The Power of a Promise – Cycling 3,000 miles for children with cancer | Len Forkas | TEDxTysons

so I’m here to share a story about the

so I’m here to share a story about the absolute worst day of my life which

absolute worst day of my life which

absolute worst day of my life which happened in January 2002 when I learned

happened in January 2002 when I learned

happened in January 2002 when I learned that my nine-year-old son Matt was

that my nine-year-old son Matt was

that my nine-year-old son Matt was diagnosed with leukemia but it’s also a

diagnosed with leukemia but it’s also a

diagnosed with leukemia but it’s also a story about one of the best days of my

story about one of the best days of my

story about one of the best days of my life when I rode a bicycle across the

life when I rode a bicycle across the

life when I rode a bicycle across the United States 3,000 miles in 11 days and

United States 3,000 miles in 11 days and

United States 3,000 miles in 11 days and I raised $350,000 for a charity I

I raised $350,000 for a charity I

I raised $350,000 for a charity I started called Hope cam which helps

started called Hope cam which helps

started called Hope cam which helps connect kids with cancer to their

connect kids with cancer to their

connect kids with cancer to their friends at school while they’re

friends at school while they’re

friends at school while they’re undergoing treatment but to tell you the

undergoing treatment but to tell you the

undergoing treatment but to tell you the story I’ve got to take you back to the

story I’ve got to take you back to the

story I’ve got to take you back to the skybridge at Nova Children’s Hospital

skybridge at Nova Children’s Hospital

skybridge at Nova Children’s Hospital this was the moment when we learned that

this was the moment when we learned that

this was the moment when we learned that Matt had cancer we parked at the parking

Matt had cancer we parked at the parking

Matt had cancer we parked at the parking deck we’re walking across the sky bridge

deck we’re walking across the sky bridge

deck we’re walking across the sky bridge with my wife and my son and I looked

with my wife and my son and I looked

with my wife and my son and I looked down and Matthew is wearing his backpack

down and Matthew is wearing his backpack

down and Matthew is wearing his backpack and he’s holding a statue of Saint

and he’s holding a statue of Saint

and he’s holding a statue of Saint Matthew that my mom had given him and

Matthew that my mom had given him and

Matthew that my mom had given him and that was the moment he looked up at me

that was the moment he looked up at me

that was the moment he looked up at me and he asked me if he was going to die

and he asked me if he was going to die

and he asked me if he was going to die and that was day one of cancer my son is

and that was day one of cancer my son is

and that was day one of cancer my son is not going back to school at the toughest

