Marcelo Ortigao

4years
Marcelo Ortigao
My daughter Juliana passed away from DIPG in 2019. This is my 4th year riding the GCC in her memory. Join me in the fight against pediatric cancer.
I've Ridden 2,571.3 mi to fight kids' cancer
My Rankings
  • National: 782nd
  • State: 18th in CO
  • My Team: 1st
I've raised $2,056 to fight kids' cancer Donate Now

I'm Riding For

Juliana Hess Ramalho-Ortigao

Juliana Hess Ramalho-Ortigao

Juliana passed away from DIPG on 3 March 2019. She was a kind hearted, unafraid free spirit and full of light. She loved animals and sports. She was dedicated at school and an avid swimmer and cyclist. She fought the bravest fight I could have ever asked for, but Heaven was waiting for her. The pain of her loss is only mildly soothed by my assurance that I will see her again. This September I will RIDE FOR JULIANA!

My Story

17 Mar 2024

This September, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!

Why? My 10 year-old daughter Juliana was taken by DIPG, the deadliest pediatric tumor, in March 2019. Average survival following a DIPG diagnosis is 10 months, Juliana survived 53 weeks. Cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States and a leading cause of death in children under 10. Over 15,700 children are diagnosed every year, and nearly 450 kids die of cancer every week.

So, I will ride every day in September while 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

Here's my personal impact over 4 years to fight kids' cancer and save little lives.
  • 1,585 mi Ridden
    $1,042 Raised
    2021
  • 1,462 mi Ridden
    Raised
    2022
  • 2,676 mi Ridden
    $697 Raised
    2023
4years
8,294 mi
Ridden
$3,950
Raised

My Challenge

  • 70.2 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Sunday, November 10, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 19 hours ago - View on Strava
  • 9.1 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Thursday, November 7, 2024
    Logged this ride 4 days ago - View on Strava
  • 37.4 mi ride - Morning Ride - Tuesday, November 5, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 6 days ago - View on Strava
  • 15.3 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Monday, November 4, 2024
    Logged this ride 7 days ago - View on Strava
  • 57.3 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Saturday, November 2, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 9 days ago - View on Strava
  • 37.2 mi ride - Morning Ride - Friday, November 1, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 10 days ago - View on Strava
  • 6.4 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Thursday, October 31, 2024
    Logged this ride 11 days ago - View on Strava
  • 55.3 mi ride - Morning Ride - Tuesday, October 29, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 13 days ago - View on Strava
  • 67.6 mi ride - Morning Ride - Monday, October 28, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 14 days ago - View on Strava
  • 39.1 mi ride - Morning Ride - Friday, October 25, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 17 days ago - View on Strava
  • 15.1 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Thursday, October 24, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 18 days ago - View on Strava
  • 42.1 mi ride - Morning Ride - Wednesday, October 23, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 19 days ago - View on Strava
  • 37.8 mi ride - Morning Ride - Tuesday, October 22, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 20 days ago - View on Strava
  • 26.7 mi ride - Afternoon Ride - Saturday, October 19, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 23 days ago - View on Strava
  • 38.0 mi ride - Morning Ride - Friday, October 18, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 24 days ago - View on Strava
  • 42.6 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Thursday, October 17, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 25 days ago - View on Strava
  • 35.6 mi ride - Morning Ride - Tuesday, October 15, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 27 days ago - View on Strava
  • 35.7 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Monday, October 14, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 28 days ago - View on Strava
  • 56.3 mi ride - Morning Ride - Saturday, October 12, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 30 days ago - View on Strava
  • 41.1 mi ride - Morning Ride - Friday, October 11, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 31 days ago - View on Strava
  • 63.7 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Thursday, October 10, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 32 days ago - View on Strava
  • 40.3 mi ride - Morning Ride - Tuesday, October 8, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 34 days ago - View on Strava
  • 30.2 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Sunday, October 6, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 36 days ago - View on Strava
  • 39.4 mi ride - Morning Ride - Friday, October 4, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 38 days ago - View on Strava
  • 44.7 mi ride - Lunch Ride - Thursday, October 3, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 39 days ago - View on Strava
  • 84.5 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #30 - final ride - Monday, September 30, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 42 days ago - View on Strava
  • 47.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #29 Gravel ride - FoCo Fondo short course - Sunday, September 29, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 43 days ago - View on Strava
  • 67.6 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #28 - Saturday, September 28, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 44 days ago - View on Strava
  • 44.9 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #27 - Friday, September 27, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 45 days ago - View on Strava
  • 42.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #26 - Thursday, September 26, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 46 days ago - View on Strava
  • 101.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #25 - century ride! - Wednesday, September 25, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 47 days ago - View on Strava
  • 37.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #24 mix of road and gravel - Tuesday, September 24, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 48 days ago - View on Strava
  • 42.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #23 - Monday, September 23, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 49 days ago - View on Strava
  • 42.5 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #22 - Trek Gravel Tour - Sunday, September 22, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 50 days ago - View on Strava
  • 76.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #21 - Saturday, September 21, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 51 days ago - View on Strava
  • 47.2 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Dayi #20 - today I hit 1000 miles - Friday, September 20, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 52 days ago - View on Strava
  • 53.2 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana Day #19 - Thursday, September 19, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 53 days ago - View on Strava
  • 70.2 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana Day #18 - Wednesday, September 18, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 54 days ago - View on Strava
  • 40.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #17 - Tuesday, September 17, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 55 days ago - View on Strava
  • $1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    I just raised $1,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved WARRIOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 55 days ago
  • 47.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #16 - Monday, September 16, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 56 days ago - View on Strava
  • 43.6 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #15 - Sunday, September 15, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 57 days ago - View on Strava
  • 63.3 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #14 - Saturday, September 14, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 58 days ago - View on Strava
  • 40.3 mi ride - GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #13 - Friday, September 13, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 59 days ago - View on Strava
  • 42.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #12 (OCR) - Thursday, September 12, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 60 days ago - View on Strava
  • 30.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #11 - Wednesday, September 11, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 61 days ago - View on Strava
  • 108.0 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #10 - Tuesday, September 10, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 62 days ago - View on Strava
  • 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana
    9 Sep 2024

