The inaugural WooMan Tour bike ride to benefit breast cancer awareness and education was held Sunday, Sept. 19. Sponsored by Panera Bread and offering riders the opportunity to ride 20, 50, or 100 miles, the WooMan Tour started from both the Wooster and Mansfield Panera cafes.

After several months of planning and assistance from Bill and Jackie Buckwalter of RideOn in Wooster, the inaugural event drew 100 bike riders and raised more than $10,000 for breast cancer awareness and education at Wooster Community Hospital.

Dave Harrison, imaging services manager at Wooster Community Hospital, who rode the 20-mile route, said the shorter ride included “great scenery by a couple rivers as well as some rolling hills… truly a well done event for a good cause.”

The 2011 WooMan Tour is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, at the Wooster Panera cafe. Riders of all experience levels are invited and encouraged to mark their calendars now. Questions may be directed to Tricia James, developmental specialist at WCH, at 330-263-8266.

This event continues a community partnership between Wooster Community Hospital and the Wooster Panera cafe. Again this October, the Wooster Panera cafe is donating a portion of the proceeds from every Pink Ribbon Bagel sold at the cafe to Wooster Community Hospital breast cancer awareness and education. The Pink Ribbon Bagel is a cherry, vanilla, and brown sugar bagel in the shape of a ribbon, made only during the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness month.