not going back to school at the toughest

not going back to school at the toughest time and scenes in his life when he

time and scenes in his life when he

time and scenes in his life when he needed his friends the most he was stuck

needed his friends the most he was stuck

needed his friends the most he was stuck at home going through treatment and I

at home going through treatment and I

at home going through treatment and I could see the loneliness when I come

could see the loneliness when I come

could see the loneliness when I come home from work and I as a dad I wanted

home from work and I as a dad I wanted

home from work and I as a dad I wanted to do anything I could do to help him so

to do anything I could do to help him so

to do anything I could do to help him so I worked with the technology officer at

I worked with the technology officer at

I worked with the technology officer at his school and we figured out a way to

his school and we figured out a way to

his school and we figured out a way to put a web camera in his classroom and

put a web camera in his classroom and

put a web camera in his classroom and one in our home now in 2002 there was no

one in our home now in 2002 there was no

one in our home now in 2002 there was no Skype there was no FaceTime it hadn’t

Skype there was no FaceTime it hadn’t

Skype there was no FaceTime it hadn’t been invented but you should have been

been invented but you should have been

been invented but you should have been in the room when those two cameras

in the room when those two cameras

in the room when those two cameras clicked on and my son could see his

clicked on and my son could see his

clicked on and my son could see his friends and they could see him

friends and they could see him

friends and they could see him it was absolutely magical and over the

it was absolutely magical and over the

it was absolutely magical and over the course of the next 10 weeks those 24

course of the next 10 weeks those 24

course of the next 10 weeks those 24 kids in his third grade class reminded

kids in his third grade class reminded

kids in his third grade class reminded him that he hadn’t been forgotten and

him that he hadn’t been forgotten and

him that he hadn’t been forgotten and that they wanted him back in the

that they wanted him back in the

that they wanted him back in the classroom and when he walked in back to

classroom and when he walked in back to

classroom and when he walked in back to class in September I knew that we had

class in September I knew that we had

class in September I knew that we had stumbled on something amazing because we

stumbled on something amazing because we

stumbled on something amazing because we had demystified cancer for those 24 kids

had demystified cancer for those 24 kids

had demystified cancer for those 24 kids they treated my son with open arms

they treated my son with open arms

they treated my son with open arms because they were with him the whole way

because they were with him the whole way

because they were with him the whole way and I wanted to help more kids have the

and I wanted to help more kids have the

and I wanted to help more kids have the same feeling so I started a charity and

same feeling so I started a charity and

same feeling so I started a charity and we called it hope Kim and we wanted to

we called it hope Kim and we wanted to

we called it hope Kim and we wanted to send a clear message to these children

send a clear message to these children

send a clear message to these children and to their families that they should

and to their families that they should

and to their families that they should never have to go through this alone when

never have to go through this alone when

never have to go through this alone when Matt was sick I started exercising more

Matt was sick I started exercising more

Matt was sick I started exercising more to cope with the stress of his illness

to cope with the stress of his illness

to cope with the stress of his illness when Matt was born

when Matt was born

when Matt was born I ran the Marine Corps Marathon and that

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon and that

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon and that was over I promised myself I would never

was over I promised myself I would never

was over I promised myself I would never do another one of those but sure enough

do another one of those but sure enough

do another one of those but sure enough I started exercising more in running and

I started exercising more in running and

I started exercising more in running and bicycling and I signed up for a 50-mile

bicycling and I signed up for a 50-mile

bicycling and I signed up for a 50-mile ultra marathon it took me ten hours but

ultra marathon it took me ten hours but

ultra marathon it took me ten hours but I used it as a fundraiser I raised five

I used it as a fundraiser I raised five

I used it as a fundraiser I raised five thousand dollars we were able to buy

thousand dollars we were able to buy

thousand dollars we were able to buy five laptops we found five kids and off

five laptops we found five kids and off

five laptops we found five kids and off we go we started the charity I went on

we go we started the charity I went on

we go we started the charity I went on to do that race seven times each time

to do that race seven times each time

to do that race seven times each time raising more and more money I started

raising more and more money I started

raising more and more money I started doing triathlons I did Ironman

doing triathlons I did Ironman

doing triathlons I did Ironman triathlons I did five Ironman triathlons

triathlons I did five Ironman triathlons

triathlons I did five Ironman triathlons each time I raced I raised more money we

