Lance McKeown is a man who pushes his limits. At 66, he will soon participate in his 7th Pelotonia Bike Tour to raise funds for the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. The Tour is on August 3-5, 2018.
Lance is the IS Manager at TS Tech in Columbus, Ohio and our friend and colleague. This year, Lance has committed to being a Pelotonia High Roller and is challenging himself to raise $5000 and complete the 200-mile bike tour. We hope you’ll be inspired to help him achieve his goal.
“To be a part of this Pelotonia ride—where 100% of the money raised goes directly to cancer research—is special,” says Lance. “There are many amazing moments during the tour and such support from other riders and the community.”
He particularly remembers some touching moments from last year’s Pelotonia challenge. About 40 miles into the second day of the ride, at a rest stop, a girl of about 10 or 11 years old asked him if she could fill his water bottles. She efficiently filled all his bottles, put them back on his bike and moved on to the next rider while Lance grabbed some snacks. He was impressed that his young girl would give up her weekend to fill up water bottles for him and his fellow pelotons.
The man who shouted encouragement to him towards the end of the first day’s journey inspired and spurred him on. “I was about 6.5 hours into the ride, going up a grueling incline called ‘The Grind,’ he recalls. “This is about the 92-mile mark where there is a 14% grade. I was exhausted and gasping for breath. A guy carrying a Pelotonia flag picked me out of the crowd of riders and started calling my name and shouting encouraging words to me. ‘Keep it up, Lance, you’re going to make it.’ That made all the difference to me. I made it to the top of The Grind to find a sign telling me it was all downhill from there!”
Other moments like the high school band and cheerleaders heralding them in Granville, OH, and the residents of that town baking cupcakes, brownies, and pastries for the 3-4 thousand Pelotonia participants who come through their town are awe-inspiring. Or, when, 2 hours from the finish line, alone on the bikeway and in the middle of nowhere, Lance heard a voice thanking him and offering encouragement. He looked around to see a man, woman, and young girl waving and ringing bells. Then, finding that his sister who has cancer, was able, with the help of a friend, to attend the race to greet him at the finish line.
We hope you will help Lance achieve his goals this year by donating. Visit http://pelotonia.org/lance and click on “Donate To My Ride.” You can find out more about Pelotonia and the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute—at this site as well.
