On Sunday, May 20, the Third Annual Billy Grey Ride for Research will be held at the Farmer’s Market at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs. Since it began, the local cycling event, along with generous donations, has funded more than $500,000 in grants for brain tumor research.

Cyclists participating can choose to ride 10, 25 or 50 miles. Ken Grey, Billy’s father and one of the event’s organizers, will be pedaling in the 50.

Last year’s Ride for Research drew approximately 250 riders and volunteers and raised more than $40,000. Grey said the event has a lot of local support, and he believes attendance will be even higher this year. With close to $25,000 already raised, Grey expects it to top last year’s figure.

“It makes a nice family day. It’s a day to celebrate, but also to remind people that there’s a lot of work to do,” Grey said.

In honor of the event, Saratoga County Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, along with Mayor Valerie Keehn, presented Grey with a proclamation naming May 20th as Billy Grey Ride Day, during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

In November 1999, Billy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Less than two years later, he died before his 13th birthday. Grey said the tumor came out of the blue and it all happened very fast.

Billy underwent chemotherapy treatments and a six-week clinical trial, which required traveling from Saratoga Springs at 4 a.m. to Boston twice a week. Grey credits the dedication of Billy’s doctors with turning a diagnosis of 21 to 24 weeks into 21 months.

While this was happening, Billy continued to attend Albany Academy. In honor of him, the school established a scholarship in his name for the seventh grade student who exemplifies the true character of the Academy.

“Billy was a really remarkable kid. He had such a positive outlook on life, and he never complained,” Grey said. “When I get up in the morning, Billy is my daily source of inspiration and strength.”

Shortly after Billy was diagnosed, Grey heard about Boston’s Ride for Research. He asked his son’s permission to fundraise on his behalf for The Brain Tumor Society. Grey said Billy told him that if he wanted to do it, then he should do it; this will be Grey’s eighth year participating in Ride for Research.

For the past six years, Grey has also been a board member of the Brain Tumor Society. The national organization’s mission is to find a cure by funding research, supporting people affected by the disease and increasing public awareness.

Grey said he realized he had two choices: either he could believe what had happened was unfortunate and leave it at that, or he could do something. He chose the latter.

“I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be part of the solution,” Grey said. “I don’t want anyone else to have to deal with this. I won’t rest until they find a cure.”