Welcome to my "Cruisin’ For A Cure" fundraising website!!

I have challenged myself to tour the four corners of this great country of ours in the Spring of 2009 on my 2007 Honda Goldwing GL1800 motorcycle to raise money and awareness to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I’m hoping you will be able to help me reach my goal of raising $50,000!

I know you’re probably wondering how I came up with this crazy idea. Good question! Although several recent situations prompted me to do this, the first nugget came through my wife Lisa’s participation in two Team in Training events in 2008 (Country Music ½ Marathon in Nashville and Rock & Roll ½ Marathon in San Antonio). Team in Training raises millions of dollars each year to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. These tireless fundraisers not only trained for an endurance event but also raised much needed funds to cure blood cancers. Although I’ve never been much of a runner or walker, two things I LOVE to do are riding my motorcycle and meeting new people. This event allows me to do both while at the same time helping others.

I am committed to helping kids like Madison Suggs, a 5 year old in San Antonio, Texas, who is battling Leukemia and is also an Honored Hero with Team in Training. Madison and her mom would join the Team in Training folks for practice all dressed up in purple and routing them all on. Having somebody as young as Madison dealing with Leukemia breaks my heart and I am committed to help prevent another child from having to go through this. Not so fortunately, Brenden Foster, a 9 year old from the Seattle, Washington area recently lost his battle with Leukemia. Brenden knew that he was dying but wanted nothing more than to help the local communities’ homeless population when he realized they didn’t have anything to eat. It is my hope upon my arrival in Seattle to get the opportunity to meet with Brenden’s mother and thank her for raising such an inspirational child.

But children are not the only ones touched by blood cancers. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles….all have been affected by blood cancers, either as patients, caregivers, or friends. I am riding for everybody, kids and adults.

My journey of roughly 11,000 miles will take me about a month. I’ll be traveling through 32 states (outlining states) and lots of cities. I’ll be stopping at cancer clinics and The Leukemia & Lymphoma chapter offices along the way. The most important part of my trip, and most emotional I predict, will be meeting cancer patients. I know they will inspire me on my journey and I hope I will inspire them to continue their fight against cancer. I will be journaling about my travels and experiences and will be sharing it through my travel blog:

http://cruisinforacure.blogspot.com

What can you do to help? I realize these are very difficult financial times but I want you to remember that for cancer patients and their families, it is even worse. Not only is there the emotional toll that dealing with cancer takes on a family but also a financial one. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society not only commits funds to research but also to life-enhancing patient services such as support groups, peer counseling, and patient financial aid. Through the Patient Financial Aid Program, reimbursement of up to $500 per year helps cover the costs of transportation, drugs and various treatment not covered by insurance. In 2008, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society assisted over 18,000 patient aid recipients.

Any financial donation will help! Please consider how you can partner with me to help cancer patients and their families.