A Five-Year, Cross Country Cycling Mission

 Each year in the U.S. approximately 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. Currently over 78% of children with cancer survive, but as many as 2/3 of them will develop at least one long-term health problem, or late effect of the cancer and treatment, often years or even decades after the treatment has ended. 

The Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio is proud to be supported from a grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Cross Country Cancer Conquest Team is dedicated to raising matching funds to assist the Center in its mission.

The Center is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the well being and quality of life of survivors of childhood cancer through clinical care, advocacy, education, and survivorship research.  The Center’s multidisciplinary team includes specialists from pediatric oncology, psychology, oncology nursing, social work, child life, physical therapy, nutrition and sports medicine. Programs include a Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic, School Liaison Program, Physical Preparedness Program and a Survivor Advocacy Program.

The Cross Country Cancer Conquest was envisioned as a multi-year, stage cycling ride across the United States to raise funds for the work of the Center. In 2005, two riders began a cross-country cycling adventure on the Pacific coast in Anacortes, WA and cycled 500 miles in six days across the Cascade Mountains to Sandpoint, ID. In 2006, four riders began the trek from Sandpoint, ID across the Rocky Mountains to Williston, ND. In 2007, the team carried on across North Dakota to St. Cloud, MN. In 2008, the ranks of the team will swell to six riders at the start of the ride in St. Cloud and anticipates to add many more riders as the ride approaches its termination point in Cleveland, Ohio. If all goes as scripted, the ride will begin again in Cleveland in 2009 for the final year's ride to the Atlantic Coast.

You can be a vital part of the Cross Country Cancer Conquest Team. Your contribution can make a difference in the life of a child. On behalf of the Team, we thank you for your support of the Center.


You can also follow the ride blog at:

 http://crosscountrycancer.wordpress.com