Thanks to your generous
donations, I've raised $26,333
so far for the
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It was pretty scary at the time, but after
two rounds of chemotherapy (1999 and 2002) and significant changes to my lifestyle
(lower stress, better diet, much more exercise), I am now feeling
great and doing fine.
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One of the most significant changes I made was
to start cycling regularly, and I have to admit I have become quite
passionate about it. I first became serious about cycling when I
joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team-in-Training to train for
2002 El Tour de Tucson century ride, a hundred mile bike ride around
Tucson, AZ, and raise money for this worthy charity. I’ve continued
to stay involved with Team-in-Training as a mentor and now as a cycling coach.
Over
the past year, I’ve learned more about another charity organization
that is worthy of your support. The Lance Armstrong Foundation was
started by the five-time Tour de France winner after his bout with
testicular cancer. Lance’s success after cancer has been a real |
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inspiration for me, but what
interests me about his foundation is its charter. Instead of
focusing solely on the initial treatments of cancer, LAF is working to identify and
improve cancer survivor services and facilitate the delivery of
those services – helping those with cancer live longer and healthier
lives after diagnosis.
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To help raise money for the Lance Armstrong
Foundation, raise awareness for cancer survivors, and
celebrate five years since being diagnosed with cancer, I
decided to
tackle a much bigger challenge than a century ride. This
summer (2004), I cycled across the entire United States, starting
in Everett, WA, on the Pacific |
coast near
where I live, and ending in Williamsburg, VA on the Atlantic coast.
I joined a group of other cyclists on a supported tour that
took us 26 days to cross the 3400 miles. To put this in perspective, the Tour de
France, considered one of the most challenging athletic competitions in the
world, has 1/3rd less miles in almost as many days and
includes two rest days. Over the course of this tour, I turned
the crank of my bicycle more than one million times!
My goal was to raise at least $20,000 for the Lance
Armstrong Foundation, and thanks to the generosity of my friends and
family, I've now exceeded that goal. There is still time to help -
the fundraising deadline is August 27, so please help me by
making a generous donation. Your donation
will go directly to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to help in their
efforts to improve the lives of cancer survivors. I have paid for
all costs associated with my cycling event.
On behalf of all those
whose lives are affected by cancer, I thank you for your support of
this worthy cause -
with your donation we can make a positive impact on the lives of all
cancer survivors. Jay Torborg
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