Welcome to CyclingFoodmanPA!
Welcome to my Web site! This site was created so that everyone can track my progress in my fight against cancer.
Never did I think I would ever be riding a bike 100 miles! That is until December 2000 when I received a brochure from The Luekemia and Lymphoma Society about training and completing a century ride in Santa Fe, NM on May 20, 2001. I remember thinking, "that sounds awsome, but no way can I ride 100 miles". That was until I read Lance Armstrong's book "It's Not About The Bike". I completed the book in about 2 days in mid December and was amazed and in awe of his determination to triumph over his disease and come back as a world class cyclist who at that time had won the Tour de France 2 times. I thought, "if he can win the worlds most difficult endurance event after what he went through, Keith can get his butt in gear and ride 100 miles".
At that time I was about 196 lbs., not far from the 200 lb. mark and a lifestyle change was in order. I signed up for the ride, trained my butt off and completed my first century ride at 43 years old and weighing in at 180 lbs. Of all my life accomplishments; Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas in 1980; Masters Degree in Engineering, Computer Science from Loyola College of Baltimore in 1993; crossing that finish line after completing my first century ride left me with the most amazing feeling in my life. I had raised $3,800 to fight cancer, and had worked extremely hard to accomplish my goal and had succeeded.
One of the motivating factors with Team In Training is that we are riding for a particular person. Our honored team mate was Nicholas Voyton, an adorable child who was diagnosed with Leukemia when he was only 2 1/2 years old. I will never forget the letter I received from his parents in mid February of 2001 explaining what they went through for their son. It was the thoughts of Nicholas and his family, my mothers own battle with cancer, and the many other people that have battled this disease that gave me the strength and mental fortitude to train for this ride.
I did not stop after my first century ride either. Upon completing my first century in Santa Fe, NM, I vowed to do an event to fight cancer every year until there is no more cancer, or I cannot ride any more (that will be when I am 95 years old), or I have passed away. Naturally, I am hoping for option 1, there is no more cancer.
I hope this site and the events I have completed inspire someone else to take the initiative and create goals to fight cancer with the determination and passion that I have adopted.
Thank you,
Keith S. Safford aka CyclingFoodmanPA - the lean, mean, cancer slaying cycling machine