It is called the Ride for Hope and on Saturday 100 cancer survivors,
their families, and supporters rode from San Ignacio to Belize to raise funds
for the Cancer Care Network. It is an initiative by Marc Livolsi – a cancer
survivor. Here’s how it went.
These are the faces of Belize’s cancer survivors and this is 12 year
old Adrian Callam’s story.
Mother,
“First doses of chemo, oh gawd that was burning. He cried and I cried,
I sit down by his chair and he said mommy I am burning. I tried to put water
on his hand and he cries and he cried too that I cannot help you because the
medicine is going through his vein. His hair dropped off and it got bald and
sticky. Then it came back again, it grew again. For four years, we travelled
to Merida every two weeks.”
But Adrian’s better now and Sunday he along with other survivors rode
from San Ignacio to Belize City Marc Livolsi and some Belizean big name cyclists
– the most notable being Shane Vasquez.
Adrian Callam, Cancer Survivor
“For me it was very fun because like I said all the time in my life
I have been riding with the guys who ride from Cayo to Belize.”
Dr. Peter Allen, CEO – Ministry of Health
“From eight o’clock this morning in that chilly weather in San
Ignacio they gathered together and rode from there to Belmopan where they did
a circuit of Belmopan and then carried on to Belize City. They are just about
entering Belize City now and here at the BTL Park we are going to meet up with
the main pelathon and with them some angel riders who are particular members
of the Cycling Association who have volunteered to help along one or two of
the kids who are suffering with this and living with this courageous problem
and challenge for us and they are going to ride with them to the Animal Park.
It is a really tremendously important day for many reasons, not the least
that what we focus on is the courage, the determination, the dignity, and the
bravery of the kids, rather than on any issues that people mainly regard with
cancer. Really these kids are inspiring to all of us; they are heroes to all
of us.”
The Cancer Network will produce a documentary from Sunday’s ride
to help fundraising efforts.
7NEWS
produced for broadcast by News Director Jules
Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith
Swift
Email
Print