Arleny Alvarez-Pena
- National: 1216th
- State: 24th in NY
I'm Riding For
Hassan Khatib
Hassan Khatib spent his life showing up for the people he loved and now his legacy is helping show up for children fighting cancer. Hassan passed away at 69 in 2019 after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer, surrounded by his wife, Nahla, and their eight children: Rose, Sari, Yaz, Alya, Zeedo, Layale, Lana, and Lubna. Born and raised in the Middle East, Hassan moved to Ponce, Puerto Rico, at 17. He worked tirelessly to support his mother, Alya, and sister, Nabila. At 22, he moved to New York City, where he worked whatever jobs were necessary to build a life and provide for his family. Hassan lived by five principles: hard work, no excuses, progress over perfection, kindness, and resilience. Even during his illness, he never lost his sense of humor or his love for family. Until his final days, he was making jokes, smiling, and surrounding himself with the people he loved. That is why it means so much that Arleny is honoring Hassan’s memory by taking on the Great Cycle Challenge, riding 200 miles to raise money for children fighting cancer. Hassan knew what it meant to face fear, pain, and uncertainty. He knew how difficult the fight could be. Today, children and their families are facing battles no child should ever have to endure. Every mile Arleny rides is a mile dedicated to hope. Every donation helps support children and families facing cancer. Our goal is $2,500. Please consider donating, sharing this fundraiser, or cheering Arleny on. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal and helps make a difference. Thank you, Arleny, for honoring Hassan in such a beautiful and meaningful way. His fight may have ended, but his legacy of love, strength, kindness, and resilience continues. Through this effort, his memory can help bring hope to children who are still fighting. With Love and Gratitude, The Khatib Family
My Story
Each September, I comment to taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!
I started riding with GCCUSA seven years ago, during a time of uncertainty and fear brought on by COVID-19. I couldn’t sit at home doing nothing, knowing that people were hurting and that illnesses didn’t stop just because the world around us had.
Finding the Great Cycle Challenge gave me a way to focus on what truly mattered: helping people who were facing difficult times during an already difficult time.
Children shouldn’t have to fight cancer. They should be playing, laughing, growing, and simply enjoying their childhood. That’s why I ride. I ride for the children and families facing cancer, and I ride because, even in the hardest times, we can choose to show up for one another and make a difference.
Rght now, cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States. Over 15,700 children are diagnosed every year, and sadly, 38 children die of cancer every week.
Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.
So I am raising funds through my challenge to help these kids and support Children's Cancer Research Fund to allow them to continue their work to develop lifesaving treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.
Please support me by making a donation to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.
Your support will change little lives.
Thank you.
My Legacy
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206 mi Ridden$2,643 Raised2020
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227 mi Ridden$2,683 Raised2021
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234 mi Ridden$2,629 Raised2022
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245 mi Ridden$2,625 Raised2023
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254 mi Ridden$2,599 Raised2024
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216 mi Ridden$1,894 Raised2025
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249 mi Ridden$2,852 Raised2026
My Challenge
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0.0 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Friday, October 2, 2026
Logged this ride 3 days ago - View on Strava -
Thank you for your support
1 Oct 2026Kicking cancers butt together!
Posted 4 days ago -
4.8 mi ride - Morning Ride - Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Logged this ride 5 days ago - View on Strava -
7.3 mi ride - Morning Ride - Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Logged this ride 5 days ago - View on Strava -
🚴🏽♀️ THE LAST DAY. THE FINAL MILES. THE MISSION CONTINUES. 🎗️
30 Sep 2026Today is the final day of this year’s challenge — and as I ride these last miles, I’m carrying so much with me.
I’m riding for Hassan. For the kids. For a cure.
Every mile I rode carried a little more hope.
Every donation helped push childhood cancer research forward — toward better treatments, more research, and, one day, a cure. A future where kids can be kids… where their biggest worries are scraped knees, homework, and growing up — not hospital rooms, treatments, and cancer.
This year has been incredibly personal. I had the honor of riding in memory of Hassan Khatib, while continuing a journey that has now become a 7-year legacy for me.
And I could never do this alone.
To everyone who donated, shared my posts, reposted, sent messages, checked in, cheered me on, sponsored a mile, or simply believed in what I was doing — thank you. ❤️
You helped turn miles into meaning.
To my ITS work team, thank you for supporting me throughout this challenge. And to my supervisor, thank you for recognizing how important this mission is to me and for supporting my requests so I could continue this seven-year tradition of riding for childhood cancer research. That support meant more than you know.
And to the Khatib family — there are truly no words big enough to express my gratitude.
Thank you for your strength.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you for sharing Hassan’s memory with me.
Thank you for allowing me to carry a small piece of his legacy forward.
I am truly blessed by your friendship. ❤️
As I finish these final miles, I’m reminded that this was never just about riding a bike.
It was about remembering someone we love.
It was about standing beside families who are fighting.
It was about giving kids hope.
And it was about believing that together, we can help change what the future looks like for children facing cancer.
The challenge ends today.
The mission does not.
Because it takes all of us — showing up, giving what we can, sharing the message, and refusing to stop fighting — to find a cure.
For Hassan.
For the kids.
For every family affected by childhood cancer.
