The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (PHLBI) hosted our 7th Annual The Greatest Escape Motorcycle Ride on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Dozens of riders gathered to ride through the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains in support of mesothelioma cancer research at PHLBI.
Actor Steve McQueen, a mesothelioma victim, inspired the ride.
Steve McQueen was perhaps most well known for his role in The Great Escape movie, released in 1963. The Great Escape is a war film based on a true story of Allied soldiers escaping from a Nazi POW camp during World War II. McQueen is known for his character’s motorcycle stunts during the soldiers’ escape from the camp.
Before his acting career, McQueen served in the US Marine Corps. He never had to experience combat, as he enlisted after World War II. McQueen was an avid motorcyclist and racer who performed many of his own stunts in films. He regularly competed in off-road motorcycle competitions and car races.
In the late 70s, McQueen began experiencing a persistent cough and shortness of breath, and was soon diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. He believed that the mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure, could have come from his time serving in the Marines or even from the fireproofing equipment he used while racing and performing stunts. Many mesothelioma victims are veterans who were exposed to asbestos during service. Mesothelioma has no known cure, and at that point in time there were little to no safe options for prolonging McQueen’s life. He unfortunately succumbed to his illness at the young age of 50.
PHLBI and The Greatest Escape Motorcycle Ride
Mesothelioma treatments have come a long way since McQueen’s diagnosis. Though mesothelioma is a terminal illness, patients can now explore treatment options capable of extending their lives for years. The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute is the only nonprofit in the United States to conduct in-house research on mesothelioma. The Institute’s research and treatment programs are led by mesothelioma expert Dr. Robert B. Cameron, MD FACS. PHLBI hosts regular fundraising events to raise awareness about mesothelioma and to benefit cancer research efforts at the Punch Lab at UCLA and the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration.
Just over a month ago, The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute hosted its 7th annual The Greatest Escape Motorcycle Ride, in honor of Steve McQueen. There, motorcyclists joined PHLBI to ride a 65-mile route through the Santa Monica Mountains in support of cancer research. The ride kicked off at Mulholland Harley Davidson in partly sunny, cool Calabasas. The riders congregated and enjoyed a breakfast of coffee and doughnuts, provided by sponsor Shark Squad, while they looked at each other’s bikes, caught up with old friends from the road, and learned more about PHLBI’s mission.
Celebrity Grand Marshal Sean McNabb and motorcycle collector Daniel Shoenewald were among the event’s distinguished guests. McNabb, an avid rider himself, starred in Sons of Anarchy, a TV drama series about a club of outlaw motorcyclists. Schoenewald has collected over 100 motorcycles over the years and rode a bike to the event that once belonged to McQueen. This cherry-red, sleek 1942 Indian Sport Scout was one of many gorgeous motorbikes to be admired at our event.
Biker and fervent PHLBI volunteer Halle Hallal planned out a scenic, romantic route through the natural landscape surrounding Los Angeles. Cyclists rode for nearly 90 minutes over the hills into Simi Valley, where they were greeted warmly by the kind staff of Elks Lodge #2492. Riders talked and laughed while eating lunch served by the Elks, as others mingled around, playing raffle tickets and listening to The Sidemen’s electrifying live music.
Hallal led the live auction and raffle prize drawing alongside McNabb. Private motorcycle collection tours, casino weekend getaways and a cream-white signed ESP guitar were among the collection of prizes won and auctioned. Our presenting sponsor Worthington & Caron PC took home two priceless auction items– a tour of Daniel Schoenewald’s private motorcycle collection for 8 people followed by lunch at The Spanish Hills Country Club, and a beautiful painting of McQueen’s Indian Sport Scout painted by artist Victoria Adams.
The Greatest Escape Motorcycle Ride raised $45,316 for mesothelioma research at The Pacific Mesothelioma Center. We are so grateful for our presenting sponsor Worthington & Caron PC, Mulholland Harley Davidson and Elks Lodge #2492 for hosting our riders, Shark Squad Motorcycle Attorneys, Frost Law Firm PC, Advanced Motion Controls, our wonderful photographer Cierra Trudeau, our prize donors, our patient families and friends for their unwavering support and love, and last but certainly not least- our volunteers.