each time I raced I raised more money we

each time I raced I raised more money we help more children it’s kind of funny

help more children it’s kind of funny

help more children it’s kind of funny how your friends they’ll pay you to

how your friends they’ll pay you to

how your friends they’ll pay you to suffer but in 2000 who doesn’t Ted I

suffer but in 2000 who doesn’t Ted I

suffer but in 2000 who doesn’t Ted I knew we were helping roughly 50 kids a

knew we were helping roughly 50 kids a

knew we were helping roughly 50 kids a year mostly around here in this

year mostly around here in this

year mostly around here in this Washington DC area but I knew that we

Washington DC area but I knew that we

Washington DC area but I knew that we could help more children and take this

could help more children and take this

could help more children and take this charity to a larger scale I ended up

charity to a larger scale I ended up

charity to a larger scale I ended up qualifying for a bike race called Race

qualifying for a bike race called Race

qualifying for a bike race called Race Across America and I signed up for it

Across America and I signed up for it

Across America and I signed up for it now Race Across America has been going

now Race Across America has been going

now Race Across America has been going on for 30 years it starts in Oceanside

on for 30 years it starts in Oceanside

on for 30 years it starts in Oceanside California and it finishes very close to

California and it finishes very close to

California and it finishes very close to here in Annapolis Maryland you have to

here in Annapolis Maryland you have to

here in Annapolis Maryland you have to ride 3,000 miles and you have to finish

ride 3,000 miles and you have to finish

ride 3,000 miles and you have to finish in less than 12 days the Tour de France

in less than 12 days the Tour de France

in less than 12 days the Tour de France is is 2,000 miles those guys those guys

is is 2,000 miles those guys those guys

is is 2,000 miles those guys those guys get 24 days it says so it’s a thousand

get 24 days it says so it’s a thousand

get 24 days it says so it’s a thousand miles longer than the Tour de France and

miles longer than the Tour de France and

miles longer than the Tour de France and roughly half the time but very people

roughly half the time but very people

roughly half the time but very people know is that less than half the people

know is that less than half the people

know is that less than half the people that start this race actually make it to

that start this race actually make it to

that start this race actually make it to the finish line they call you a solo

the finish line they call you a solo

the finish line they call you a solo rider but you need a team of people to

rider but you need a team of people to

rider but you need a team of people to support you you need a massage therapist

support you you need a massage therapist

support you you need a massage therapist you need a bike mechanic and you need a

you need a bike mechanic and you need a

you need a bike mechanic and you need a paramedic in case something goes wrong

paramedic in case something goes wrong

paramedic in case something goes wrong you need nutritionists drivers and

you need nutritionists drivers and

you need nutritionists drivers and navigators to help you the most

navigators to help you the most

navigators to help you the most important thing though you need are

important thing though you need are

important thing though you need are positive unselfish

positive unselfish

positive unselfish skilled people because all it takes is

skilled people because all it takes is

skilled people because all it takes is one person on your team that’s not

one person on your team that’s not

one person on your team that’s not positive and it can destroy the

positive and it can destroy the

positive and it can destroy the chemistry of the entire team and so I’d

chemistry of the entire team and so I’d

chemistry of the entire team and so I’d like to take you with me on the bicycle

like to take you with me on the bicycle

like to take you with me on the bicycle ride and I can share with you some of

ride and I can share with you some of

ride and I can share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned about life and

