unpaved 2026 (A ride4claire story)
Ride4Claire: Year 7 (The unPAved One)
We’ve officially reached Year 7 of Ride for Claire.
Every single year, planning a new adventure feels daunting. I always strive to find an adventure that both inspires and scares me a little—something challenging enough to create a compelling narrative around our core purpose: raising as much money as possible for Boston Childrens Hospital every single year.
This year is no exception. In just a few short weeks, we’ve already surpassed $5,000, and seeing familiar names (and new ones) on the donor list year after year is truly remarkable.
In addition to my daughter (The Claire) asking “what are you going to do for #ride4claire this year”, the most powerful motivator for me is having my friends and family come to me with that same question. It motivates me to keep this fundraiser going year after year. At times, I worry I’m asking too much of everyone, but when I hear those around me wanting to know more about whats next and that they continue to show their support…I know its the right thing.
So before anything else, I simply want to say thank you. Whether you’re a first-time donor or a seven-time donor, every bit of support counts and I am incredibly grateful.
Why unPAved
I want to take a moment to explain why unPAved fits so well for #ride4claire.
This year looks a little different. Technically, the ride I'm doing is a race—though only 22 brave souls are taking part in this 200-mile through the night adventure that is aptly named “The Big Lick”.
It’s a solo effort. I won't have Logan beside me or a support crew to fix my bike if I run into mechanical trouble.
No outside assistance. There won't be anyone handing off food when I'm hungry or drinks when I'm thirsty.
Self-reliance. I have to figure every detail out myself, which adds a layer of complexity and grit that feels truly worthy of the Ride for Claire. (Note: This has properly stressed me out this week!)
Returning to Pennsylvania
My history with unPAved goes back to 2018, its inaugural year. A friend asked me about a week beforehand if I wanted to head down and check it out. I’m so glad I went—it turned out to be an incredible event that featured amazing State Forest roads and was organized by really cool people. It had the community feel you hope for in an event like this.
Winning that first unPAved certainly gave it a special place in my heart, but the true appeal isn't just the victory. It's the welcoming community, the passionate organizers, and the outstanding terrain that made it so great.
When I first visited in 2018, my wife was pregnant with Claire. I hoped to bring the whole family back in 2019 because of the family-friendly atmosphere, but life threw some obstacles our way. In 2019, we were in the middle of Claire’s chemotherapy, so while my amazing wife let me come down and race that weekend, bringing the family down wasn’t an option. Then came COVID, the general chaos of life, and everything else in between.
As an extra bit here, in 2019 Longwell Draft got me good, I broke my wheel and lost the front group. However, thankfully with the help of Pete he McGuyver’d my wheel together and saved my day. While I didn’t win, I still had a FULL unPAved experience.
Now, in 2026, its really a great time to reconnect with everyone in Pennsylvania.
Much like the hospital, the doctors, and the staff who keep it running, this race matters because of the people who make it happen. I love supporting them, and they’ve always supported me. It's a perfect match, and that's why unPAved is more than deserving to host this year's Ride for Claire!
How to Follow Along
On Saturday afternoon and through the night, if you're looking for something to do, check the tracking link. It is linked in this post and should be on my IG or Facebook pages. You can watch me cruise—perhaps slowly—through Pennsylvania as I cover 200 miles and 18,000 feet of elevation gain as quickly as I can. Hopefully avoiding most of the Hurricane rain that is headed our way.
To be completely honest, I’m not 100% sure I’ve dialed in all the nutrition, hydration, timing, and unknowns. But honestly, that’s part of the fun. It’s going to be dark, cold, and maybe even wet, with little cell reception so I likely won’t be posting much during the effort.
Check back in afterward for a full recap! Until then, thank you all so much for your support.
-Matt, Kait and Claire
