Douglas College Student Biking Across Country For Young Adults With Cancer
DOUGLAS (CBS) -- A University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student is getting ready to embark on a 4,000-mile trip across the country to support young adults affected by cancer.
John Ferguson, a marketing major who will be a senior at UMass Dartmouth this fall, will leave Baltimore along with nearly two dozen other riders on the cross-country trip this weekend. The ride, called 4K For Cancer and in its 15th year, will support the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
"I decided to give it a try," said Ferguson. "What better time to give it than the last summer before I graduate?"
Ferguson has already raised $4,500 for the group, and said hopes to raise $1,000 more. He said he's always wanted to contribute to the cancer community, because the disease has affected people close to him.
"I've had friends and family that have been diagnosed with cancer," said Ferguson. "My mother had breast cancer during my sophomore year in high school, I'll never forget the day that she told me that."
The group will stay at churches, in homes, and outdoors over their ride, arriving in Portland, Oregon on August 13. Ferguson said a couple of his fraternity brothers have done the ride in the past.
"After I hit the Appalachians, right outside of Pennsylvania, I'm really excited for corn country, because that's where you really get to bond with your team," said Ferguson. "You're just out in flatlands, you just get to ride out, have fun camping and seeing different towns."
Ferguson said he has been training in the area around his home, taking bike rides around the Blackstone Valley and Purgatory Chasm.
"For really really fast, hard rides, I like to go down to the Cape, to the Cape Cod Rail Trail," said Ferguson.
Ferguson said his mother's diagnosis was the scariest moment of his life.
"I said from that day on, if I ever got the opportunity to make an impact, I would," said Ferguson.
As for his mother, Debbi, she says she's very proud of him--but she made it very clear that she wants him to keep in contact.
"I told him to send me pictures on Facebook every day, or to email me and text me regularly," she said.
He said he will be posting updates from his trip on Instagram.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports
