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Pelotonia: To end cancer

(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - July 06, 2010)

Megan LaFollette (right), and her mother Patsy Stallings (left).

Marie Gibbons.

There are many stories of determination, strength, joy, and sadness to be found among the sea of riders in the annual Pelotonia bicycle tour, with each tale as important as the next.

Here are the stories of two Pelotonia riders: Megan LaFollette of Groveport and Marie Gibbons of Canal Winchester.

Megan's story
"Ever since I was three-years-old, cancer has been a part of my life, from my mom's first breast cancer surgery in 1981, when she was only 29, to her second diagnosis in 2004, and to her most recent reoccurrence in 2008," said LaFollette. "My grandfather and uncle also battled cancer. Unfortunately, they lost their lives to the disease."

During last year's first Pelotonia tour, just two weeks after her uncle passed away and only two months after her mom finished radiation treatments, LaFollette stood in her uncle's driveway and watched world famous cyclist Lance Armstrong and a throng of other cyclists as they whirred past. She decided to join the 2010 tour.

She will bike the 43 mile Pelotonia route (Columbus to Amanda) that includes passing through her home town of Groveport.

"It will be a physical challenge for me, a rookie rider,' said LaFollette.

Cycling is a new experience for this fourth grade teacher (at Cassingham Elementary in Bexley) and mother of two daughters - a four-year old and an eight-month-old. When she first started to train for the ride she pedaled her husband's old Cannondale bicycle, but soon realized she needed her own bike and got a Giant Avail.

"My bike, my mission," said LaFollette.

Her cardio training started slow and steady after giving birth to her daughter last November, but by late spring she felt ready to hit the bike trails at Three Creeks Metro Park.

"Instead of fearing the physical challenge, I embraced it," said LaFollette. "I barely completed six miles on my first ride on Memorial Day, but now I'm up to 25 miles in just over an hour and a half."
The training brought out deep feelings in her.

"When I first starting training, I was emotional during every ride. I nearly cried," she said. "I pictured my uncle, my mom, my grandfather, my aunt, my friends, all I knew who battled cancer. I pictured hugging my daughters, my husband, and my mom after I cross the finish line. I pictured standing in my uncle's driveway watching Lance pedal past. I pictured my mom in the treatment room, IVs attached, and said to myself, 'Come on, Megan, you can do this.' If mom can drive herself to her treatments and go with a smile on her face, then I can make it to the top of this hill."

She said the training has been interesting.

"I've swallowed bugs and nearly wrecked due to a back flat tire. I've pedaled past men riding slower than me. I've seen a fawn, a raccoon, many birds, deer, and sunny skies. I've ridden in the rain, the humid heat, and have applied a summer's worth of sunscreen," said LaFollette.

Through it all she says her mission remains the same.

"Cancer renders loved ones helpless" she said. "We can cook, we can clean, we can pray, but we can't take away the diagnosis or the pain during treatment. Pelotonia is something I can do. I can't complain about the rain or a flat tire because they are miniscule in comparison to the physical battle cancer survivors must endure."

She said her husband and daughters are supportive of her efforts, calling them her "road crew" after they rescued her after a flat tire.

Likewise, the community has backed her efforts.

"Fundraising has been steadfast," she said. "I have received donations, held a Partylite fundraiser, and Flyer's Pizza in Groveport is hosting a benefit night and I will be selling coupons from Flyer's."

She knows, due to her competitive nature, that she will bike "a little harder on the day of the ride."

"I have no expectations except to finish. I am not riding to compete, but I certainly don't want to be last," said LaFollette.

Marie's story

This will be the second year Marie Gibbons has participated in Pelotonia.

"Last year I rode the 50 mile, but this year I am training for the 100," said Gibbons. "I turned 50 this year and want to be able to say I rode my bike 100 miles when I was 50."

Her goal in riding in Pelotonia is to help "raise money for The James."

"Pelotonia is unique in that 100 percent of the money riders raise goes to cancer research at The James," said Gibbons. "It's a great experience. Last year leaving Chemical Abstracts and riding through Columbus with more than 2,000 other cyclists was truly an awesome experience. People lined the streets and cheered us on, not only all through Columbus, but also in Groveport and Amanda and all along country roads. There would be cancer survivors holding up signs that said, 'Thank you.' It brought tears to my eyes."

