|
 Ride for the Relay began ten years ago, the brainchild of a
cancer survivor from Jacksonville. Roger Fox and his wife Sue
formulated a plan to gather cancer survivors at Navy Peer in Chicago
and ride the entire length of Route 66, ending in California. Though
the joy of riding their motorcycles was a perk, the real goal was to
raise money for cancer research through the Relay for Life program.
Fox explained his motivation for creating this fundraiser. He and
his wife are both 30-year cancer survivors. In addition, the year
prior to being diagnosed with cancer, Fox underwent heart by-pass
surgery, with six by-passes. After his recovery from the heart
issues and the successful treatment of cancer for himself and his
wife, Fox said he felt very motivated to do something to help with
cancer research. However, his personal finances wouldn’t allow him
to give what he wanted to give, so he decided to do the Ride for the
Relay. He noted, “The Lord gave me more time, but he didn’t give me
more money. I had to figure out a way to earn money to help other
people because I was helped a great deal by other people, and I
needed to give back.”
In 2006, the first year of the ride, he was solo and raised
approximately $5,000 for the Relay for Life. In year two, there were
six riders and they raised just over $8,000. Fox formed a foundation
for the management of the money and donations to Relay for Life. The
annual ride continued to grow as did the money raised. In 2014,
there were 56 riders who raised a total of $35,000. This year there
were approximately 120 riders who were intent on making it at least
part of the way to California. The expectation for the 2015 ride is
that the fundraiser will bring in more than $40,000 in this, its
10th and final year.
Fox said at age 72, he’s ready to hang it up personally. But he is
hopeful that someone will take on a modified version of the relay.
He said he’d like to find a Relay for Life group that is interested
in continuing the ride in an abbreviated version, with the ultimate
goal being something that would bring this group of people back
together each year, and also of course, raise money for the Relay
for Life.
Though the ride is tagged as a motorcycle event, there were a number
of different modes of transportation on the ride Saturday. While the
bikes were dominate, there were also people taking the ride in cars
and even mobile homes.
Fox explained that for some of the travelers, the bikes are not an
option right now, and that doesn’t matter to him. They are there,
and they are survivors who want to help others. Some of the
members on the ride are still fighting the battle. One rider
explained that he had just finished one chemotherapy treatment, was
making the ride, and then would have another treatment as soon as he
gets back home.
Another couple was traveling by car. The wife
explained that her husband was currently on oxygen, and the long
ride to California in the heat, was going to be too stressful on a
motorcycle. However, she also added that when they get back home,
later this fall, the couple will take their “trike” on a trip to the
northeast. When they return from that trip, her husband will have
fulfilled his goal of visiting every state in the Union.
Outside the Holiday Inn, Fox pointed to a bike with a set of boxing
gloves tied to the pull-behind cart. They said the gloves indicated
that the rider is still fighting his battle with cancer.
The Foxes ride a canary yellow Honda bike on the trip. Their
pull-behind holds their luggage and travel supplies in a miniature
Chevrolet SSR. On the body of the SSR is a collection of Cancer
ribbons in various colors designating the particular cancer. On the
ribbons are written names of those who are battling or have lost the
battle with cancer. Fox said that too is a fundraiser for the Ride
for the Relay; he rides in honor and memory of all those names.
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When the Foxes arrived, they were greeted inside the Holiday Inn by
the motel’s general manager Damon Priddy; Regional Marketing Manager
for the Hampton and Holiday Inns and chairperson for the Logan
County Tourism Bureau, Jean Bruner-Jachino; Lincoln Mayor Pro-Tem
Marty Neitzel, Lincoln Alderman Kathy Horn, and State Representative
Tim Butler.
As the group visited briefly, a young couple with unique accents
came in to say “good-bye” to the Foxes. It turned out he was from
the United Kingdom, she from Wales. The couple had been in Chicago
earlier in the day, preparing to make their personal journey across
the country on Route 66. They were invited to be part of the group.
The couple had reservations to stay over in St. Louis on Saturday
night, so they were moving on. However, they were planning a two-day
stay in St. Louis and said they hoped to meet up with the group on
Monday and travel with them once again through Missouri.
Fox called the group to go outside for a brief meeting under the
awning. There the group was addressed first by Neitzel. She welcomed
them to Lincoln saying, “It makes me feel so good to welcome you to
our city, look it over, see the sights, enjoy our restaurants.
Thank-you for making Lincoln your stop on your Relay for Life. We
hope you will come back.”
Representative Tim Butler spoke next, also welcoming everyone to
Lincoln and explaining that he was the state representative for this
community. He explained that he lived on Route 66 in Springfield. He
also noted that both of his parents died of cancer. “What you guys
do to raise awareness and raise dollars is vitally important," he
said, "and I thank you.”
The last person to speak was Bruner-Jachino. Lincoln is a
traditional stop for the group, and she noted that she has enjoyed
having the group in Lincoln over the years and that she will miss
them greatly if they don’t come back next year. She noted there
would to be an informal supper for the group inside. She also said
she had contacted Governor Bruce Rauner, who is a great motorcycle
fan, and asked him to attend as well. However, she said the governor
sent his apologies that he was spending the weekend in DuQuoin at
the State Fair down there. He did send his thanks to the group for
their fundraising efforts and wished them a good trip across the
country.
The group is making the trip across country slow and easy and making
several stops at Route 66 attractions. On their website,
Ride for the Relay,
they are recording their daily travels. A peek at day one, shows
that while in Lincoln at least a few made the trek out to the
Railsplitter Covered Wagon. In day two, there is also a shot of the
group holding morning prayer before leaving the Holiday Inn for the
second day of their trip.
[Nila Smith] |
