Beacon Supports FARA Charity Bike Ride
Sarah Makiejus Global Marketing Manager
PanAmerican Seed proudly showed its support for this year’s charitable organisation by participating in the rideATAXIA fundraiser this summer.
The rideATAXIA bike ride was hosted in Channahon, Illinois, USA, along the I&M Canal on Sunday, July 9. Members of the PanAmerican Seed team have close ties to this worthy cause as Janessa Bender has been involved in the ride for 14 years and Valerie Lynch whose husband has the disease participated for their first time. They created a company team to bike in this year’s fundraiser.
Our team raised $3,474.00 (USD) of a $5,000 goal. We also donated 20 color bowls of various Beacon Impatiens to each of the team captains. Beacon Strong tattoos and stickers were also given to participants, which they adorned throughout the day.
Participants from PanAmerican Seed’s Team Beacon were: Sara Makiejus, Janessa Bender, Simone Crain and family, Hannah Swegarden, Roberto Lozano, and Valerie and Jake Lynch.
In addition to our participation, a percentage of our Beacon Impatiens global seed sales (read here to learn more) will be given to The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA – US) and Friedreich Ataxia Research Association (fara – Australia). We’re shining the light on Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder that affects one in 40,000 people globally.
