The annual Great American Bike Race (GABR) returns to Bismarck on May 6 with an expanded mission to say “yes” to more local kids in need of health and healing than ever before.
The Great American Bike Race—a one-of-a-kind stationary bike race—will return to the Bismarck Event Center for its 27th year on May 6 with an expanded mission to benefit more kids than ever before.
Starting this year, funds raised will not only assist families of children with cerebral palsy through the GABR Legacy Fund, but will also help care for all kids who count on Sanford Children’s Hospital and clinics across the Bismarck region by fueling everything from lifesaving pediatric equipment to priceless services like Child Life, family assistance and meaningful details that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
“Lots of requests pass my desk every single day, but I’ve never been able to tell those kids ‘yes’ because they didn’t have cerebral palsy or a disability that met the past qualifications of GABR,” said Sara Haugen, executive director of the Sanford Health Foundation in Bismarck. “Now we’re going to be able to tell many more kids ‘yes, we’re here for you.”
2023 GABR Stars
The expanded mission means more kids—like this year’s GABR Stars—will benefit from GABR and know our community is standing with them, too. Nominated by their Sanford Children’s caregivers, Lane, Grace and Maliha have shown extraordinary strength and courage in the face of tremendous challenges.
LANE
Age: 10 years old
Hometown: Dickinson, North Dakota
Life-changing care: Lane lives with a rare genetic condition that prevents his body from fighting infection on its own. He has counted on Sanford Children’s his entire life.
“He’s always a star to me. I think he’s just gonna show other children that it’s okay to be a little bit different and you can still have fun being different.”
—Lane’s mom, Karmen
GRACE
Age: 6 years old
Hometown: Dickinson, North Dakota
Life-changing care: After developing septic arthritis in her knee, Grace spent 10 days in treatment at Sanford Children’s Hospital.
“We weren’t expecting to spend 10 days in the hospital with her, but we also weren’t expecting to have such an amazing support system there.”
—Grace’s mom, Christina
MALIHA
Age: 3 years old
Hometown: Mandan, North Dakota
Life-changing care: Born with spina bifida, Maliha is making great strides with the Sanford Children’s Therapies team at her side.
“Maliha attends Sanford Children’s weekly with physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech… she gets very excited and starts naming everybody’s names, saying, ‘Go see, go play!’ They have become a second family to us.”
—Maliha’s mom, Ashley
Good fueled by giving
This year, more than 5,000 local kids of all ages, from fragile infants born too soon to children and teens, will count on Sanford Children’s Hospital and clinics across the Bismarck region for extra or unexpected care. At every step of each child’s journey, community generosity for events like GABR helps go above and beyond to meet the needs of young patients in ways that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Gifts fuel everything from magical, kid-friendly spaces to meaningful services like Child Life, direct family assistance, lifesaving pediatric equipment and more.
“We’re very blessed and humbled by the generosity of our community and the big hearts people have for local kids,” says Sara Haugen, executive director of the Sanford Health Foundation in Bismarck. “To honor their trust, we work closely with local Sanford Children’s leaders and caregivers to put 100% of every gift where it’s needed most — meeting the needs of our kids and their families above and beyond what operating budgets alone ever could.”
Haugen says people are often surprised by the powerful ways giving impacts young patients and their families. In this video, you can step inside Sanford Children’s Hospital in Bismarck to see how gifts come to life for the most vulnerable among us, when they’re at their most vulnerable:
Ways to get involved
There are many ways to get involved in this year’s GABR event and show your support local kids and their families:
Round up a team of up to 12 riders to race competitively (or just for fun!) and start raising funds and awareness for local kids. We’ll provide lots of encouragement and help along the way.
Help your favorite riders meet their fundraising goal and trust that 100% of your gift will benefit local kids.
Discover a variety of opportunities to help at the event and behind the scenes.
Give friends and family the chance to win great prizes that support kids!
RSVP to the event for updates and inspiration.
To learn more about the event and the mission, visit gabr.sanfordhealth.org. A full summary of what is changing this year, and what is not, can also be found here.