Since the inaugural Pelotonia bike ride in 2009, this event has always signified HOPE to me. That first year, I rode my bike 1,000 miles in a week, culminating with the 180-mile Pelotonia bike ride. I dedicated my 1,000-mile bike ride to my friend and HERO, Matt Lewis, a 3-time Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia survivor first diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in 1994, at the age of 7. Matt not only achieved a major milestone of graduating from college in 2009, but he also celebrated his 10th year in remission from cancer that same year. I wanted to help him celebrate these milestones by riding the distance of ten 100 mile bike rides in a week.

Matt and I first met back in January of 1998 at an informational meeting for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training campaign. It was at that meeting when our 28 year journey began. Over the next 28 years, I would run thousands of miles in marathons and ultramarathons and bike more than 100,000 miles to honor Matt and many other family members and friends affected by cancer. Friends, family and even complete strangers supported me through donations for my efforts in these endurance events to help raise funds for cancer research and to give HOPE to people like Matt.

Matt would ultimately face cancer two more times in his young life. First, when he relapsed just 6 months after we met and again just after his 25th birthday. At 25 years old, Matt faced cancer head-on with the same courage and determination that he demonstrated when he battled this disease at the age of 7 and 11. It’s hard to put into words just what our friendship has meant to me. Over the years, Matt has shown me what true strength and courage really are. He has also given me the gift of perspective and an understanding of what is most important in life.

Back in the Spring and early Summer of 2020, I considered skipping Pelotonia as I was afraid it might stir up memories of losing my mom to cancer in late October of 2019. I also thought it might appear insensitive to ask my prospective donors for money, given the struggles (financial, social, emotional, etc.) that people had been facing due to the pandemic and everything else going on in the world.

As it turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. In the late summer of 2020, I decided to send a fundraising email to family and friends and the response was overwhelming. I was blown away by how my donors, once again, stepped up to support me in my efforts to help Pelotonia achieve its mission of bringing an END to cancer! Thanks to their support, I raised over $14,000 for cancer research in 2020 and nearly $14,000 in 2021 and 2022. Since the inaugural Pelotonia bike ride back in 2009, many generous donors have helped me raise nearly $138,000 for cancer research through my efforts in Pelotonia. In addition to all the donations I have received, many of my donors have also sent very uplifting and heartfelt messages of support. It was just what I needed as losing my mom hit me much harder than I ever imagined it would.

I am truly humbled and extremely grateful for all the people who have supported me during this 28 year endeavor to bring an END to cancer. The $276,323 they have helped me raise for Pelotonia and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to fund life-saving cancer research, is beyond anything I ever thought possible.

My friend, Matt Lewis, is living proof of the progress we’ve made in the development of life-saving cancer treatments. I never imagined, back in January of 1998, just how much Matt would impact my life and I certainly never thought we would accomplish so much in our journey to bring an END to cancer. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of hundreds of donors.

I will be participating in my 18th consecutive Pelotonia this year. Once again, I will ride in honor and in memory of my mom, my friend Matt Lewis, my friend Dan Weisenbach, my cousin Rebecca, my friend Matt Hare and his son Callahan and many other friends and family members affected by cancer. If you would like to support me in my efforts to help Pelotonia achieve its mission to END cancer, please click the donate button above to make a donation. 100% of the funds raised will be directed to cancer research. Your support means more to me than you could ever imagine. Thanks to you, we are miles closer to a World Without Cancer!

One Goal...END CANCER!

Tim