Cancer Survivor Bikes Cross-Country To Thank Long Island Doctor For Saving His Life
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Cancer survivor Mike Cohen rode his bike more than 3,000 miles from California to Long Island to thank the oncologist he credits with saving his life.
"I decided to ride from the place where I finished my treatments to the place where I started them," the 27-year-old Levittown native said.
1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports
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Cohen, who now lives in San Diego, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 18 years old by Dr. Steve Allen of the Monter Cancer Center.
"I had to stop college, I had to stop everything," Cohen said.
During Cohen's two years of chemotherapy, he also survived congestive heart failure, a pulmonary embolism and pneumonia.
To celebrate six years of being cancer-free, Cohen decided to bike from San Diego -- where he moved to attend culinary school and finish his treatments – to New Hyde Park to shake hands with his original oncologist.
"He biked across the United States, even if you've never been sick…to do that is remarkable," Allen said.
Cohen embarked on his journey on April 1, with two friends riding alongside in a van, and arrived at his mother's home on May 11 after biking about 90 miles a day.
The avid cyclist hopes his cross-country trip will "inspire someone else in their own fight."
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