John Cash will ride his fourth annual Climb to Conquer Cancer on Saturday, April 28.
He plans to ride his bike 10 times up and down the Saluda grade section of Hwy. 176 from the Tryon Youth Center to Saluda and back.
The event raises funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the survivorship program at Gibbs Regional Cancer Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
“The Gibbs Center’s survivorship program is amazing, and much needed,” Cash said. “People often don’t realize how much people go through after they’ve completed treatment for cancer. There’s plenty of help for the first two stages for cancer victims – being told you have cancer and treatment – but not much help for the last stage – survivorship.”
The Lance Armstrong Foundation also offers valuable free services for cancer victims and their families, Cash said. For example, at some universities, the foundation supports a camp for children with a parent who has cancer.
“If you look at the navigation services at www.livestrong.org, you’ll see how many services are available,” Cash said.
Cash, a competitive cyclist, has been involved in raising funds for the foundation since he rode with Lance Armstrong in May 2006. He said he returned home after that ride with a new direction in his life: to use his riding to help raise money for the fight against cancer.
Asked several years ago what the Armstrong’s Livestrong foundation means to him, Cash said, “Livestrong means using your gifts and energy to make a difference in someone’s life or situation.”
Cash invites anyone to join the climb for one trip or all 10, which will be a total of 84 miles. Franklin McKaig of the Tryon Youth Center is donating the use of the center, as well as making his popular pizza for sale during and after the ride. All donations are tax deductible.
Cash’s Climb to Conquer Cancer raised approximately $5,200 last year.
“If you or anyone you know has been affected by this dreaded disease, please consider contributing to this cause,” Cash said.
For additional information contact Cash at Nature’s Storehouse in Tryon at 828-859-6356 or naturesstore@windstream.net.