Cal's Angels WAR of Wheels

First, I apologize to Cal, Frankie and Eloise for my delay in writing this final blog. We rode for these three courageous kids on the final day of the Cal’s Angels W.A.R. on Wheels, but I was mentally cashed after 11 days of hearing the heart wrenching stories of 15 kids who have suffered through their battle with cancer. There are countless others who have lost their battle or who have suffered through long battles because we have chosen other areas to invest our dollars and research. I know it may not be a popular position, but millions and millions of dollars have been raised for other diseases like AIDS and ALS, which are awful diseases in their own right, but they generally impact folks that have lived a life. Kids like the ones we rode for got cancer as early as 9 months and in some cases have suffered and battled for 10+ years.  These kids just want a chance to live a life, play sports, build friendships, fall in love, get married, buy a house, have children, all while being...

Today was an awesome ride for two awesome kids in Erin and Chase…Erin came to our hotel last night in Danville with her parents. That was a tearjerker for me. To hear her story of getting osteosarcoma at the age of eight during the pandemic and battling that nasty disease that ultimately led to a prosthetic femur was just too much for me!!! Erin had multiple close calls but none more so than her reaction to the “standard protocol for osteosarcoma”. The crazy thing is the standard protocol for osteosarcoma has been the same since 1970!!!! WTH!!! We have modern medicine that was able to save Erin as an antidote to her bad reaction to the “standard protocol” but we are still dealing with the treatment plan designed in 1970. It’s disheartening. Quite frankly, it is disgusting that we do not have enough funding to improve the standard protocol. No disrespect to the pharmaceutical companies, but if there was more money in improving the outcomes, my general feeling is the standard protocol wo...

Michael and John…We rode for both of you today. It was a beautiful sunny and crisp morning with a really solid crew of Cal’s riders. John, we know that you were looking down from heaven and Michael, we are hoping God does not have plans to bring you into his arms for years to come. It was an honor to ride for both of you today even though I crashed on some black gravel that looked like asphalt and became kind of an unfortunate distraction for the group. I got talked into going to urgent care in Danville vs finishing the remaining 20 miles of the ride and as it turned out, I did not have many options as I cracked my bike frame in the process. At the end of the day, I am a bit beat up with a bent pinky and a swollen/bruised thumb but I am determined to use one of the extra bikes Cal’s has brought, so I can finish the Cal’s Angels ride in your honor.   John…I never met you but when we talked about your story this morning, I was floored by your faith in God. Your acceptance of you...