To support the Cancer Care Fund at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, the community gathered for an electric bike ride event called Crusin’ for a Cause and an after party at Mulligan’s Bar and Grill on Oct. 4, 2025. Pedego Electric Bikes in Pismo Beach organized the event and Mulligan’s Bar provided the after party location as well as live music.
Breast cancer patients and survivors, as well as community allies, were provided with food, drinks, and e-bikes. Each breast cancer survivor received a pink scarf to acknowledge their resilience. There were 25 riders in total.
Toby Kaiser-Arnett, owner of Pedego Electric Bikes Pismo Beach, had stage-1 breast cancer and her out-of-pocket expense was $30,000 after insurance.
Fortunately, she had a stable job and support and was able to cover the cost of her cancer treatment Kaiser-Arnett wanted to do something to help support her community members fighting breast cancer.
Cancer treatment and all associated costs that come with a cancer diagnosis are expensive. The fees of doctor appointments, travel, radiation, scans, tests, and other forms of treatment can be costly. According to cancer survivors from the event, insurance companies can help with treatment costs, but they often can’t pay for the majority of the fees.
After a patient is diagnosed with cancer, the Cancer Care Fund helps to pay for the things that insurance won’t cover. At best, insurance pays for 20% of the cost of treatment and other medical expenses after someone is diagnosed.
(Lily Meek)
TheCancer Care Fund provides free patient transport, nurse navigators, child care, rent assistance, financial aid in the form of gas cards, groceries, gift cards, and a 12 week recovery program using community donations.
“[Cruisin’ for a Cause] is to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer,” Kaiser-Arnett said.
Kaiser-Arnett has a passion for helping cancer patients and survivors and is trying to do her part in supporting people in her community. She hopes awareness and love were spread during the electric bike ride.
“I hope they take away a lot of fun and receive a lot of love,” Kaiser-Arnett said. “That it feels like they’ve supported their friends and family and strangers who are going through breast cancer.”
Event participants felt unified as a community in recognizing loved ones and strangers. Diane Dickey, who was a participant of the ride, is familiar with the harm of cancer.
“I have friends who’ve suffered, I have a sister who died from it, so it’s pretty close to my heart to be part of a good cause,” Dickey said.
Montisa Lopez, Vice President of philanthropy for the Cancer Care Fund at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital also went on the ride.
Lopez also has personal connections to breast cancer; her mom is a breast cancer survivor.
“I’m very passionate about cancer and providing the very best cancer care for our community,” Lopez said. “I hope that people realize that everyone can make a difference, every little bit makes a difference and that we are helping people right here in our community.”
Kristen Vogenthaler was also a participant of the ride; she is a breast cancer survivor and a nurse.
“It’s near and dear to my heart and I want to be able to give back to those that helped me,” Vogenthaler said. “I like the fact that all of the proceeds go to not just the larger breast cancer foundations for research, but that they go to local people.”
Kaiser-Arnett is looking forward to hosting this event for many years to come.