the lessons I’ve learned about life and

the lessons I’ve learned about life and about leadership as I race my bicycle

about leadership as I race my bicycle

about leadership as I race my bicycle 3,000 miles in 11 day so here I am at

3,000 miles in 11 day so here I am at

3,000 miles in 11 day so here I am at the starting line and I have to say this

the starting line and I have to say this

the starting line and I have to say this is by far the most exhilarating moment

is by far the most exhilarating moment

is by far the most exhilarating moment of the entire race because right now all

of the entire race because right now all

of the entire race because right now all I have to do is one thing push the

I have to do is one thing push the

I have to do is one thing push the pedals on the bicycle

pedals on the bicycle

pedals on the bicycle our success is going to be solely driven

our success is going to be solely driven

our success is going to be solely driven by our crew and our team and the lesson

by our crew and our team and the lesson

by our crew and our team and the lesson the first lesson I learned was you have

the first lesson I learned was you have

the first lesson I learned was you have to trust your team to be able to move on

to trust your team to be able to move on

to trust your team to be able to move on and that was my first lesson my first

and that was my first lesson my first

and that was my first lesson my first physical test would be going across the

physical test would be going across the

physical test would be going across the Sonora Desert it’s a hundred and twenty

Sonora Desert it’s a hundred and twenty

Sonora Desert it’s a hundred and twenty degrees at twelve o’clock in the

degrees at twelve o’clock in the

degrees at twelve o’clock in the afternoon in the Sonora Desert and I’m

afternoon in the Sonora Desert and I’m

afternoon in the Sonora Desert and I’m going through the desert there’s a

going through the desert there’s a

going through the desert there’s a headwind 25 mile an hour have been

headwind 25 mile an hour have been

headwind 25 mile an hour have been blowing straight at me it felt like

blowing straight at me it felt like

blowing straight at me it felt like someone had a rope around my waist and

someone had a rope around my waist and

someone had a rope around my waist and they’re like pulling me backwards it was

they’re like pulling me backwards it was

they’re like pulling me backwards it was demoralizing and I realized that moment

demoralizing and I realized that moment

demoralizing and I realized that moment everything in life falls into two

everything in life falls into two

everything in life falls into two categories what you can control and what

categories what you can control and what

categories what you can control and what you can’t I can’t control the

you can’t I can’t control the

you can’t I can’t control the temperature I can’t control the wind all

temperature I can’t control the wind all

temperature I can’t control the wind all I can do is adapt to my environment and

I can do is adapt to my environment and

I can do is adapt to my environment and keep moving I think Winston Churchill

keep moving I think Winston Churchill

keep moving I think Winston Churchill said it best when you’re going through

said it best when you’re going through

said it best when you’re going through hell keep going and that is lesson

hell keep going and that is lesson

hell keep going and that is lesson number two now every day I raced for a

number two now every day I raced for a

number two now every day I raced for a different child with cancer on this

different child with cancer on this

different child with cancer on this particular day I was racing for a young

particular day I was racing for a young

particular day I was racing for a young man named Alex green alex green was

man named Alex green alex green was

man named Alex green alex green was eight years old and he was fighting a

eight years old and he was fighting a

eight years old and he was fighting a very rare form of cancer called Wilms

very rare form of cancer called Wilms

very rare form of cancer called Wilms tumor he had a complication in surgery

tumor he had a complication in surgery

tumor he had a complication in surgery that left him paralyzed Alex Green plays

that left him paralyzed Alex Green plays

that left him paralyzed Alex Green plays wheelchair basketball Alex Green plays

wheelchair basketball Alex Green plays

wheelchair basketball Alex Green plays sled hockey he has a hand-cranked

sled hockey he has a hand-cranked

sled hockey he has a hand-cranked bicycle and I called Alex Green and I

bicycle and I called Alex Green and I

bicycle and I called Alex Green and I told him Alex I’m going through the

told him Alex I’m going through the

told him Alex I’m going through the Colorado Rockies and your strength

Colorado Rockies and your strength

Colorado Rockies and your strength inspires me you’re on my team today and

inspires me you’re on my team today and

inspires me you’re on my team today and if there’s ever a time I would need the

if there’s ever a time I would need the

if there’s ever a time I would need the strength

strength

strength of another person was Alex green on this

of another person was Alex green on this

of another person was Alex green on this day going across the Rockies as I went

day going across the Rockies as I went

day going across the Rockies as I went across a pass leading into Durango I’m

across a pass leading into Durango I’m

across a pass leading into Durango I’m at 7,000 feet above sea level I’m going

at 7,000 feet above sea level I’m going

at 7,000 feet above sea level I’m going downhill

downhill

downhill I fell asleep on the bicycle I open my

I fell asleep on the bicycle I open my

I fell asleep on the bicycle I open my eyes and I was looking at a guardrail

eyes and I was looking at a guardrail

eyes and I was looking at a guardrail just like this picture I grabbed those

just like this picture I grabbed those

just like this picture I grabbed those brakes with every ounce of power that I

brakes with every ounce of power that I

brakes with every ounce of power that I had I made that turn with just enough

had I made that turn with just enough

had I made that turn with just enough time to miss it if I had slept for two

time to miss it if I had slept for two

time to miss it if I had slept for two more seconds I would have catapulted

more seconds I would have catapulted

more seconds I would have catapulted over that guardrail down a thousand foot

over that guardrail down a thousand foot

over that guardrail down a thousand foot embankment and that would have been it I

