A daughter's love prompts 100 mile bike ride

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • March 19, 2013
  • 342
                        
Summary: An overwhelming love for her dad prompted a Dover resident to participate in a 100 mile bike ride to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In 2008 Dover resident Roy Crawford was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, a rare blood cancer that affects the lymph system. It is incurable. A routine medical exam revealed a mysterious shadow that Crawford’s physician, Dr. Blair Holder thought deserved a closer look and he sent Crawford to an oncologist. Two years of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant put Crawford’s disease in remission and today his quality of life is excellent. Crawford’s daughter Amy Miller, also of Dover knew nothing about her dad’s disease when he was first diagnosed. “I felt powerless and decided to go to nursing school so I could learn more,” said Miller who already had an established career in local radio. “I kept thinking if something would happen to my mom I would need to be able to understand how to help my dad.” “I struggled for months with worry about my dad. There were times we thought we might lose him. The chemo was awful and in order to kill all the cancer they nearly killed him,” said Miller. “I would be on the phone with my mom while I was at work at the radio station and I’d be crying. I had to read the news and I was a mess. My boss and my coworkers helped me get through it. The morning DJ would tell me a stupid joke and I would laugh and be able to keep it together long enough to read the news report.” Miller graduated from the Aultman Hospital College of Nursing two years ago and currently works as an oncology nurse. She is now able to understand her dad’s disease more as well as help cancer patients each day at her job at Aultman Hospital at Canton. Miller continues to further her education and is enrolled in the BSN to Master’s Program at Walsh University. Miller intends to help her dad and other blood cancer patients when she embarks on the 100 mile Century Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe, CA in June as a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, the world’s largest endurance sports charity training program. Known as America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, the 72 mile trek circumnavigates the highways clockwise around Lake Tahoe in both Nevada and California. It includes a challenging 800 foot climb to a rest stop overlooking Emerald Bay and a 1,000 foot climb to Spooner Junction. There are also many short rolling ascents and descents totaling over 4,000 vertical feet of elevation gain. The altitude ranges between 6,300 feet and 7,100 feet above sea level. Miller’s ride includes additional miles into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. “They say if you need motivation as you bike just look around you,” said Miller. “Being out in the fresh air with the lake and the mountains will help me stay motivated and knowing I am raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.” Miller intends to raise $5000 and is asking for support from the community. There are various ways to donate and no donation is too small. Miller has set up a web site at http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/ambbr13/amyjeanmiller that makes donating online simple. Varying levels of fundraising include the Titanium level at $1,000 that includes the donor’s name and the name of a loved one on the back of Miller’s cycling shirt the day of the ride. Other levels include Platinum at $500 and Gold at $250. Tax-deductible donations can also be mailed directly to Miller at 1229 Chestnut St. Dover, OH 44622. “I ride for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help them fund millions of dollars for research to advance treatment and cures for blood cancers,” said Miller. “They also provide critical education to cancer patients and their families. It was this research that sustained our family and got my dad into remission. Doctors gave my dad three to five years to live. This is his fourth year in remission. We always feel like we are waiting, waiting for that phone call that tells us the cancer is back. With your help I can help save lives. We can save my dad’s life.”


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