    As the father of a daughter who endured DIPG, the deadliest of all pediatric cancers, riding the GCC allows me to honor her memory and legacy. My pledge is to ride every day in September and with the support from the amazing cycling community in Fort Collins and elsewhere in Colorado I shall see my challenge through.

    Thank you all who have donated to the Childhood Cancer Research Fund in Juliana's behalf 🙏

    2024 GCC Riding for Juliana
    Posted 63 days ago
  • 45.1 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #9 - Monday, September 9, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 63 days ago - View on Strava
  • 35.6 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #8 - Sunday, September 8, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 64 days ago - View on Strava
  • $500 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    I just raised $500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved GUARDIAN LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 65 days ago
  • 62.3 mi ride - GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #7 - Saturday, September 7, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 65 days ago - View on Strava
  • 43.2 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #6 - Friday, September 6, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 66 days ago - View on Strava
  • 34.0 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Day #5 - Thursday, September 5, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 67 days ago - View on Strava
  • 40.2 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Ride #4 - Wednesday, September 4, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 68 days ago - View on Strava
  • 38.4 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana - Ride #3 - Tuesday, September 3, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 69 days ago - View on Strava
  • 52.0 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana Ride #2 - Monday, September 2, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 70 days ago - View on Strava
  • 65.9 mi ride - 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana Ride #1 - Gravel - Sunday, September 1, 2024
    Map
    Logged this ride 71 days ago - View on Strava
  • $250 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    I just raised $250 to fight kids' cancer and achieved PROTECTOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 71 days ago
  • $100 raised to fight kids' cancer!

    I just raised $100 to fight kids' cancer and achieved DEFENDER LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.

