Recently, Kyle was awarded Aveda’s prestigious Global Steward Award for his environmental leadership. Return to top.
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Sue was born to organize! By day she plans, organizes and creates over 75 events and activities each year for her employer TDS. TDS recognizes giving back to the community and recently recognized Sue as the TDS Volunteer of Q3 in 2009. Part of their committment to community, TDS generously gives its employees 8 hours every quarter to volunteer! The time allows Sue to follow her passions and make a difference at the BCR. This year Sue will be managing the Camp Crews.
Sue became involved in the BCR shortly after her sister-in-law Chris was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer. Not knowing how to help her - she got involved in finding a cure and making a difference. As a walker during a Susan G Komen 3 day event, she saw a BCR table at a pit stop and that was all it took. She and her husband Mark have been involved in the ride since the inagural year. "The ride is small and intimate. You feel like you can make a difference! The work is good for your soul and it makes your heart happy and the best part all for an amazing cause."
The BCR is even becoming a family and work tradition. Family and co-workers are joining the BCR by crewing and riding. "I love the time with my family, friends and co-workers. Once they get involved they are hooked! Mark is riding this year and several family members from all over the country are coming to join in and help at the ride. "We will find a cure and put an end to this terrible disease or fight and work like warriors trying!" Return to top.
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Rachel Rudy is a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities majoring in Political Science and French. This will be her first time helping with the Ride. Return to top.
Maureen Carlson - coming soon!
Gretchen Harris - coming soon!
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The Hartford Breast Cancer Ride presented by RE/MAX Results is created and produced by Charity Events of Minnesota (CEoM), a registered 501(c)3 with the state of Minnesota (EIN 20-8160744). CEoM's mission is to create fundraising events for other nonprofit organizations in the state of Minnesota.
Proceeds from the Ride are split 50/50 between Open Arms of Minnesota and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Minnesota Affiliate. Return to top.