70-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Tests His Mettle in Epic Journey for Charity Mike Hensen - QMI Agency
go to original September 5, 2012

This week, Bob Lee will embark on what he hopes will be a $1 million bike ride, from Vancouver down the Pacific coast to Tijuana. This will be his third independent effort to raise money and awareness for three important causes, Cancer, ALS and Hospice care.

VANCOUVER - "Some people wonder how a 70-year-old gets on a bike everyday and rides 2,000 miles (3,000 kilometres). It's because I'm not riding for myself," explains Bob Lee.

The cancer survivor departs from Vancouver early Thursday morning to begin his 3,200-kilometre trek down the Pacific coast to Mexico in a bid to raise $1 million for ALS research.

It's the third time he's cycled across the continent - first in 2001 and most recently in 2007 - to raise awareness about the degenerative disorder.



"It's a brutal disease. I can be the arms, legs, voice (of) a lot of people."

The grandfather, who lives just outside Chicago, IL, said he chose to fly into Vancouver and travel across three countries specifically to promote his campaign's purpose.

Ride for 3 Reasons not only signifies the number of times he's cycled throughout North America, but also highlights the support he has from three charities that have agreed to triple every dollar people donate to the campaign.

Despite his age, Lee said the only precaution he's taking is riding slowly during the trip. He expects to finish in six to eight weeks.

The main reason for the measured pace is he wants to meet as many people as he can along the way to raise awareness about his cause.

During his 2007 trip, he encountered an ALS patient in her 30s who surpassed doctors' expectations she would only live two to five years. Now, seven years after her diagnosis, Lee said he's realized something that didn't even occur to him after his own brush with cancer.

"We're all terminal and we should make the best of every day."

Follow his progress on Facebook and Twitter. Anyone who wishes to donate to Lee's cause can go to 3Reasons.org.

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