Valley City  (CSi-JRMC)  The Debbie Gabel Memorial Cancer Ride is set for Saturday, July 27. The ride begins at the Valley City Eagles Club; 345 12th Ave NE in Valley City, N.D. Sign-up is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with kickstands up at noon. Cost: $20 for riders, $10 co-pilots. There will be a $500 cash drawing for registered riders. For more information, call Rocky Gabel at (701) 490-0360. To learn more about the JRMC Cancer Center, visit www.jrmcnd.com/cancer.

Her husband, Rocky Gabel, of Valley City, created the Thundering Saints motorcycle group in memory of his late wife, Debbie. Doctors diagnosed Debbie with ovarian cancer in 2005. After her diagnosis, she took up an interest in motorcycles. When she was healthy, the couple often rode together, he on his bike and she on hers.

In 2008, after seven surgeries in three years, Debbie was too sick to ride alone. So she rode double with her husband.

 

Since then, the two ride together, though in a more spiritual way. In Debbie’s honor, Rocky and the Thundering Saints organize an annual motorcycle ride. Proceeds benefit local individuals fighting the battle with cancer, as well as Hospice of the Red River Valley in Valley City.

In 2019, those funds also supported another cause – the cancer center at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.