He typically rides 20 miles in the mornings and 40 miles on
weekends
Gilroy – For Pat DeLeon, a 109-mile bike ride is a small challenge compared to the daily struggles faced by cancer victims. The thought of friends and family who have the disease has driven the lifelong-resident and local businessman to ride hundreds of miles for the last month, as part of his training for a charity bike ride that will raise funds to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
DeLeon has witnessed the struggles of cancer victims many times. His brother passed away several years ago from cancer, and his daughter-in-law as well some of his regular customers at All Aboard Junction, the model-train store he operates off Monterey Street, are now fighting the disease.
“I’m riding on their behalf,” DeLeon said. “It’s an awful disease, so I just wanted to do something. They’re the real heroes here. They’re the ones dealing with this.”
The 109-mile charity ride will take place Nov. 19 in Tucson, Ariz. Despite several years of riding experience, DeLeon has joined Team in Training, a program offered by the race sponsors to help riders prepare for the event.
“I’ve been riding for four or five years, but I’ve never done something like this,” DeLeon said. “It’s not a race. You just want to complete it at a leisurely pace.”
His training has involved alternating days of early morning jogging and bike riding. He typically rides 20 miles in the mornings, then ups the distance to at least 40 miles on the weekend. Two weeks before the event, he will go on an 85 mile bike road.
DeLeon encouraged others to participate in the event, or at least contribute to the fundraising goal of $3,300.
To learn more about riding or to donate funds, visit TeaminTraining.org.
