|
Volunteer To Ride Bicycle Across America
 One of our most recently trained volunteers, Bill Carson, will soon be riding his bike from the West Coast to the East Coast starting June 15, 2008 representing a team called Cyclists Combating Cancer. The 3700 mile bicycle tour across America starts in Astoria, Oregon and will end 50 days later in Portsmouth, NH.
According to Bill, “I do this to bring attention to the importance of early detection, and to raise money for Cancer Connection.” Bill continues, “This local organization appeals to me because it truly uses the funds at the grass root level and their philosophy of care is excellent. Cancer Connection’s overhead costs are also very low relative to the number of lives they touch. It will be an honor to ride for all the cancer patients, survivors and caregivers that benefit from their services. During the 120, against the wind and miles through Wyoming, or climbing over mountain passes, I will be thinking of them”.
Bill emphasizes that early detection is the reason his dream is possible. In 2005, Bill was diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). A chance re-review of the CT scan by one of his radiologist friends showed a tumor on the left kidney. It was decided to remove the kidney. It was a renal cell. The kidney was removed in March 2005.
He looks at CLL as a strange blessing. Bill says, “It is still Stage 0. Without the early CLL diagnosis and CT scan, the kidney cancer would not have been found at an early stage. The kidney situation came as a complete surprise. If found at a later stage, it would have been a major problem!”
He is on a mission to tell all his middle age friends and acquaintances to get yearly checkups to insure a baseline is set. “I owe much to those who pushed me to get regular physicals and a general practitioner astute enough to see something was wrong”, said Bill.
Bill tries to live by the formula his dad taught him: A successful life is made by three things: 1). someone to love, 2). something to do, and 3). something to look forward to. It sounds simple, but usually one or more is missing. Bill says, “I’m fortunate that I have someone to love. The second two are how cycling has helped me keep a positive attitude and spirit”.
While on vacation with his family in 2001, Bill’s wife had the idea to ride the MS 150 in honor and memory of his younger brother. At the time he thought she was going nuts. He didn’t think he could ride 5 miles much less 150. Little did he know that cycling would become not only a fun activity for him, but also a way of life to maintain mental and physical wellness.
After 30 years with a major fortune 500 company plus several years as an entrepreneur, Bill started to reflect back on his cancer experience, and decided it was time to help others as they had helped him. Bill’s oncologist told Bill his philosophy of how he deals with patients, using the following acronym: PACT (Prayer, Attitude, Compassion and Treatment). “I want to carry that philosophy on to others, as well as reinforce it in my own life and treatment”.
If you would like to make a donation to sponsor Bill Carson on this incredible ride across America, please and go to the Donate Now page, or mail a check to 3710 Cedar St. Box 11, Austin, TX 78705.
|