She began training for the ride in January by attending spinning classes at Cyclist Connection in Canal Winchester. Since then she's been putting a lot of miles on her Giant Avail 3 bicycle riding three to four times a week, usually between 20 and 25 miles. She joins Pelotonia training rides that leave from the Groveport Recreation Center every other Tuesday and Columbus Outdoor Pursuit rides that leave from Cyclist Connection in Canal Winchester.

"There are plenty of opportunities to find groups to ride with right in our area," said Gibbons. "The farthest I have ridden at one time is 62 miles. My mileage is going to be increasing a lot in the coming weeks."

During the long Pelotonia tour, Gibbons thinks she'll experience a range of emotions.

"Excitement at first," she said. "Last year my adrenaline carried me through the first 25 miles. After Richardson Road in Groveport the route gets quite hilly and I have difficulty with hills. My niece has been fighting a courageous battle against uterine cancer for five years, I'd ride my bike 1,000 miles for her to have a long full life. I think about her a lot when I'm training, about how she is always happy and optimistic no matter what treatment she goes through. I'm no athlete so I know riding 100 miles is going to be difficult physically. I think about her now when training gets rough."

Gibbons points out Pelotonia is a ride not a race.

"Everyone out there trained hard and worked hard at fundraising. So it's a collective project, and you feel that because everyone is encouraging and enthusiastic," she said.

Gibbons will ride with Team Speranza. Speranza is Italian for "hope."

"We are a group of aspiring athletes and weekend warriors dedicated to using our athletic hobbies and a general team atmosphere to raise the awareness of, and funding for, various charities," said Gibbons. "We strive to participate in local charitable sporting events that will have a direct impact within our Central Ohio community. I feel very fortunate to have met this group of riders. We all vary in ages and athletic ability, but everyone pulls together and motivates and encourages everyone else."

Gibbons has raised $900 thus far individually.

"My team is hosting various events through the summer to raise money as a team," she said. "We are also raffling off a bike donated by Cyclist Connection worth $2,500. The tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and you can purchase them from me or at Cyclist Connection."

About Pelotonia

Thousands of cyclists will fill the streets on Aug. 20-22 to help fight cancer when they join in the Pelotonia cycling tour, which will pass through Groveport and near Canal Winchester.

The word "peloton" is a French word meaning a bullet or pellet. According to Pelotonia officials, in cycling a "peloton" refers to a group of cyclists riding as a group, drafting off of each other, using less energy and ultimately making it easier for a single person to win. The word "Pelotonia" signifies individuals coming together.

"Pelotonia is a grassroots bike tour with one goal: to end cancer," said Jessica Kinman, Pelotonia's director of publicity and communications."The purpose of Pelotonia is for riders, volunteers, and supporters to come together to raise funds for the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. One hundred percent of the money raised through Pelotonia will go to the James to fund life saving research."

Kinman said funds donated to The James are used in recruitment of new scientists to perform innovative and life saving research. Money donated will also be allocated toward research projects and equipment that is vital for research.

This is the second year for the fund raising bicycle tour in Central Ohio.

"Last year Pelotonia raised over $4.5 million that went directly to the James," said Kinman. "We do not particularly set a financial goal- we are more focused on our rider goal. This year we hope to have 5,000 riders participate in Pelotonia. This is a significant increase from the 2,265 registered riders in 2009."

Kinman said part of the increase is due to the ambition of one of the major sponsors, Huntington Bank, which has a goal of recruiting 1,000 riders for their peloton.

Some of the celebrities expected to participate in the ride are Columbus Blue Jackets Rick Nash and R.J. Umberger; Ohio State President Gordon Gee; and former Buckeye quarterback Craig Krenzel. Also, the Counting Crowes and Augustana will perform during the opening ceremonies in Columbus, the night before the rides begin.

Fund raising minimums vary depending on which route the rider chooses to participate in. The minimums range from $1,000 to $2,000, according to Kinman.

The route for Pelotonia stretches between Columbus and Athens with cyclists having a choice of four rides:

•Columbus to Groveport, about 23 miles;
•Columbus to Amanda, about 43 miles;
•Columbus to Athens, about 102 miles; and
•Columbus to Athens and back, a two day ride, about 180 miles.

The rides will all depart Columbus Aug. 21 at 7 a.m. Those riders participating in the 180 mile route will depart Athens on Aug. 22 at 7 a.m.

For information visit www.pelotonia.org.