embankment and that would have been it I

embankment and that would have been it I believe in a higher power I believe

believe in a higher power I believe

believe in a higher power I believe someone woke me up it could have been

someone woke me up it could have been

someone woke me up it could have been Alex or could be my dad we’d passed away

Alex or could be my dad we’d passed away

Alex or could be my dad we’d passed away a few years before but it was not my

a few years before but it was not my

a few years before but it was not my turn to go but the lesson that I learned

turn to go but the lesson that I learned

turn to go but the lesson that I learned was I pushed myself way past my physical

was I pushed myself way past my physical

was I pushed myself way past my physical boundaries there are times we can do

boundaries there are times we can do

boundaries there are times we can do this there are times we can push

this there are times we can push

this there are times we can push ourselves and push our teams but there

ourselves and push our teams but there

ourselves and push our teams but there are consequences and for me lesson three

are consequences and for me lesson three

are consequences and for me lesson three was the consequence was it almost

was the consequence was it almost

was the consequence was it almost costing my life I’ve made it across the

costing my life I’ve made it across the

costing my life I’ve made it across the desert I’ve made it across the Rocky

desert I’ve made it across the Rocky

desert I’ve made it across the Rocky Mountains and now I’m going across the

Mountains and now I’m going across the

Mountains and now I’m going across the Great Plains of Kansas now we had three

Great Plains of Kansas now we had three

Great Plains of Kansas now we had three vehicles during the ride if we had two

vehicles during the ride if we had two

vehicles during the ride if we had two vans one was a backup vehicle which is

vans one was a backup vehicle which is

vans one was a backup vehicle which is behind me 24/7 the 11 was an advanced

behind me 24/7 the 11 was an advanced

behind me 24/7 the 11 was an advanced vehicle and we had a recreational

vehicle and we had a recreational

vehicle and we had a recreational vehicle so we were in Wichita Kansas and

vehicle so we were in Wichita Kansas and

vehicle so we were in Wichita Kansas and the RV and the backup band pull up to a

the RV and the backup band pull up to a

the RV and the backup band pull up to a gas station to 7-eleven everyone got out

gas station to 7-eleven everyone got out

gas station to 7-eleven everyone got out they went to the bathroom they put gas

they went to the bathroom they put gas

they went to the bathroom they put gas in the tank they jumped back in well

in the tank they jumped back in well

in the tank they jumped back in well guess what they left one guy behind

guess what they left one guy behind

guess what they left one guy behind guess where a cell phone was on vibrate

guess where a cell phone was on vibrate

guess where a cell phone was on vibrate mode in the back of the van all the guys

mode in the back of the van all the guys

mode in the back of the van all the guys in the RV thought he was in the van all

in the RV thought he was in the van all

in the RV thought he was in the van all the guys in the van thought he’s an RV

the guys in the van thought he’s an RV

the guys in the van thought he’s an RV he hadn’t memorized the cellphone number

he hadn’t memorized the cellphone number

he hadn’t memorized the cellphone number to any of our other crew members does

to any of our other crew members does

to any of our other crew members does anyone memorize cell phone numbers

anyone memorize cell phone numbers

anyone memorize cell phone numbers anymore

anymore

anymore it took him three hours to finally track

it took him three hours to finally track

it took him three hours to finally track down our team and someone had to go back

