Ride for Research leads Vestavia man to Boston

Russ Mawn is packing up his cycling gear and a special white cotton T-shirt with his father's picture for a 50-mile haul across Boston on Sunday.

For Mawn and his brother Larry, who lives in Boston, this isn't an ordinary bike ride. The brothers said the sibling rivalry still exists, but it isn't the most important factor.

Russ, a resident of Vestavia Hills, and his brother will be two of 1,250 bike riders from across the country participating in Ride for Research, a fund-raiser for the Brain Tumor Society. This is the second time the two have done the ride together.

"My father actually succumbed to a brain tumor back in 1995," Russ said. "It's just something near and dear to your heart that you get involved in."

Participants in the event seek donations and travel a 10-, 25- or 50-mile route.

Russ' brother, Larry Mawn, asked Russ participate in last year's race in memory of their father, Tom Mawn. Despite a skiing accident that resulted in a broken collar bone three months before that race, Russ packed up his gear and headed north.

"One of the comments my brother made to me after I had broken my collar bone was, `Boy, you'll do anything to get out of taking that ride, won't you?'" Russ said.

Russ finished the route a few minutes ahead of his brother and decided to participate in the ride again this year.

Last year, the brothers raised $3,700. Their goal this year is $5,000, and they've already collected $2,400 in credit card donations and more than $1,500 in checks.

Dawn Grenier, director of communications for the Brain Tumor Society, said more than 1,000 people participated in the event last year, raising more than $1 million. Grenier said Russ is the only participant from Alabama.

"Most of the riders are from New England, but we've definitely seen an increase in riders from other areas," Grenier said.

Larry has been riding in the event for nine years and has raised nearly $12,000.

E-mail: ndoyle@bhamnews.com