Fit Philanthropy: Almost 80, Still Cycling Cross-Country for Cancer

One bike. Two pedals. Three hundred miles.

That's the goal of native New Yorker, Gordon Gross, who, on June 22, will set off on an adventure to ride 325 miles from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Buffalo, New York, at 79 years old.

On a quest to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, Gross will depart from the University of Michigan and arrive four days later in Buffalo for the start of the Ride for Roswell -- a renowned cycling fundraiser that raises over $2 million each year from 6,000-plus riders.

Accompanied by his son-in-law and another friend, Gross plans to arrive at the event early on June 26 in time to join the peloton ride from Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) to the University at Buffalo where the Ride for Roswell will begin.

After six years of participating in this ride, Gross said this is one event that is especially important to him. "My brother died of stomach cancer," he said, "and right before he passed away, I told him I would do whatever I could to help find a cure."

That includes a personal goal of raising $50,000 this year -- 50 percent more than last year.

The money raised will help fund selenium research and a study that RPCI's partner laboratory in Ann Arbor is conducting with cancer patients using selenium to reduce the toxic effects of chemo and radiation treatments.

While a 325-mile trek is ambitious for a cyclist at any age, Gross is no stranger to these long-distance events. In fact, in 2000, Gordon rode over 3,000 miles across the country to raise money for a fund in his brother's memory. His two-month expedition resulted in not only raising $72,000, but raising some eyebrows, too.

"People my age may shake their heads," said Gross when asked what friends think of his athletic endeavors. "But some admire me; some write checks. Either way, I just want to be an incentive for a lot of people."

For more information on the Ride for Roswell, visit their site, and for more inspiration on using your own fitness for philanthropy, check out what this team is doing in a rhino suit!