About the Event
Sample Event
Join us on sample date
Join us on sample date
The Ride for Runaways is an annual, 500-mile, 7-day cycling challenge founded in 1979, and new cycling and walking/running challenges that raise money to support Anchor House, Inc. The mission of Anchor House is to provide youth and young adults who are experiencing abuse, neglect, homelessness, or are aging out of the child welfare system with comprehensive services that offer them and their families the support they need to succeed and thrive.
About 200 participants and over 30 support team participants join the 3 challenges. Our participants represent all walks of life and all ability levels. Donations come from them and other donors, matching gifts, in-kind donations and corporate sponsorships.
The Ride for Runaways is managed by the Anchor House Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, specifically, a 509(a)(1) public charity, and a Ride Committee (RC) with a wealth of knowledge. All of the RC members are participants, some have been for many years.
All of the challenges are non-competitive (other than in fundraising) and untimed (other than the end dates). They conclude the same day, and all participants are invited to a picnic that day at St. James Church in Pennington, NJ and receive an annual t-shirt. Participants and their friends and family are invited to a closing celebration at the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence, NJ.
The Classic Ride is the original challenge. They ride for 7 consecutive days and many have participated for decades. There is a different route every year, although a few start cities have been used more than once. Generally, it starts the Saturday following Independence Day and the start point alternates each year between north and the south of NJ.
Participation is a commitment to raise or donate the minimum (tax-deductible) amount. The purpose of these 3 different challenges is to raise as much money as possible to keep the programs of Anchor House going.
Expectations are that you follow safe riding and walking protocols. We want your challenge to be a safe one for you and others, and participation means representing Anchor House.
A participant may sign up for more than one challenge. One participant did all 3! There is a 50% discount off registration for each subsequent sign-up. After signing up for the 1st challenge, contact Director of Events Catherine "Cie" Stroud at (609) 278-9495 or cstroud@anchorhousenj.org for the discount code for the 2nd one before signing up for it. The minimum fundraising amount will then be the sum of what is expected for each challenge.
Each participant will be given useful fundraising tools including a personal, online fundraising page like these. They offer a message you can write to your donors, Share buttons, the ability to take credit card or PayPal payments, and instructions for mail-in donations and achievement tokens. There is a handy online tool you can use to find companies who will match the donations of their employees (yours or your donors'), and we'll give you a lawn sign to show your community what you care about and explain why you are training diligently! Additionally, there is coaching in fundraising at the 2nd meeting and there are more tips here.
More and more information will be posted to the website and Facebook page as we get closer to the start of the challenges. If at any time you have a question for which you can't find an answer, please don’t hesitate to email the Interim Director, Kathy Drulis at (609) 278-9495 or kdrulis@anchorhousenj.org.
Sign up always begins on MLK Day which for 2025 is January 20th via a link on the home page. To be reminded, mark your calendar, Like and Follow the Facebook page or join the email list here.
Riders will be notified in mid-March of their acceptance. At that time, their participant page will be activated and can be customized, they will have the option to join or create a fundraising team, and their fundraising can begin.
Thank you, on behalf of the kids who are counting on this support.
Ride Safe — Ride Smart,
The Anchor House Foundation Ride for Runaways Ride Committee
About 200 participants and over 30 support team participants join the 3 challenges. Our participants represent all walks of life and all ability levels. Donations come from them and other donors, matching gifts, in-kind donations and corporate sponsorships.
The Ride for Runaways is managed by the Anchor House Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, specifically, a 509(a)(1) public charity, and a Ride Committee (RC) with a wealth of knowledge. All of the RC members are participants, some have been for many years.
All of the challenges are non-competitive (other than in fundraising) and untimed (other than the end dates). They conclude the same day, and all participants are invited to a picnic that day at St. James Church in Pennington, NJ and receive an annual t-shirt. Participants and their friends and family are invited to a closing celebration at the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence, NJ.
The Classic Ride is the original challenge. They ride for 7 consecutive days and many have participated for decades. There is a different route every year, although a few start cities have been used more than once. Generally, it starts the Saturday following Independence Day and the start point alternates each year between north and the south of NJ.
"I love being part of the Anchor House Ride community. I get together with friends I have made on the ride throughout the year -- not just the week of the ride."
— Steve MarinkoThe Flex Ride and the Flex Walk/Run, offer participants their choice of surfaces, routes, dates and times. You can tick off your miles on an exercise bike or treadmill; in your neighborhood, on the bike path or on country roads; alone or with friends (form a team); on the weekend or on vacation.
Participation is a commitment to raise or donate the minimum (tax-deductible) amount. The purpose of these 3 different challenges is to raise as much money as possible to keep the programs of Anchor House going.
Expectations are that you follow safe riding and walking protocols. We want your challenge to be a safe one for you and others, and participation means representing Anchor House.
A participant may sign up for more than one challenge. One participant did all 3! There is a 50% discount off registration for each subsequent sign-up. After signing up for the 1st challenge, contact Director of Events Catherine "Cie" Stroud at (609) 278-9495 or cstroud@anchorhousenj.org for the discount code for the 2nd one before signing up for it. The minimum fundraising amount will then be the sum of what is expected for each challenge.
Each participant will be given useful fundraising tools including a personal, online fundraising page like these. They offer a message you can write to your donors, Share buttons, the ability to take credit card or PayPal payments, and instructions for mail-in donations and achievement tokens. There is a handy online tool you can use to find companies who will match the donations of their employees (yours or your donors'), and we'll give you a lawn sign to show your community what you care about and explain why you are training diligently! Additionally, there is coaching in fundraising at the 2nd meeting and there are more tips here.
More and more information will be posted to the website and Facebook page as we get closer to the start of the challenges. If at any time you have a question for which you can't find an answer, please don’t hesitate to email the Interim Director, Kathy Drulis at (609) 278-9495 or kdrulis@anchorhousenj.org.
Sign up always begins on MLK Day which for 2025 is January 20th via a link on the home page. To be reminded, mark your calendar, Like and Follow the Facebook page or join the email list here.
Riders will be notified in mid-March of their acceptance. At that time, their participant page will be activated and can be customized, they will have the option to join or create a fundraising team, and their fundraising can begin.
Thank you, on behalf of the kids who are counting on this support.
Ride Safe — Ride Smart,
The Anchor House Foundation Ride for Runaways Ride Committee
