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A Community Fights Back

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Below is a blog from a LIVESTRONG Leader about how and why he gives back to the cancer community. LIVESTRONG Leaders are an integral part of LIVESTRONG‘s advocacy efforts. Get involved in your community and connect with a LIVESTRONG Leader in your area. To find a local leader, Email LIVESTRONG

September 10, 2003, I heard the words I never expected; you have cancer. I was stunned. Young, healthy, athletic, with no family cancer history; it made no sense. I was diagnosed with aggressive stage 11-B breast cancer. My diagnosis was to say the least – unlikely. I quickly learned that cancer knows no boundaries. Following surgeries and chemotherapy I felt the ?obligation of the cured? – the idea that those of us who survive cancer should help others do the same. And started to give back.

Saturday January 29th, with the help and support of many friends affected by this disease, our community came together and gave back ? big time! What started as simply an exchange of ideas between LIVESTRONG supporters on a summer ride turned into one inspiring afternoon. Good things do happen on the bike! 72 riders, 24 bikes, with 1 purpose – to show 28 million fighting cancer worldwide that they are not fighting alone.

Union Street Athletics, LIVESTRONG Maine, and the Bangor Mall joined LIVESTRONG?s fight against cancer with RPM cycling classes at Bangor Mall?s Center Court. USA instructor Scott Kahkonen led the three special RPM classes.

Each rider paid $28 to participate, donations were made from mall shoppers, wristbands, LAF support material, guidebooks were given out, and race bibs with personal messages of hope were pinned on tribute walls. Perhaps even more important than raising funds for LIVESTRONG that afternoon, was the awareness raised and the personal stories shared in the fight against cancer. 28 million are not alone.

Special thanks to LIVESTRONG supporters James Gerety, Scott, and Sherry Haller for helping to organize the event.

After clipping out from the final spin class the questions were all the same, we are doing this again right! Our answer was simple, until cancer let?s up ? we?re not letting up.

Jeff Bennett
LIVESTRONG Leader, Maine

  • Hank Deneski

    congrats Jeff, glad to hear you are doing well
    Im still fighting all the treatment effects, lost my leadership position but still running my cancer support program
    stay well

  • http://www.DowellTaggart.com Dowell Taggart

    Great story. Wished more of them were on the news rather then the bad stuff.