WILLIAMSBURG — The Tour de Midnight is an annual bike ride in Rockville that helps raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia (EFVA), and this year it has added Williamsburg as a satellite location.
The ride kicks off at 9 a.m. from Frothy Moon Brewhouse on Oct. 21.
EFVA has many programs in place for epilepsy patients and their families who are navigating the disease. The group advocates for those who suffer with the disease and provide epileptic episode response training for professionals, colleagues, families and friends of those who have epilepsy, create school programs, medication assistance, transportation assistance, scholarships, legislative work, and support groups. The money raised from the ride helps fund many of these programs.
More than 86,000 people in Virginia have been diagnosed with epilepsy, according to the organization.
EFVA has been raising funds with the ride for eight years. As it debuts this year in its Williamsburg satellite location, ride director Dennis Terry and Williamsburg location director and Tour de Midnight board member Amy Dudeck have been working hard to ensure a fun time for all.
Riders can bike their own distance and families are strongly encouraged to attend. The event caps off with an after-party at Frothy Moon beginning at noon with raffles and a 50/50.
“A lot of people get confused with the name including midnight, thinking that it’s a night ride. The name comes from the first race, which was hosted at Midnight Brewery,” Terry says.
During the ride, bikers are encouraged to use trails and bike paths located around Frothy Moon Brewhouse to maintain safety. No minimum distance is required for participants at satellite locations. Bikers can start as early as 9 a.m.
“The cool thing with the satellite locations, because we don’t leave the start in bulk, people can start when they’d like to, depending on how far they want to bike. It’s a ride your own distance with their own path,” Terry said. “Every location is so different, but we want this to be a very successful fundraiser for the EFVA. As much as the day is a fun event with the bike ride and after party, it’s about spreading epilepsy awareness,” Dudeck said.
To raise awareness about epilepsy, the main location in Rockville and satellite locations in Williamsburg and Vienna will all have guest speakers who are either patients with epilepsy or physicians who specialize in epilepsy. Each speaker will be broadcast to the other locations during the after-party.
“This is probably one of the best parts of this event because, at the end of the day, we’re trying to educate, create awareness, and shine a light on epilepsy as best as we can. Hearing from those who have the disease makes it real for many people. At the end of the day, there is never a dry eye when these people share their stories. That’s why we do what we do,” Dudeck shared.
For Terry, being involved with hosting the annual ride is personal. Terry’s daughter is an epilepsy patient. She started suffering from seizures right before she was set to begin her third year of college.
“For everyone that is suffering from epilepsy, we want them to be seizure-free. We’re passionate about what we do because we know that what we’re doing really brings the emotion and passion behind it. This bike ride sends the message home to physicians, patients, families, and the public,” Terry said.
The Williamsburg location is also partnering with the Williamsburg Bike Co-Op to help bring in bike donations for kids and adults in the area. Donations will be accepted on-site at Frothy Moon.
Registration closes for the ride on Oct. 17. To sign up to ride, volunteer or learn more about the ride, visit bikereg.com/tourdemidnight. For more information on the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, visit epilepsyva.com.