BY KAREN BOSSICK

Victoria Drier grew up in St. Louis but spent many a winter and summer in Sun Valley at her grandparents’ home in Greenhorn.

Under Carolyn and Jay Henges’ care, she learned to ski on Dollar Mountain, graduating to Baldy. She hiked the trails out Greenhorn, rode horses on the trails around Galena Lodge, tried her hand at sporting clays, searched for treasures at the Gold Mine, bought gifts at Country Cousin and happily wolfed down wraps at Wrapcity, burgers and fries at The Wicked Spud, those potatoes at Perry’s and occasional Bowls of Soul at Java.

That came to an end just before Christmas in December 2018 when she lost a 12-year-battle with brain cancer at age 28.

Recognizing her love for life, her cousin Ben Frank is organizing a Rally in the Valley, joining Pedal the Cause in the fight against cancer.

He’ll be leading a group ride 36 miles roundtrip on the Harriman Trail from the SNRA Visitors Center to Galena Lodge at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26. Victoria’s grandmother Carlyn Henges will be at the start line, sending the group off with great fanfare and welcoming them back at the end.

A hundred percent of money raised will go to funding innovative cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital where Victoria was treated in collaboration with scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Pedal the Cause—the venture capital arm for the research—has funded $32 million in start-up research over the past 11 years that has attracted an additional $225 million in federal funds. Its research has led to clinical trials, treatments and cures that are made available to Sun Valley and the rest of the world.

“Time to turn that mountain, gravel road or Ebike into a cancer curing bike!” said Frank. “Join the cause, the fight for a world without cancer, the first ever Rally in the Valley.”

There are several ways a person can be part of the cancer fighting team:

• Donate to Ben Frank’s ride at: https://www.mypedalthecause.org/riders_profile.jsp?MemberID=193996

• Join as a rider on “Team Victoria Sun Valley” (ID#193975): https://www.pedalthecause.org/register/

• Learn more about “Team Victoria Sun Valley”: https://www.mypedalthecause.org/team_profile.jsp?MemberID=193975
• Donate to “Team Victoria Sun Valley” (ID#193975): https://www.mypedalthecause.org/donation.jsp?MemberID=193975

Those who would like to physically participate but want to do it at their own speed can do any other ride, walk, hike or run on their own any time Saturday, Sept. 25, or Sunday, Sept. 26. Heck, you can even spin.

Questions? Email ben@benjaminfrank.com or text or call him at 916-425-1475.

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