Frequently Asked Questions

Your General Questions Answered

What’s in store for Pedal the Cause 2023?

Join us in Chesterfield September 23-24, 2023 for a weekend filled with scenic bike rides, outdoor spin sessions, entertainment, amazing food from local chefs and celebration with the Pedal Family.

With eight courses on Sunday including 6 road and 2 gravel courses, three spin zone sessions and a flexible
Inspired option, there’s something for everyone! Whether you decide to join us in person as a rider, spinner or volunteer, or from home as a virtual Inspired participant, you’ll be helping create a world without cancer.

Can I change my participation type?

Participants who would like to change their participation from Inspired (virtual) to in-person can make that adjustment through their Pedal the Cause profile. Those who would like to switch from in-person to Inspired can send an email to info@pedalthecause.org.

What are the fundraising and registration rates for Pedal the Cause?

Registration and fundraising rates vary by participation type and the number of days for which you register. Click HERE for a detailed breakdown of the rates by date and participation type.

When are your 2023 training rides?

A variety of training ride options will be available throughout the year! Visit our Training Resources page for a schedule and details on training ride events and other training resources.

How will I get my participant packet, jersey, and other swag?

Packet pickup for in-person riders and spinners will take place event weekend at the Chesterfield Mall. Stay tuned for more details on packet pickup times and instructions.

Virtual participants will receive participant packets by mail. Packets will be mailed to the address used at registration. If you need to update your address, you can log in and edit your personal details, or email info@pedalthecause.org.

How can I find a participant or team profile page?

You can search all registered teams and participants HERE.

Your Rider & Spinner Questions Answered

How do I create a Facebook Fundraiser?

Anyone registered for Pedal the Cause can now create a Facebook Fundraiser, whether you are a rider, spinner, volunteer, Kids Challenger, or DIY fundraiser! Setting up a Facebook Fundraiser allows your Facebook friends to donate to your ride through the Facebook platform, and the donations will automatically show up on your Pedal the Cause fundraising profile and count toward your commitment. To learn how to set up a Facebook Fundraiser and use it to raise even more money for cancer research, click here.

I participated in last year’s ride, but how do I register for this year’s ride?

If you participated in last year’s event, we have your profile  information on file in our database from last year. To register for this year’s event, click the Register button at the top of the screen. The first thing it will ask is if you are a returning participant. Click “Yes, I am a returning participant” and enter in your login username and password. Then, you will have a chance to edit your information and complete your registration for this year’s ride. If you do not remember your login info, click here: Help! I forgot my username or password! Enter your email address and you will receive an emailed link to change your username and/or password. Note this link is only active for 2 hours.

Need help uploading your profile picture?

Your picture cannot be larger than 1MB and must be in a common image format – JPG, JPEG or GIF. If your image is too large, please resize it using an image editing program or an online editor such as simpleimageresizer.com). Please don’t make it too small, because it may end up blurry when our system processes it.

How do I change my login username or password?

To change your username or password, log in to your profile page here. Click “Edit Your Personal Details” under the “My Profile” menu. Scroll down to Login Information and change your password in both the “Password” and “Confirm Password” fields. Be sure to click “Save” at the bottom. If you need to retrieve your username or password, click here. Enter your email address and click “Go” to receive an email with your username.  Return to the “Help! I forgot my username or password!” and enter your username, then click “Go” again.  A link to view your password will be emailed to you. Note this link is only active for 2 hours. Once you have retrieved your login information, return to the login screen and follow the instructions above to edit your username or password.

Click here for instructions that include screenshots.

How do I change the info in my personal profile?

You can change this information by logging into your profile page and clicking the “Edit Your Details” link under the “My Profile” menu. Here you can also hide your fundraising goal, and make your donor list private. Make sure to hit “Save” after making any changes.

How do I hide my fundraising goal?

You can change this information by logging into your profile page and clicking the “Edit Your Details” link under the “My Profile” menu. Select “No” from the “Show fundraising progress bar” drop down and make sure to hit “Save” at the bottom of the page.

How do I hide my donor list?

You can change this information by logging into your profile page and clicking the “Edit Your Details” link under the “My Profile” menu. Select “No” from the “Show Donor List” drop down and make sure to hit “Save” at the bottom of the page.

What is a Yellow Jersey? / What is an incentive?

You can earn some major perks by committing to and achieving Yellow Jersey and raising $2,500 or more. Earn even more as a King of the Mountains, Road Warrior, or Podium fundraiser. Learn more about all incentive levels here!

