WHY I RIDE

Hello family, friends, strangers, and enemies:

First of all, thanks to all of you who have contributed financially in 2023 towards my goal of raising $2,500 for cancer research through participating in Pedal the Cause. Because of your kindness, I have raised over $13,000 lifetime towards much-needed cancer research, as, you will agree, we MUST find a cure for this god-awful disease in our lifetime.

Therefore, I ask for your help. Again? Yes, again!

Sure, if you can find it in your heart to contribute to my cause, please feel free to do so, but do NOT -- yes, do NOT -- feel obligated. I provide the link to do so, just in case. You can contribute straight to my cause by clicking on the "Donate to my ride" link/button on this page.

I thank you ahead of time should you add to your already kind contributions.

The main reason I write, though, is for each of you to please pass along this link -- shout it out to your Twitter, Facebook, or whatever social media accounts, and/or email/text/call all of your friends! -- so that, with more knowledge about my goal, each can possibly contribute to my goal.

Reminder: This money is NOT for me. Nope. It is ALL for cancer research, so that we can stop cancer in its tracks, hopefully during our lifetime.

...So there are no more tragic surprises like the death of HELEN ANDERSEN, who passed away on June 19, 2020 -- only 63 years old -- after a battle with lung cancer. The very active woman, wife, and mother of two daughters never smoked in her life but still managed to die of lung cancer. Go figure.

...Or, the sad passing of ASHLEY FURLONG, who did not make it to her senior year in high school, all because cancer took its deadly toll on such a young life. She was a very close friend of my two daughters, so her loss hits home.

...Or, the sad loss of MIKE BUSS, who succumbed to cancer this year on Feb. 16 at his home, surrounded by his family.

I will be riding 20 miles for all three cancer victims at Pedal the Cause in St. Louis on Sunday, September 24, 2023. While I may struggle to ride 20 miles, as I am not a youngster anymore, I will do it in honor of these cancer victims..

So, again, please spread the word.

Thank you all.

(And should I reach the $2,500 plateau in 2023 (and I have until the end of October to accomplish this financial feat), I will have ALL OF YOU TO THANK!!!! Not sure how I can do that, but I shall try in one way, shape, or form. Honest.)

-- Mark Skaer