Most of us have had an experience with cancer, through a close friend or personally. Cancer is the common enemy of all of us.
Twenty-five years ago, after the birth of my first grandson, my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with brain stem cancer. We were all told that the tumor was inoperable. My wife began a research for care and cancer facilities that treated this form of cancer and we were able to get her into a program that put the tumor into remission. This program was available because people cared. Today my daughter-in-law is a cancer survivor.
Cancer has touched many of my loved ones. My mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor. I have had two very close friends that unfortunately did not survive their battle with cancer.
I first rode in the Inaugural Tour de Pier for Team Kory, in memory of the son of very close friends. Through that experience I saw the support and compassion of many people for the victims of cancer and I realized the importance of events like the Tour de Pier to help finance the necessary research and treatment to fight cancer.
In February of this year I learned that I have stage-four prostate cancer. I have under gone treatment and hope the cancer goes into remission. Through this experience I have seen first hand how important the support of family and friends is to victims and how they fight their battle. I am so very thankful to family and friends who have given me the strength to fight this disease.
I have seen how cancer brings people together to fight this common enemy. So, I guess there are many reasons I ride. I plan to ride until I cannot.