Kids Challenge Questions Answered

When is the Kids Challenge Event?

The 2023 Pedal the Cause Kids Challenge returns to PTC weekend on Saturday, September 23 at the Chesterfield Mall. Kids ages 3-13 can choose from 2 course options and shift times. Enjoy food, entertainment and family-friendly activities all day! To learn more click here.

What are the fundraising requirements for Kids Challenge?

There are no fundraising requirements for the Kids Challenge event just a registration fee of $50. The registration fee includes Kids Challenge T-Shirt and other goodies. However, if a Kids Challenge participant decides to fundraise there are incentives at the $100, $250, $500, and $1,000 levels. To learn more about the Fundraising Incentives click here.

Your Volunteer Questions Answered

Where and when can I volunteer?

There are so many ways to get involved from working at a refueling station to cheering on the riders at a Spirit Station. We have event weekend opportunities as well as year-round office volunteer needs. Click here to see all of the opportunities and to register.

How do I sign up to volunteer?

Volunteers play a vital role in the success of our event! Click here to see all of the opportunities and to register. Contact volunteer@pedalthecause.org with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter here. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, too!

What is the minimum age to volunteer?

You must be 13 years of age at the time of the event to volunteer for Pedal the Cause.

Can a volunteer fundraise?

Absolutely! We invite all of our volunteers to actively help us fundraise for life-saving cancer research and can earn incentives! For those wishing to do so, you have the tools necessary to execute a fundraising campaign through your volunteer profile page. After you register as a volunteer, log in using your username and password to view and customize your page. You can solicit and receive donations through your volunteer profile page and track your fundraising. You can even set up a Facebook Fundraiser!

Can I volunteer with my team/club/group?

Yes, you may volunteer with your group for a specific volunteer job but keep in mind that all volunteers must register individually first. Additionally, there may be a set number of open shifts available so it is best to encourage your group to register early to ensure you all can volunteer together. If you are a corporate volunteer group and would like some guidance on how you can sign up your company to volunteer, please email volunteer@pedalthecause.org.

Your Donor Questions Answered

How do I make a donation?

You can make a donation by clicking the “Donate” button at the top of the screen. You may select to make a general donation, donate to a specific rider or team, or make a donation to support operations.

How do I make multiple donations at one time?

You can make as many donations to different riders and/or teams as you’d like at one time by clicking “Add Another Donation” on the rider’s or team’s donation screen. When you are done selecting your riders /teams you would like to donate to, enter in the information in the field for each rider / team, and then click “Check Out”. Your credit card will be charged the sum of the donations made.

How do I get a Facebook Fundraiser Tax Receipt?

When someone makes a donation on Facebook, a payment receipt is sent to the primary email listed on their Facebook account.

Your donation receipt includes the organization’s name, logo, mission statement and EIN. It also confirms that the person has made a donation as a charitable contribution and that they’re not receiving any goods or services in return.

Find your receipt in your Facebook payment history.

Can I donate stock or donor advised funds to Pedal the Cause?

Yes! Both stock donations and donor advised funds are accepted by Pedal the Cause, and you can even apply these funds towards your ride or team fundraising! For more info, or to make a donation this way, please email development@pedalthecause.org.

Do I need a login (username and password) to make a donation to a rider?

No, you do not need login information to make a donation. Simply click on the “donate” button on our website, and select “Individual/Team donation.” You will then be taken to a page to search for the rider you would like to support. Once you have found their profile, click “donate” and follow the instructions.  All donations made online are 100% secure.  We do not store credit card info in our database from donors.

Can I make a memorial donation?

Yes, you may make a donation in memory of a loved one. Write “In Memory of <name>” on the memo line of the check and please provide a name and address of a family member to receive acknowledgement of the donation. When donating online, check the “In Memory of” box, and the provide the name and address of a family member to receive acknowledgement of the donation in the space provided below. Email us at development@pedalthecause.org with any questions.

How do I make a check donation?

To make a donation, click on the  “Donate Now” button on the participants page you wish to donate to. Enter the Donation Amount and the Recognition Name (this is the name that will be listed next to your donation on the public profile page of the participant). Select “check” from the “Payment Method” section of the donation page and fill out the billing information. After submitting your donation, print the invoice from the Thank You page by selecting “Click here to view the invoice for your donation”. If you forget to print this invoice, print a copy of the Thank You email that you will receive at the email address you provided (it will contain the same information). If you don’t have a printer, write down the Gift ID you were given upon making a check pledge on the memo line of your check. Please make the check payable to Pedal the Cause and mail the check and invoice to: CIBC c/o Pedal the Cause 8410 Solutions Center Chicago, IL 60677-8004

Please note, our sponsor, CIBC, has their processing center in Chicago, therefore checks go through Chicago to credit to Pedal the Cause. All donations stay here in St. Louis and 100% of participant-raised funds directly support cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

What do I do if a donor handed me their check?

