Fit Philanthropy: Ride Strong and Livestrong!

They may not live in the same city or compete in the same event, but what unites each member of the Livestrong team is a sense of purpose, determination, courage and an undeniable desire to fight cancer.

Just ask Seattle resident and breast cancer patient, Claire Tinker.

At 60 years old, Claire will be biking 70 miles in the Livestrong Challenge taking place in Seattle this summer. As someone who cycled all the way through chemo, she sees this as an opportunity to celebrate how far she has come.

"It's important that cancer patients don't see themselves as victims," Tinker said. "How you do something has an enormous impact on the outcome. My goal was to get through chemo as healthy as possible."

And that she did. Feeling great, Claire's doctor said she had come through chemo like no other patient. "I grew up on a dairy farm," said Tinker, "so I have a very different idea on what women can do. Instead of being sedentary and sluggish, which is encouraged by our culture, I exercised every day. It gets you out there enjoying the world, even when you're sick."

Understandably, biking for hours at time -- let alone doing any type of exercise -- can be difficult on certain days during cancer treatment. But Claire believes the simplest things, like exercise, are often the best solutions in life. "If you sit on the couch for five months you would just feel worse," she said. "Getting out there just makes you feel alive."

And nobody understands that more than Livestrong President and CEO Doug Ulman who works closely with the namesake of this team, Lance Armstrong.

"The Livestrong Challenge embodies the courage and tenacity of cancer survivors and offers people an opportunity to unite in their honor," said Ulman. "Funds raised directly benefit survivors and raise awareness of the need for global action against this disease. In 13 years, Challenge participants have raised more than $60 million while standing up for the more than 12 million Americans living with cancer today."

With a goal of raising $13 million this year, Team Livestrong is open to beginner through advanced athletes who can participate in any of the 17 events around the world, including four which are hosted by Livestrong. Participants raise money for the fight against cancer and then ride, run, walk or swim, depending on the event.

Upcoming Livestrong events include:

Mellow Classic, Dripping Springs, TX, May 29-30, 2010*
LIVESTRONG Challenge Seattle, June 19-20, 2010
Rock n Roll Marathon, Seattle, June 26, 2010*
LIVESTRONG Challenge San Jose, July 10-11, 2010
LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly, August 21-22, 2010
Avia Austin Triathlon, September 6, 2010*
Half Full Triathlon, Ellicott, MD, October 3, 2010*
Bank of America Chicago Marathon, October 10, 2010*
LIVESTRONG Challenge Austin, October 22-24, 2010
ING NYC Marathon, November 7, 2010*

* Indicates events which are not Livestrong events, but where Livestrong teams participate.

"I signed up for this event during chemo as a way to keep me focused on a positive goal," said Tinker. "I can identify with the cause and wanted to give back and raise money for others going through the same thing."

And on days when it was tough to get out and cycle during treatment, Tinker would remind herself, "Lance (Armstrong) did it, and I can do it too."

We have more information on these upcoming events.

Read another inspirational story about cycling to help fight cancer!