BMXers raise big bucks for cancer research
By Kevin Gate Special to the Acorn

CRUISIN' AGAINST CANCER- Members of the Eight-0-Five BMX racing club pose in front of an $8,432 check that they raised for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during Sunday's Ride for Life held at Sycamore BMX in Simi Valley.

Eight-0-Five Racing, a local BMX team, rallied donations last weekend at "Race For Life," a charity event held at Sycamore BMX on a beautiful, clear, sunny day in Simi Valley.

More than 100 individual riders and two racing teams participated in the event, with all proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The American Bicycle Association founded the Race For Life charity organization in 1981 after 12-year-old Michigan rider Todd Kingsbury, an avid BMX racer, died from cancer.

Simi resident Amy Call, one of the founding members of Eight0Five Racing, said the event is a great way for the riders to get in touch with their altruistic side.

"We emphasize on giving back to the community- it's only about the kids," Call said.

Together with her husband, Dennis, and friends Eric and Britney Alton, she established the racing group in 2005, and the team's been growing ever since. Eight-0-Five has members from throughout Ventura County, most of whom took part in Sunday's race. The team's been climbing the racing ranks both locally and nationally.

"Right now currently on the national level our team is in 12th place," Britney Alton said.

The team, made up of 19 racers between the ages of 4 and 42, raised $4,000 during last year's Race for Life and more than doubled their earnings for charity this year, bringing in $8,432 last weekend, Call said.

Sunday's races included 28 "motos"- qualifying events determined by age, group and class- and about 10 main event races on the dirt track of Sycamore BMX, a semi-hidden raceway located on Sycamore Drive near Rancho Simi Community Park.

"We're all about racing and having fun; we're a no drama, no politics team," Britney Alton said.

More information on Sycamore BMX can be found at sycamorebmx.com, which includes information about Eight0-Five racing and upcoming events.