SpokesKIDS Jr. is the next Pelotonia Kids ride for youth participants this summer. On Saturday, July 27 in Granville, SpokesKIDS Jr. is designed for children between pre-K and 3rd grade.  

Pelotonia Kids is a series of youth cycling events to engage the next generation of Pelotonia participants. In collaboration with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC—James), 100 percent of every Pelotonia Kids participant-raised dollar will be directed to innovative pediatric cancer research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. 

Each Pelotonia Kids ride is organized by Pelotonia community volunteers with assistance from Pelotonia through planning resources, equipment rentals, merchandise and promotional support. Events vary in participant ages, route distances and venue locations.   

SpokesKIDS Jr. is one of the original kids rides that has seen success before the Pelotonia Kids program launched this year. This will be the 8th annual ride, hosted by 14-year-old and founder of this kids ride, Nathaniel Hopping.   

Nathaniel is not only the Pelotonia Kids ride lead organizer for SpokesKIDS Jr., but he is also a First-Year Pelotonia Rider registered for the 20-mile route for Ride Weekend 2024! 

Nathaniel is a member of the Team Granville Spokesmen peloton along with his father, 16x Rider, Jeremy Hopping. 

At age five, Nathaniel believed kids should have the opportunity to enjoy the fun that he witnessed as a spectator cheering on his dad at Ride Weekend. Encouraged by his father to take action on his idea, then kindergartener Nathaniel wrote a letter to Doug Ulman, Pelotonia CEO at this time back in 2015, to plead his case for a kids ride.  

Doug received his letter, and wrote him back, ecstatic about Nathaniel’s vision and determination. Doug asked Nathaniel to come to a meeting at Pelotonia HQ to talk about it. Wearing a Pelotonia green tie, five-year-old Nathaniel met with Doug and the Pelotonia team at the office to discuss his ideas (shown in the photo at the top of this page). This visit marked the beginning of SpokesKIDS Jr., which became a reality with the first ride in 2016 (when Nathaniel was just a first grader).  

From the start, Nathaniel wanted to follow Pelotonia’s 100% model, where every single dollar raised by participants goes to innovative cancer research. Every year, Riders pay a $20 registration fee which is entirely donated to innovative cancer research, thanks to the support from generous sponsors and partners.  

To date, SpokesKIDS Jr. has raised over $9,000 for innovative cancer research in its first seven years. 

This year’s SpokesKIDS Jr. event will take place on July 27 at Wildwood Park (785 W Broadway) in Granville. Rider check-in will begin at 10:00am with the ride starting at 10:30am. Riders can choose between two route options, either one- or three-mile distances, both traveling along the T.J. Evans Trail.  

This Pelotonia Kids ride will be led by chaperones, including Nathaniel, and both routes will include a Pelotonia style rest stop with water, sports drinks, and fruit. Riders will finish at the College Town House, where Riders and their families will enjoy a finish line celebration.

Registration is now open at: https://granvillerec.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=938 

Follow updates on the Pelotonia social media channels and @spokeskidsjr on Instagram! 

Can’t make it? You can read more about the Pelotonia Kids program and upcoming rides here.  

Or you can donate to the SpokesKIDS Jr. fundraising page to support pediatric cancer research!