    Posted 106 days ago

My Sponsors

  • Ayla & Greg Kuchta
    $232.88
    Received this donation 55 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Dear Ayla and Greg, Don't have words to thank you for your generosity and support to my GCC efforts. For me, doing this pales in comparison to what kids must go through when battling brain tumors, particularly DIPG. Your contribution shall ease their efforts and perhaps help find novel therapies that one day will turn brain tumors into a chronic disease not a guaranteed killer 🙏”
  • Just me
    “Hugs my friends... deep hugs.”
    $207
    Received this donation 52 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Dear Paul, I'm speechless, man 🙏. What an amazing surprise and massive honor it is to have your support for the GCC! THANK YOU BROTHER!”
  • Paul Miller
    “Ride hard my dear friend”
    $207
    Received this donation 106 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Paul, no words I can say can ever match your generosity! Thank you my dear friend for this, my first 2024 GCC donation. Your dedication to pediatric brain tumor and other blood disorders is unparalleled!”
  • Doug Allen
    “Very admirable Marcelo!!! Go buddy!!!”
    $196.65
    Received this donation 55 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Doug, thank you so much for your generosity and support for my GCC Riding for Juliana fundraising🙏. Your generous donation shall help kids fighting cancer and hopefully lead to the development on novel effective therapies for cases in which none are available, such as in DIPG!”
  • Jimmy Auman
    $124.20
    Received this donation 55 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Dear Jimmy, Thank you for your generosity and support to the Childhood Cancer Research Fund and the memory of my daughter Juliana 🙏”
  • Joel Philliber
    “Way to go Marcelo. That is a lot of miles!”
    $103.50
    Received this donation 36 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Joel, thank you for your generosity and support to the Children's Cancer Research Fund in Juliana's memory 🙏”
  • Mark Bolton
    $103.50
    Received this donation 65 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you yet again, Mark. Your generosity towards my efforts to bring about change to the current paradigm of DIPG will help kids like Juliana in their fight to beat the monster that is ped brain tumors 🙏”
  • Steve Douglas
    $103.50
    Received this donation 56 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Steve, thank you for supporting my annual GCC ride and more importantly the pediatric cancer cause.”
  • Ephraim Starr
    “Doubling my pledge because today's ride was mostly gravel and also, just because. Bless you, Marcelo (and Juliana). -Ephraim”
    $100.40
    Received this donation 43 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you so much, Ephraim. Your support to the pediatric cancer cause on behalf of Juliana helps keep her memory alive🙏”
  • Anna Giovinetto
    $100
    Received this donation 37 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you so much for your support, Anna🙏”
  • Match from Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation via Benevity on behalf of Steve Douglas
    $100
    Received this donation 10 days ago
  • Jeff Proulx
    “Marcelo, always a pleasure to ride with you and I feel Juliana’s spirit with us as we go. God bless!”
    $72.45
    Received this donation 65 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Cannot thank you enough Jeff! Your generous donation will go to help kids fight for their survival against some of the deadliest foes, specially brain tumors like DIPG! 🙏”
  • Aaron Massecar
    “Thanks for bringing this cause to our attention Marcelo. I hope to be on at least a couple of your September rides with you.”
    $51.75
    Received this donation 71 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you for your donation and for spreading the word about Juliana and DIPG, Aaron.”
  • curtisomead@gmail.com
    “Go for it Marcelo, we’ve got your back!”
    $51.75
    Received this donation 57 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you very much for your support to the peds cancer cause, Curtis. And thanks for letting me sit on your rear wheel when my legs are screaming for me to stop. With your help I shall be able to make good on my pledge!”
  • Jimmy Corrigan
    “R.I.P. Juliana! Your memory lives on through your father's love!”
    $51.75
    Received this donation 50 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you so much for your support and generosity, Jimmy!”
  • Ryan Richbourg
    “Glad to contribute towards this cause Marcelo”
    $51.75
    Received this donation 65 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you for your generosity, Ryan! Your donation will help make a difference towards finding effective treatment(s) for peds cancer that currently have extremely low survival if any at all. It is inconceivable that the same standard therapy used to treat Neil Armstrong's daughter Karen (Muffy) DIPG tumor in 1962, radiation, is the same used today, with no change in survival after 63 years!”
  • Cathy Zitti
    “Good luck with the challenge!”
    $36.23
    Received this donation 63 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Kathy, on behalf of Juliana's memory, thank you so much for your support to the Childhood Cancer Research Fund 🙏”
  • Jepson
    $36.23
    Received this donation 72 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Jepson, thank you for your generosity and support to the peds cancer fight!”
  • Rob Baum
    $36.23
    Received this donation 63 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you so much for your generosity, Rob 🙏”
  • Salah Jarrad
    $36.23
    Received this donation 39 days ago
    Marcelo Ortigao
    Marcelo
    “Thank you for supporting my 2024 GCC Riding for Juliana fundraising, Salah.”
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