Rain soaked their bright yellow shirts, but it didn’t dampen their spirits.

About 200 bikers made the six-mile ride around Shelby on Saturday to raise pledges in support of Lance Armstrong Livestrong Day, which officially was Tuesday.

“We wanted to hold ours on Saturday so that we could get more children and families involved,” event coordinator Jack Gray said. “Cancer is a disease that affects the whole family.”

Gray said 600 Livestrong events were planned through-out the country.

“This is something fun that mom and dad can do with the kids and feel like they’re doing something important as family,” Gray said.

Last year, Shelby raised $3,000 and Gray said he hopes for that much this year. All funds go toward supporting cancer survivors and research. He said the Armstrong Foundation donated $1.25 million to The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital last year.

“That was great and made us feel like we had a real close connection to the foundation,” Gray said. “A lot of our local families and neighbors receive care at the James, so we feel like what we’re doing really does help benefit us.”

Gray said the ride began at the Shelby fire station, continued around the reservoir and then back. Shelby police escorted the group.

“It’s long enough to be a challenge, but short enough to allow people to make it,” he said.

Gray said he was diagnosed with cancer in 2004.

“I’m fighting it right now,” he said. “This means a lot to me and to the foundation.”

Nichole Witchey-Putnam, 27, said the foundation means a lot to her too.

The Shelby woman said she has undergone 11 surgeries since 2001 to battle melanoma.

“When I was 20, I was a junior in college and played rugby at Ohio State. Everything was going well and I had my whole life ahead of me,” she said.

Witchey-Putnam said it wasn’t long before a doctor discovered a mole on her thigh that needed to be removed.

“I didn’t take it too seriously, but he forced me to make an appointment to have it surgically removed,” she said. “It’s a good thing I did, too, because the mole turned out to be cancerous.”

Witchey-Putnam said she has been cancer free for five years.

“That’s really significant,” she said. “I’m very thankful for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I wear my wrist band every day.”

Andrew Robinson, 11, rode Saturday with a friend.

“I’m here to support people, like my teacher Mr. Spangler, who have cancer,” he said. “I hope this will help them become cancer free someday.”

Linda Gray, 36, and Brent Bonecutter, 48, rode together.

“My mom had cancer in her throat, so I ride for her,” Bonecutter said. “I also watched Lance on the Tour De France and I know he’s a big supporter of cancer research.”

Alexis Townsend, 12, of Shelby, said she rode for her sister.

“She had cancer, too,” she said. “I plan to ride the whole six miles.”