Please go online and make a check pledge. Then mail the check to us at the above address. Make sure that the Gift ID of their check pledge and your Rider # and/or name are included on the memo line, so that we may appropriately apply the donation to your ride.

What do I do with cash donations?

Credit card and check donations are always best for tax acknowledgement purposes. If you are a donor, you must bring the cash donation to the Pedal the Cause office if you wish to receive a tax acknowledgement receipt. Pedal the Cause cannot issue a tax acknowledgement for cash donation submitted by anyone other than the actual donor. Please do not send cash through the mail. If you are a rider who has received a cash donation, either from an individual or from an event, please do not bring the cash to the office. Instead, please keep the cash and make an online donation to yourself for that amount. Please note that Pedal the Cause cannot issue tax acknowledgements for cash donations that are not brought directly to the Pedal the Cause office by the actual donor. Please do not send cash through the mail.

Looking for info on corporate matching?

The corporate matching program is a way for companies and corporations to acknowledge and support the donations made by their employees. Through corporate matching, you can match your employee’s gifts to Pedal the Cause, making every dollar go further. To get started:

  • Check with your human resources office to see if they offer gift matching. If they don’t, you may want to ask your company to start one.
  • If your company does offer gift matching, your human resources department should provide all of the employees who are participating in Pedal the Cause with a matching gift form to send to Pedal the Cause. Please have them fill out the form and email it to info@pedalthecause.org.

How do I transfer a donation to my team member?

There are two ways to share funds among team members:

  1. The team’s general funds may be shared among individual members who still require funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.
  2. An individual team member’s funds in excess of their minimum fundraising commitment may be transferred to another team member who still needs additional funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.

Your team captain must submit a funds transfer form. All requests to share funds in either of these scenarios MUST be completed by the team captain at least one week before the fundraising deadline. Please talk to your team captain if you are interested in transferring funds or email development@pedalthecause.org for assistance.

What if I meant to make a donation to a rider or team but accidentally made a general donation instead?

Please contact us, at info@pedalthecause.org or 314.787.1990, if you would like to change your donation to designate it to a specific rider or team.

Why doesn't the amount "I've raised" equal the total donations on my profile page?

While every donation pledged to you is immediately reflected on your list of donations, a check donation can only be added to the amount that you’ve raised after the check has been received (and processed) by the Pedal the Cause office. To see which check donations have not yet been received by the Pedal the Cause office, log in to your profile page to view your donor list. Check donations which have not yet been received will not have a green checkmark next to the dollar amount.

What happens when donors do not send the check donations they have pledged?

It is up to you to make sure your donors send their checks. When logged in, you can view your profile and look at the details for each donation. Donations without a green checkmark next to the dollar amount are donations which Pedal the Cause has yet to receive. If some time passes and you don’t see a change, you may want to follow up with that donor and remind them of the donation they’ve pledged. Please remember, any unpaid pledges will not count toward your fundraising and you are still responsible for meeting your fundraising minimum. If a donor never sends the check they pledged to the Pedal the Cause office, it will not be counted towards the amount you’ve raised. If you need that check donation to meet your minimum fundraising commitment, you must follow up with the donor to make sure they send the check to the Pedal the Cause office by the fundraising deadline of October 31st. Pedal the Cause does not contact individual donors on your behalf. Pedal the Cause does not send a separate invoice for check donations other than the invoices that are sent in the emails immediately after the check donations are pledged.

Can I change a recognition name?

If you would like to change the recognition name that appears on the riders public profile page, please send an email to info@pedalthecause.org. Please include the following information: rider name; donor name; date of the donation; and desired recognition name.

Is my donation tax deductible?

All donations are 100% tax deductible. All credit card donors will immediately receive a tax acknowledgement letter via email. All check donors will receive a tax acknowledgement letter (snail-mail) within 7 days of the check being processed by the bank.

Is Pedal the Cause a 501 (c)(3)?

Yes, Pedal the Cause is a 501(c)(3).  Our Annual Reports and 990s are available on our About Us page. Our Tax ID# is 27-2233336. If you would like more information or have any questions, please email info@pedalthecause.org with your questions.

