Heading to Pelotonia 2011
By Patricia M. Albrecht
Summary: A community of bicyclists and volunteers working toward ending cancer will be gathering in Columbus on August 19 and 20. This third annual event has raised 12.3 million dollars for cancer research so far. Dover resident Dan Warther and son, Cogan, will join the riders for Pelotonia 2011.
Dan Warther, grandson of the Worlds Master Carver Ernest Mooney Warther, and his son, Cogan, age 14, will be heading to Columbus next week to join bicycle riders from across the country who will be participating in Pelotonia 2011.
The word Peloton is a French word meaning platoon, pack, or group. Pelotonia is the name used for the fund-raising cancer-charity bike rally that takes place August 19 and 20.
Mike Caligiuri, director of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, recognized the need to expand cancer research funding. In 2008, Caligiuri and cancer survivor Tom Lennox rode 163 miles across Cape Cod in support of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Later that fall, Lennox founded Columbus-based Pelotonia.
In its first two rides, Pelotonia has attracted over 6,000 riders from 35 states, about 2,800 volunteers, hundreds of thousands of donors, and raised 12.3 million for cancer research.
Last year, $7,846,705 was raised and riders covered 180 miles from Columbus to Athens.
This rally to date has 4,684 riders with $6,323,253 raised so far.
Our goal, said Warther, is 100 miles and $4,000. We will be riding from Columbus to
Amanda.
Last year, Warther almost doubled his original goal of $1,500 by raising $2,915.
Its hard to have a day go by without thinking of someone whos life has not been affected by cancer, said Warther. My wife, Julie, is a five year breast cancer survivor. I lost my brother, Dale, in the spring of 2010 to colon cancer. Currently, my mother-in-law is battling pancreatic cancer.
All proceeds go directly to cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (The James).
I am riding in honor of all who have lost their battle with cancer and in celebration of those who are winning the battle, said Warther. I have always enjoyed bicycling, and Pelotonia has given me the opportunity to do my part to beat cancer and enjoy a ride with friends and family.
Large or small, each and every donation makes a difference. If anyone would like to donate
to this rally for cancer research, simply go to: www.pelotonia.org and click on donate. At the bottom of the page, search for Warther. Dan Warther will also take calls at: 330-343-4706.
To help prevent this for our children and future generations, said Warther, we need to fight cancer head on.
