LifeSouth Community Blood Center hosted 19 riders participating in Cure on Wheels Capitol Ride on Monday in Gainesville.

The riders stopped at LifeSouth on day two of their four-day, 325-mile advocacy ride that unites volunteers, cyclists and supporters to fund cancer research and patient services at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. The ride starts in Tampa and ends at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee on Wednesday.

The Cure on Wheels Capitol Ride started in 2007 with a small group of riders and has turned into a community effort to raise awareness and dollars to combat cancer.

LifeSouth also invites the community to donate blood and give people in need a chance at life. Cancer patients in local hospitals count on blood donors in their community to ensure there is blood available when they need it.

To schedule a blood donation, visit www.lifesouth.org, donatingblood.org or download the LifeSouth app.