The Ride - Littleton NH to Palmerton PA, 2001

On Sunday, August 5th, 39 cyclists and a support group of 15 left Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton, PA and headed for Littleton, New Hampshire. Pennsylvania Perimeter Ride Against Cancer X was a six-day 560-mile bicycle ride from Littleton to Palmerton. On Monday, the riders began their first day of biking in the shadow of Mt. Washington and then rode through awe inspiring Crawford's Notch. The next four days they biked on some of the most humid and hottest days of the year. They had to sit in streams and ponds so they could reduce their body temperatures. The first pond owner was more than happy to give his permission to allow the riders an opportunity to cool down because he was a cancer survivor himself. One of the women riders noticed a man using a garden hose and borrowed it from him and quickly doused herself from head to toe. They were greeted and well treated all along the way.

The longest biking day from Adams, Massachusetts to Kingston, New York (110 miles) was also the hottest with temperatures of 102 degrees. Some of the bikers had thermometers attached to their bikes. These thermometers registered 106-108 degrees. On this day, some of the riders lost their way and added an additional 10 miles to their trek. This means they biked 120 miles in 100+ degrees heat.

Each rider had to raise $1,000. Each rider dedicated his or her ride to a particular cancer victim. They wore a ribbon with that person's name on it the entire six days. At the end of the ride, a rider named Paulette Andrews greeted and hugged Nadine Schmidt, a member of Holy Trinity and the Welcome Home Committee. Paulette dedicated her ride in honor of Nadine. Thanks to cancer research Nadine is no longer a victim, but a survivor. The two have become friends and will keep in touch.

On Saturday, August 11th, the riders returned to a Welcome Home Reception at Holy Trinity Church having raised over $76,000 for the American Cancer Society (85%) and Dream Come True (15%). The first to arrive in a downpour of rain was the team of Paulette Andrews and Brad Gerhart. They were one of two pairs of tandem riders in this year's ride. The riders slowly arrived, tired and spent, but elated with what they had accomplished. The youngest biker was 16 and the oldest 63. Bob Freed is the only biker who has completed all ten of the rides. This ride was one of the greatest athletic achievements in the history of Palmerton.

Pastor Paul Schoffstall and Tony Cerrone received the "Spirit of the Pennsylvania Perimeter Ride Against Cancer" at the "Welcome Home" reception. This award is for long-term support of PPRAC. Also recognized were the volunteers from Holy Trinity. They received applause and esteem for their efforts to support the ride. This is the fifth ride that Holy Trinity has supported.

Christopher Gulick, a five-year old boy from Easton, was also at the Welcome Home Reception to greet the riders. He is suffering with Medullablastoma and will be going to Disney World at the end of September through the help of Dream Come True. Your contributions helped provide Chris' dream and put money towards cancer research.

Someday we will hand our children a world where fear of cancer will be but a memory.

by Paul Schoffstall

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