I am biking across the USA (4,200 miles) to raise at least $50,000 for the Melanoma Research Foundation in honor of our son-in-law who in July 2006, at the age of 33 years old, was diagnosed with advanced, Stage IV melanoma.
My Story
In February 2007, our son-in-law, our daughter (2nd oldest of our 3 children) and their young sons moved in with us so that our son-in-law could have access to the latest experimental treatments for melanoma cancer in the Washington, DC area. He has had 2 ½ years of clinic trials: a major liver operation that removed 60% of his liver and gene therapy. This therapy involved the doctors removing the few white cells that had attacked his melanoma tumors; the doctors growing billions of those white cells in the laboratory; and, with the aid of large doses of chemotherapy to supress his immune system, the doctors injecting the fighting white cells into his system to fight the remaining melanoma tumors. With this therapy, the support of family, friends, and neighbors, and his indefatigable will to be healthy, our son-in-law has been tumor free for almost a year. He has been reinstated to his position as Major in the headquarters of the U.S. Marines and he and my daughter are expecting their 4th child in October…..unbelievable!!
Although our son-in-law continues to have full body and organ scans every 3 months to check his health status, now he, his growing little family, our family and his family, friends, and neighbors have renewed hope going forward!
Our son-in-law has benefitted greatly from the cutting-edge experimental treatment in melanoma research. I hope that you will consider supporting, with your donation, the continuation of new melanoma treatments, which about 7–10 years ago were nonexistent.
I want to encourage you to donate 2 ½ cents a mile for the 4,200 mile distance ($100 rounded). I am doing a summer blitz fund raiser with this USA bike ride to encourage at least 500 contributors do the 2½ cents per mile. You can help by making your contribution and encouraging family, friends, and colleagues to make their 2 ½ cents per mile donation to support much needed melanoma research for treatment that is effective!
One may make a donation by 1) credit card through http://www.firstgiving.com/hughallen for the Foundation or by 2) check made payable to the Melanoma Research Foundation. Please note on your check that your donation is for “Hugh Allen’s USA Bike Ride” and mail it to:
Melanoma Research Foundation
170 Township Line Road, Building B
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
