Athletes Take Part In Bike Ride To Raise Money For Suicide Prevention

Hundreds of cyclists are teaming up to raise money for suicide prevention.

They took part in a bike ride at OSU-Tulsa Sunday morning to help them meet their $50,000 fundraising goal.

Each of the cyclists on the team has to raise $500 before the Tulsa IRONMAN, and that money will all go to Oklahoma-based organizations that help with preventing suicide.

Bixby Bicycles and Team Suicide Prevention are working together to get athletes trained and ready for the Tulsa IRONMAN, while also working to stop suicide at the same time.

“Team Suicide Prevention, we're a bicycle racing team, and we use cycling as a venue to raise hope and awareness and raise money," said Bill Taitano, the Co-Founder of Team Suicide Prevention.

Taitano and the other cyclists at Sunday's ride are fundraising for a cause they are passionate about, while also doing what they love.

"All these folks are independently working together for the greater cause, and that's to save people," said Taitano.

The money raised will go to several different Oklahoma organizations, like the Coffee Bunker, Hope is Alive, and Hope is Oxygen.

Taitano says when he heard about suicide rates increasing, he knew he wanted to do something to help save lives.

"We're here to try and make a difference,” said Taitano. “We're trying to use cycling as a venue to alert others that we do care, that someone is here for them."

Taitano says even though all the riders are different, and each one has different reasons for fundraising, they all have the same goal.

"This group right here, it's a pretty unique group of folks, and they're all here for that same purpose," said Taitano.

This year's Tulsa IRONMAN competition is on May 21st, so the athletes have until then to meet their $50,000 fundraising goal.

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