down our team and someone had to go back

down our team and someone had to go back and pick him up but you know what good

and pick him up but you know what good

and pick him up but you know what good teams do they forgive each other and

teams do they forgive each other and

teams do they forgive each other and they move on and they don’t hold grudges

they move on and they don’t hold grudges

they move on and they don’t hold grudges and the next thing they did was they

and the next thing they did was they

and the next thing they did was they stopped at a Walmart they bought a dozen

stopped at a Walmart they bought a dozen

stopped at a Walmart they bought a dozen black markers every

black markers every

black markers every took off their shoe pulls out the sole

took off their shoe pulls out the sole

took off their shoe pulls out the sole and they wrote down the cell phone

and they wrote down the cell phone

and they wrote down the cell phone numbers to five different people inside

numbers to five different people inside

numbers to five different people inside their shoe because that’s what good

their shoe because that’s what good

their shoe because that’s what good teams do they look at mistakes as

teams do they look at mistakes as

teams do they look at mistakes as opportunities to get better and that’s

opportunities to get better and that’s

opportunities to get better and that’s number four is a high-performing team

number four is a high-performing team

number four is a high-performing team has positive people that forgive each

has positive people that forgive each

has positive people that forgive each other when they make mistakes learn from

other when they make mistakes learn from

other when they make mistakes learn from your mistakes so they move on they don’t

your mistakes so they move on they don’t

your mistakes so they move on they don’t hold grudges

hold grudges

hold grudges well I finally made it across the desert

well I finally made it across the desert

well I finally made it across the desert the mountains the plains the

the mountains the plains the

the mountains the plains the Appalachians and now I’m 50 miles from

Appalachians and now I’m 50 miles from

Appalachians and now I’m 50 miles from the finish line I’m 50 miles away from

the finish line I’m 50 miles away from

the finish line I’m 50 miles away from my friends and my family and an ice-cold

my friends and my family and an ice-cold

my friends and my family and an ice-cold beer now in my age division I’m in first

beer now in my age division I’m in first

beer now in my age division I’m in first place my nurse competitor he’s in West

place my nurse competitor he’s in West

place my nurse competitor he’s in West Virginia but out of 47 athletes from 20

Virginia but out of 47 athletes from 20

Virginia but out of 47 athletes from 20 countries I’m in 10th place overall

countries I’m in 10th place overall

countries I’m in 10th place overall until this guy shows up Stephon Schlegel

until this guy shows up Stephon Schlegel

until this guy shows up Stephon Schlegel from Mannheim Germany he’s 34 years old

from Mannheim Germany he’s 34 years old

from Mannheim Germany he’s 34 years old I looked him up he’s a five-time world

I looked him up he’s a five-time world

I looked him up he’s a five-time world Ironman champion and with 50 miles to go

Ironman champion and with 50 miles to go

Ironman champion and with 50 miles to go he goes zooming past me my crew chief

he goes zooming past me my crew chief

he goes zooming past me my crew chief John Moore good friend he was a tank

John Moore good friend he was a tank

John Moore good friend he was a tank mechanic in the Marine Corps he’s behind

mechanic in the Marine Corps he’s behind

mechanic in the Marine Corps he’s behind me in the van he pulls up the window

me in the van he pulls up the window

me in the van he pulls up the window rolls down he looks at me he says forcus

rolls down he looks at me he says forcus

rolls down he looks at me he says forcus are you gonna let that guy steal 10th

are you gonna let that guy steal 10th

are you gonna let that guy steal 10th place from you at that moment I realized

place from you at that moment I realized

place from you at that moment I realized I wasn’t in 10th place my team was in

I wasn’t in 10th place my team was in

I wasn’t in 10th place my team was in 10th place and I owed it to them to

10th place and I owed it to them to

10th place and I owed it to them to chase after him and I did but the power

chase after him and I did but the power

chase after him and I did but the power to do that did not come from my legs the

to do that did not come from my legs the

to do that did not come from my legs the power came from my friend John believing

