2010 Tour Des Chutes Cancer Bike Ride
Celebrating Living Well with Cancer: the 6th Annual Tour Des Chutes
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| A Beautiful Day for a Beautiful Cause |
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| Roger Worthington with Michael McDaniel. Michael was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 15. Five years later he remains determined with a smile for everyone he meets. |
Bend, Oregon. Under blue skies on a bright sunshiny day seemingly within a stone’s throw of the snow capped Cascade Mountains, thousands of cancer survivors, caregivers and supporters gathered to celebrate the 6th Annual 2010 Tour Des Chutes. For the third year, The Punch Worthington Lab proudly sponsored the fundraiser and fun ride to support efforts in Central Oregon to help cancer patients survive and thrive.
What a fantastic day!,” beamed Roger Worthington, who emceed the festivities. “We had live music, scrumptious chow, inspiring guest speakers, free schwag, ice cream and some of the most courageous people on Earth, all united in the mission to raise money and hope for cancer survivors.”
With ride distances ranging from 7 to 100 miles, the Tour Des Chutes attracted over 1,000 riders, from ages between 5 years and 91 years old. The event, which is the brainchild of cancer survivor and local celebrity Gary Bonacker, raised over $80,000. All proceeds will be donated to the St. Charles Medical Center’s Cancer Survivorship Program and the Livestrong Foundation.
Punch would have been happy, “ mused Worthington, whose father Punch Worthington , a long-time Salem, Oregon resident, survived over 3 years beyond his original lung cancer diagnosis.
Punch showed me that the greatest legacy a cancer patient can leave is his quest to live another day. He exemplified the adage about having the tranquility to accept the things he couldn’t change, the courage to change the things he could, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
For more information about the Tour Des Chutes, including how you or a loved one can participate in the survivorship program, please click here. http://tourdeschutes.org/
In only six short years, the Tour Des Chutes has spawned many novel programs designed to help cancer patients and their caregivers thrive. This year, director Dr. Archie Bleyer, announced the Soaring Spirits Camp, which will target children of cancer patients to spend a weekend in mid August swimming, kayaking, hiking, planting trees, birdwatching, and writing poetry at Suttle Lake near Sisters, Oregon. For more information, click on http://www.defeatcancer.info/Soaring/Soaring.html
The 6th annual Tour Des Chutes Cancer Bike Ride will take place on Saturday July 17, 2010 in Bend, Oregon. The ride, which benefits the Cancer Survivorship Program at St. Charles Hospital in Bend and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, features a breathtaking course with 7, 25, 48, 75 and 90 mile routes, fun and friendly rest stops along the way, and a terrific post-race party.
The Punch Worthington Laboratory is proud to once again sponsor the Tour Des Chutes. The Punch Worthington Laboratory, located at UCLA, is the home of novel research into cures for asbestos cancer under the direction Dr. Robert Cameron of the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute. The lab is dedicated to David “Punch” Worthington, a union sandblaster, genetics professor and beloved father and grand-father who lost his lengthy battle with asbestos cancer in 2006.
Over 1000 riders participated in last year’s Tour Des Chutes, which raised over $86,000 for its beneficiaries. This year’s ride promises to be even bigger and better!
For more information about this very enjoyable and worthwhile event, or to make a donation, please visit www.tourdeschutes.org.
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