Cycle for Survival

Emily and Dave Cassaro CYCLE FOR SURVIVAL January, 31st 2010
Article written by Emily Cassaro
‘Cycle for Survival’ – February 2, 2010


Hi everyone!
For past couple months my Dad and I have been working hard to prepare for an event called Cycle for Survival. This amazing cycling event raises funds and awareness for rare cancers and for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
     All funds raised by the event go toward researching rare cancers. Cycle for Survival explains – “National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines a rare disease as one with a prevalence of fewer than 200,000 in the United States. However, hundreds of different cancers are classified as “rare,” and, in the aggregate, they affect millions of people.”
     So combined Dad and I had to raise at least $2,000 and were obligated to do 2 back to back spin classes each. But if you know me and my Dad, you know that when presented with a challenge we will often blow it out of the water. We did 4 back to back spin classes each and raised $4,350!
     On Sunday more than 2,000 cyclists gathered in Manhattan to cycle for a cure, for hope and for so much more. My Dad and I are so grateful to have been 2 of the 2,000 cyclists. It was a successful and exciting event for us personally and for foundation as a whole. Not only did Cycle for Survival surpass its $2 million goal―it topped last year’s total by more than $1 million!
     Dad and I cycled for the many people we know who have been affected by cancer. But our biggest inspiration was our main man, Charlie. You can expect to find Charlie rocking shiny basketball shorts, a genuine smile and the brightest, coolest sneakers you’ve ever seen…in the middle of frigid January weather no less. Never in your life will you find a smarter, funnier, tougher 11 year old than Charlie…but you knew that already, right?
     Okay let’s be serious, hopping on a stationary bike at 8am on a Sunday for 4 hours isn’t easy and at times I might venture to say it wasn’t fun. But the thought of quitting didn’t cross my minds once. Because when I was up there riding with 100’s of other cyclists, the music was blaring and I looked up to see that face – that smiling freckle face, trust me there was NO stopping me.
     Charlie is just a kid, a kid like any other and the thing that sets him apart is not that he’s had cancer since he was 6. The thing that sets him apart is that he never quits. He has and always will be our #1 champion. Sometimes when I’m with him I stop and have to get a hold of myself because I am so damn proud of the person he is. And I know that for the rest of my life that handsome little face will always remind me to never ever give up.
     Thank you, thank you, thank you for all those who supported my Dad and me. Stay tuned for the first annual Cycle for Survival: Charlie’s Champions Edition! Tara, John & I already have something in the works – so strap on your spinning shoes and get training, Cycle for Charlie’s Champion’s will be here before you know it!!
     Lots of love,
       Emily Cassaro