WHY I RIDE

Hi,
My name is Aiden. I am riding in PTC this year for all the kids that fight cancer so we can all live. Research is the key to finding a cure and better treatment options. I am a fighter and survivor! I want to honor two fellow brave and courageous Wilms' warriors that lost their battle, Brandt Ballenger and Adrian Merfeld. Through my journey the last 7 years I have known of MANY kids that have died of cancer. It is NOT FAIR!

I am joining the fight against cancer by participating in the fifth-annual Pedal the Cause bike challenge as an Ameren Kids Challenge Rider. I fought both Stage 3 & Stage 4 kidney cancer that metastasized to my lungs and lymph nodes. I am currently FIVE years cancer free. I did not take the traditional route for treatment. My parents couldn't come to terms with the LOW survival rate. Instead we did an experimental treatment plan that had not gone to trial yet because of the lack of funding. The Science behind it was proven but it must go to trial to become a standard treatment plan. Therefore most Wilm's families will never know of it unless they happen upon the same specialist we did in another state. Research is extremely underfunded.Better treatment options and a cure is still needed. The treatment that is available to kids like me has less than a 50% survival rate.I don't know about you but I am NOT OK with that! The treatments also are extremely hard on my body. I have many side effects from the chemo and radiation and will have more as I age. I will ride to help raise money for research to find a cure!! Please support me! You can join my team, make a donation, or come out and cheer me on!

Pedal the Cause has the mission to provide funding for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children's Hospital through their annual cycling challenge in hopes that the research funded by their event will ultimately lead to a cure for cancer.

Please help me in my effort to raise money for Pedal the Cause by making a donation. 100% of your donation will go directly towards cancer research. The beneficiaries of these donations are the same organizations that treated my cancer and helped save my life. Not every child is as lucky as me. Many kids have to fight much harder. Many kids have to fight much longer. And too many have to fight harder and longer and still lose the battle. A child is diagnosed every 3 seconds! 1...2...3...another family devastated. 1...2...3...another family devastated.

Help us findacure!Help fund research! Help find a cure! Together we will make a difference!My story