power came from my friend John believing

power came from my friend John believing in me how many times do we have the

in me how many times do we have the

in me how many times do we have the opportunity to believe in others and to

opportunity to believe in others and to

opportunity to believe in others and to validate and that’s lesson number five

validate and that’s lesson number five

validate and that’s lesson number five is to encourage others to do

is to encourage others to do

is to encourage others to do extraordinary things and now I’m

extraordinary things and now I’m

extraordinary things and now I’m crossing the finish line and my wife is

crossing the finish line and my wife is

crossing the finish line and my wife is there my daughter Vienna was there and

there my daughter Vienna was there and

there my daughter Vienna was there and the crowd kind of parted and then one

the crowd kind of parted and then one

the crowd kind of parted and then one more person came forward and that was my

more person came forward and that was my

more person came forward and that was my son Matt my son Matt is 24 years old

son Matt my son Matt is 24 years old

son Matt my son Matt is 24 years old he’s a college graduate and he is

he’s a college graduate and he is

he’s a college graduate and he is completely cancer-free

completely cancer-free

completely cancer-free [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] that is the best part of the whole story

that is the best part of the whole story

that is the best part of the whole story right and here’s my team and my crew and

right and here’s my team and my crew and

right and here’s my team and my crew and I have to tell you this is one of the

I have to tell you this is one of the

I have to tell you this is one of the most indelible moments of my life there

most indelible moments of my life there

most indelible moments of my life there celebrating with all the people that

celebrating with all the people that

celebrating with all the people that helped me get there and the

helped me get there and the

helped me get there and the extraordinary team members my family my

extraordinary team members my family my

extraordinary team members my family my friends and supporters and how did we do

friends and supporters and how did we do

friends and supporters and how did we do this

this

this how did we accomplish the impossible we

how did we accomplish the impossible we

how did we accomplish the impossible we did it because I had positive unselfish

did it because I had positive unselfish

did it because I had positive unselfish highly skilled people that believed in

highly skilled people that believed in

highly skilled people that believed in what they were doing they forgave each

what they were doing they forgave each

what they were doing they forgave each other when they made mistakes they

other when they made mistakes they

other when they made mistakes they honored each other’s roles they

honored each other’s roles they

honored each other’s roles they delegated fearlessly

delegated fearlessly

delegated fearlessly and they respected their boundaries but

and they respected their boundaries but

and they respected their boundaries but the reason we did it was because of the

the reason we did it was because of the

the reason we did it was because of the mission and the mission wasn’t me the

mission and the mission wasn’t me the

mission and the mission wasn’t me the mission was to help more kids with

mission was to help more kids with

mission was to help more kids with cancer

cancer

cancer we went from helping 50 kids a year to

we went from helping 50 kids a year to

we went from helping 50 kids a year to 250 kids a year with the $350,000 that

250 kids a year with the $350,000 that

250 kids a year with the $350,000 that we raised 70% of the children we connect

we raised 70% of the children we connect

we raised 70% of the children we connect go to schools where lunches are

go to schools where lunches are

go to schools where lunches are subsidized but 15,000 kids a year are

subsidized but 15,000 kids a year are

subsidized but 15,000 kids a year are diagnosed with cancer and we have more

diagnosed with cancer and we have more

diagnosed with cancer and we have more work to do outside magazine calls Race

work to do outside magazine calls Race

work to do outside magazine calls Race Across America one of the toughest bike

Across America one of the toughest bike

Across America one of the toughest bike races in the world but compared to what

races in the world but compared to what

races in the world but compared to what these children go through fighting their

these children go through fighting their

these children go through fighting their own fighting for their own survival it

own fighting for their own survival it

own fighting for their own survival it doesn’t even come close but we both need

doesn’t even come close but we both need

doesn’t even come close but we both need our friends and our family and our

our friends and our family and our

our friends and our family and our medical team the finish line for me is

medical team the finish line for me is

medical team the finish line for me is Annapolis Maryland for these children

Annapolis Maryland for these children

Annapolis Maryland for these children it’s a cure but in the end what it all

it’s a cure but in the end what it all

it’s a cure but in the end what it all comes down to is that none of these

comes down to is that none of these

comes down to is that none of these children should ever have to race alone

children should ever have to race alone

children should ever have to race alone thank you