For a cure. ❤️🎗️🚴🏽♀️
7 years. Countless miles. One mission.
#GCCUSA #GreatCycleChallenge #ForHassan #ForTheKids #ForACure #ChildhoodCancerResearch #KickCancersButt #7YearLegacy
Posted 5 days ago -
3.2 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Monday, September 28, 2026
Logged this ride 7 days ago - View on Strava -
7.0 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Monday, September 28, 2026
Logged this ride 7 days ago - View on Strava -
💥 SUPERHERO IMPACT! 💥
26 Sep 2026Thank you to every one of our incredible sponsors who helped us reach Superhero Impact on 9/23! ❤️
As I completed my last 7 miles that day, I thought, “Why not go for 23 miles on the 23rd of September?” So that’s exactly what I did! 🚴🏽♀️💪🏽
The 200-mile goal may be complete, but I’m not done yet. I’ll continue to pedal and fundraise through the end of September as we keep kicking cancer’s butt. 🎗️
Thank you for riding alongside me, supporting the kids, and helping me honor Hassan’s memory through every mile and every dollar raised.
For Hassan.
For the kids.
For a cure. ❤️
Thank you for kicking cancer’s butt with me! 💥🚴🏽♀️🎗️
#GCCUSA #GreatCycleChallenge #KickCancersButt #SuperheroImpact #ForHassan #ForTheKids #ForACure
Posted 9 days ago -
2.3 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Saturday, September 26, 2026
Logged this ride 9 days ago - View on Strava -
7.7 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Saturday, September 26, 2026
Logged this ride 9 days ago - View on Strava
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
“Here's your matched donation from a group of wonderful Children's Cancer Research Fund supporters. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$387.12Received this donation 26 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for your commitment to end childhood cancer.”
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Catherine Ross
“You got this boo! Good luck!!”
$207Received this donation 31 days ago
Arleny
“🫶🏽 thanks Peps auntie 🤗”
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Matched Day Matching Donation
“Here's your matched donation from a group of wonderful Children's Cancer Research Fund supporters. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to fight kids' cancer!”
$189.21Received this donation 12 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you to the donors for providing a second match day! Your generosity will bring us closer to finding a cure.”
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Anonymous
$103.50Received this donation 26 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for your support and generosity 🫶🏽”
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Anonymous
“It takes a community to make a difference. Ride strong. Ride for the kids. Ride for a cure.”
$103.50Received this donation 39 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for your support! 🚴♂️much appreciated”
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Anonymous
“$76 Match for Monday 9/28. #ForTheKids #ForACure 💛”
$78.66Received this donation 4 days ago
Arleny
“🫶🏽💪🏽🚴🏾♂️ thank you!”
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Anonymous
“$73.00 Match Monday Donation for September 21. Great Cycle Challenge! 🎗️🚲”
$75.56Received this donation 14 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for kicking cancers butt. #matchmonday”
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Jaime McClintock
“Kick cancers butt for a cure!”
$75Received this donation 20 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you roomie for always having my back boo 🫶🏽”
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Anonymous
“Thank you for doing this for a great cause, in the name of a great person. Ride strong!!”
$62.10Received this donation 39 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for your support! 🫶🏽”
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Adam Rofe
$51.75Received this donation 12 days ago
Arleny
“🫶🏽 thank you for your support! And for getting us closer to superhero impact 🙌🏽 #matchday”
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Anonymous
$51.75Received this donation 26 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for the support!”
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Jennifer Barile
“Proud of you, Brain! Love Pinky!”
$51.75Received this donation 21 days ago
Arleny
“🫶🏽🚴🏾♂️🎗️ 💪🏽 thanks Pinky! Love ya too sis”
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Karen McNeill
“You got this!”
$51.75Received this donation 17 days ago
Arleny
“🫶🏽 thank you for your support!”
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Kristen Albright
$51.75Received this donation 12 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for kicking cancers butt! Taking us one step closer to superhero impact! 💜💛”
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Anonymous
“Wishing you the very best on this incredible ride, Arleny! What you’re doing to help fight childhood cancer is truly inspiring, and riding in honor of someone makes it even more meaningful. Keep going, stay strong, and know that so many people are cheering you on every step of the way”
$51.75Received this donation 38 days ago
Arleny
“❤️ thank you so much. Appreciate the support. And couldn’t do it without you!”
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Maritza Martinez
“My condolences on the passing of Hassan Khatib and my congratulations Arlene on your determination. Keep on going! Msritza”
$51.75Received this donation 31 days ago
Arleny
“Muchísimas Gracias 🫶🏽”
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Anonymous
$51.75Received this donation 18 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you for your generosity, support and getting us closer to kicking cancers butt!”
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Melissa Cedeno
“Always so proud of you!”
$51.75Received this donation 26 days ago
Arleny
“Gracias familia 🫶🏽”
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Anonymous
$51.75Received this donation 25 days ago
Arleny
“Thank you 🙏🏽 for your support!”
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Anonymous
“No other better way to use funds/fundraise for. Inspiring a whole generation that there is hope and that anything is possible. Thank you for riding for these kiddos! The universe thanks you!”
$51.75Received this donation 14 days ago
Arleny
“🥺 thank you for your words and support 🫶🏽”