Your Team Questions Answered

What are Pedal the Cause teams?

A Pedal the Cause team is a great way for a group of riders, spinners, volunteers, and virtual riders to share their experience. In addition to the individual rider profile pages, a separate team profile page allows you to highlight your roster and your motivation for riding. Team members can share donations made to their team as a whole and/or share funds raised by individual members. Funds may only be shared with fellow team members.

How can teams share funds?

There are two ways to share funds among team members:

  1. The team’s general funds may be shared among individual members who still require funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.
  2. An individual team member’s funds in excess of their minimum fundraising commitment may be transferred to another team member who still needs additional funds to reach their minimum fundraising commitment.

Your Team Captain must submit a Funds Transfer form. All requests to share funds in either of these scenarios MUST be completed by the team captain at least one week before the fundraising deadline.  Please talk to your team captain if you are interested in sharing funds or email development@pedalthecause.org if you need assistance.

Can I change the name of my team?

Yes, the team captain can change the name of your team by emailing development@pedalthecause.org with the current team name and the new team name.

How can I join a team?

You can select to join a team during the registration process. If you have already registered, log into your profile and click the “Join a Team” link in the left submenu, then select the team you wish to join from the list. The team captain will receive a notification email when you join the team.

How can I create a team?

You can create a team during the registration process. If you have already registered, log into your profile and click the “Create a Team” link in the left submenu. You’ll be asked for the name of your team and the type of team. If you are creating a team for your company, you are creating a Corporate Challenge team. If you are creating a team and are affiliated with the Hospital, you are creating a Hospital team. If you are creating a team for friends and family, you are a creating a Friends and Family team.

Can I be a member of more than one team?

Participants can be a member of only one team because your membership adds to the team’s fundraising total.

What is a Corporate Challenge team?

Any company/corporate team is designated a Corporate Challenge team. There is no limit to the number of riders and riders adhere to the standard fee and fundraising requirements.

How do I sign up my company for the Corporate Challenge?

If you are to be the Team Captain, when registering it will ask if you would like to Join a Team, Start a Team, or Ride as an Individual. Select “Start a Team”. Type in the name of your place of work as the team name and select “Corporate Challenge” as the type of team. If your business participated last year, instead select “Join a Team” and pick your team from last year from the drop down menu.

What is a Hospital Affiliate team?

Any employee of our beneficiaries and their supporting and related medical facilities are a Hospital Affiliate Teams. This includes Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, BJC Healthcare, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Siteman Cancer Center.

What is a Friends & Family team?

Any group of people not affiliated with a single company as part of our Corporate Challenge or one of our beneficiary organizations, may start their own Friends & Family team.

What is a Ride for a Child team?

A Ride for a Child team is a team that is participating in our Ride for a Child program. Participating teams train, fundraise, and ride in honor of a child who is receiving or has received treatment for cancer at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Visit our Ride for a Child page for more information and contact darby@pedalthecause.org if you are interested in having your team participate in the Ride for a Child program.

Your Inspired Questions Answered

Where should I ride my bike on Pedal Weekend?

We request that virtual Inspired participants do NOT ride on Pedal-supported courses on Pedal Weekend for the safety of all PTC participants. We recommend you ride your bike where you are most comfortable and where the current social distancing guidelines allow. This may be using your driveway as your personal start/finish line, or this may mean driving to a dedicated bike trail for your ride. Ride solo or make it a family affair. It’s up to you! We encourage you to get creative. You can find some route suggestions on the Training webpage.

What does my $50 registration fee include?

Your virtual participation registration fee includes a high-quality Primal performance tee or jersey, a PTC swag bag, and access to our live-stream Inspirational Program.

Your Champions Circle Questions Answered

What is Champions Circle?

An audacious vision for A World Without Cancer was the starting line for Pedal the Cause in 2009. With Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital as our beneficiaries, Pedal has funded early-stage cancer research in St. Louis with a collective $37 million that, in turn, has attracted an additional $250 million in national funding. After more than a decade of successfully building and delivering upon our promises, we are ready to go to the next level, but need annual capacity-building support to get us there.

Your A World Without Cancer Day Questions Answered

When is A World Without Cancer Day?

A World Without Cancer Day takes place on the first Friday of August each year. This year, we celebrate A World Without Cancer Day on Friday, August 4, 2023.

Have a question we didn’t answer?

Send us a message with your question and we’ll get back to you within 1 business day!