History of the ALS DoubleDay

The ALS DoubleDay was started in 2000 as the “Ride 4 Life” by ALS patient and bike enthusiast Mark Reiman. Mark sought every opportunity to raise awareness for ALS and was inspired by a group that started the Ride 4 Life in New York ALS patients who rode their wheelchairs from New York City to Washington D.C. in 13 days! Having never heard of a bike ride for ALS, Mark took it upon himself, with the help of former classmates from Mount Vernon High School, to organize a ride that would raise awareness and funds in the fight against ALS and take place in the beautiful Skagit Valley, the area where he grew up.

Changed to the ALS DoubleDay in 2001, the ride has grown each year of its existence and has now raised over $737,000 since its inception, reaching a new record of 257 riders and over $146,600 raised last year! Mark passed away in 2003, but his memory and that of fellow PALS (persons with ALS) continue to inspire new and returning riders to keep pressing forward under the banner of “Nothing less. Cure ALS.”

YEAR	# OF RIDERS	$ RAISED**
2000 Ride 4 Life	71	$58,000+
2001 DoubleDay	100	$60,000+
2002 DoubleDay	127	$84,500+
2003 STP for ALS*	9	$9,000+
2004 DoubleDay	94	$57,000+
2005 DoubleDay	118	$96,000+
2006 DoubleDay	144	$100,000+
2007 DoubleDay	193	$125,900+
2008 DoubleDay	259	$146,600+
* In the absence of the DoubleDay that year, riders rode the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic to raise funds for ALS ** Exact amounts have been rounded down