MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake BMX will be hosting its annual Race for Life on Friday, raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

“This is annual, we do it every year,” Moses Lake BMX Communications Director Bethany Beck said. “All the Moses Lake riders have the opportunity to each individually raise money that goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”

The Race for Life Series began in 1981 after Todd Kingsbury from Michigan discovered he had Leukemia. Once learning of the diagnosis, his friends and the American Bicycle Association began the Race for Life event.

Riders do their own fundraising online and pool the money in together, with rewards given to those who reach certain fundraising tiers. According to the USA BMX Foundation, those who raise from $50 to $299.99 will receive a shirt and wristband, from $300 to $499.99 will receive a jacket and over $500 will receive a free entry fee to the 2022 Grand Nationals.

“We have several riders who have already hit a couple hundred bucks already,” Beck said.

Race for Life meets are held at BMX courses across the country, with this year’s race at the Moses Lake track being held on Friday. Beck said that other tracks like Spokane and Tri-Cities host Race for Life events as well.

“It’s more than just those three tracks,” she said. “There’s other tracks within the state and other states that do it as well, not just Washington or locally.”

The race is being advertised as a bonus point weekend, in collaboration with Cherry Hill BMX and Spokane BMX. There are bonus points for riders showing up and attending the races, however, the Moses Lake race is the only Race for Life.

“This weekend we have our Race for Life, and then Spokane and Cherry Hill (are) having double points races,” Beck said. “So, we’re advertising it as a 600 point weekend. Riders can get extra points because we don’t give out trophies because it’s a fundraiser event.”

The Moses Lake race is the first of the weekend, held at 7 p.m. on Friday. The next is Cherry Hill at 10 a.m., and Spokane at 7 p.m., both on Saturday.

Registration for the Moses Lake race is open online at https://moseslakebmx.presign.me/ or in person, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Larson BMX Track. Registration costs $20.

“It’s just a good way to build sportsmanship and raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and gives the kids purpose with their riding as well,” Beck said.

Ian Bivona may be reached at [email protected].