CyclingFoodmanPA

in memory of!

    One of the things that motivate me to ride and fight cancer is the memory of my mom, who lost her battle with cancer on June 26, 1997 and the memory of so many people in my life who have lost their battle with this dreaded disease.  Of the 13 funerals/viewings I have been to in my life, 8 of them have been due to cancer.  Of those 8, one was my mom, and the other was a 14 year old boy named Andy Yost.  Andy lost his battle on Dec. 28th, 2005 after battling Mylelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a type of pre-leukemia also known as Smoldering Leukemia since May, 2003.

    I attended Andy’s viewing on Jan. 1st, 2006 and it was definitely one of the hardest things I have done in my life.  I had never been to a child’s funeral or viewing before, but felt I needed to go because Andy was my team mate and I suffered in the pouring rain and 30 mph. winds during last years Sea Gull Century ride to enable him to have a life.  In perspective now, my 100 mile ride in nasty conditions was nothing in comparison to what Andy endured for the last few years of his life and I would do many more Sea Gull Century rides in the pouring rain and 30 mph. winds to help save another human being's life

   Every time I get on the bike, whether it be on the indoor trainer, or a hammerfest out-of-doors, I think of my mom, Andy, and the many other people who have lost their battle, who are battling, or who have won their battle and it strengthens my resolve to ride and fight cancer.

    Below is a list of people who lost their battle with cancer and are my inspiration to ride and raise money to fight cancer: