"Cruisin' For A Cure Update (March 23)

A former fellow Goldwing Road Rider Association (GWRRA-chapter H) member, Gene Williams, passed away in December 2008 of an unknown form of cancer that even his doctors could not completely diagnose. By the time I joined GWRRA, Gene was very ill and unable to ride with our Chapter. I never met Gene but was honored to ride my Goldwing with other chapter members in his funeral procession.

Gene’s wife, Raguell Williams, is selling his 2004 Honda Goldwing and other items. I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase the trailer and hitch that Gene and another GWRRA member built with their own hands. I plan on having a small plaque made in honor of Gene and installed on the trailer for my ride around the country.

The trailer that I will be pulling will make my journey a bit easier because I’ll have enough room to carry essentials including Leukemia & Lymphoma Society brochures and other informational packets. I was recently able to purchase the CB radio and antenna for my Goldwing so that I have an alternate form of communication in case my cell phone looses reception in certain area of my journey.

One last item to mention. This past Saturday, the South Texas Chapter of Team In Training invited to me join them in participating in their annual city wide Team In Training Garage Sale. I was invited to raise money for "Cruisin' For A Cure" (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and I was able to display my Honda Goldwing next to the table that Lisa and I, along with Libby (friend) setup. I want to thank Libby for her efforts and support during the garage sale as she was instrumental in helping us sell $240.00 worth of items.

A Special Message From A Survivor

It seems that people everywhere these days are having a hard time finding the resources they need to keep going. Imagine, then, what it's like to be diagnosed with a blood cancer on top of everything else. That's what happened to Jim Walton, who learned how important information and support can be when a cancer diagnosis comes out of the blue. I had been miserable for days and thought it was the flu. But when I just couldn't shake it, I went to the hospital and was waiting for results when I learned, rather abruptly, that I had acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). I was alone and terrified. Hospitalized for six months, I had aggressive chemo, nearly died more than once and dropped from 210 down to 130 lbs! My wife left me and there was no one to advocate for me with busy healthcare professionals. I thank my laptop computer and resources, starting with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's website ( www.LLS.org), for arming me with the information I needed to survive. By the time I left the hospital, I felt well enough to be angry, and clear-headed enough to realize that anger wouldn't help me or anyone else. So I turned my anger into action. Because LLS was there for me when I needed them, I became an active volunteer with my local chapter, participating in Light The Night Walks last year and becoming an Honored Teammate for Team In Training. And I've applied to become a First Connection volunteer as well.. Having cancer has taught me things I might never have otherwise learned. Two weeks before my diagnosis, I felt like a million bucks. You could never have made me believe I had cancer. Now I realize that this can happen to anybody and I believe that, whether you're a cancer survivor or perfectly healthy, all of us are responsible to help people going through what I did. I'm so grateful that now I'm in a position to be giving back. --Jim Walton I wish you and your loved ones the blessings of hope and good health. Sincerely, John E. Walter President & CEO The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

10 Weeks and Counting!!

I can't believe I'll be on the road officially for "Cruisin' For A Cure" in just 10 weeks. Time has definitely flown and there is still so much to do. You may not know but this is the first fundraising that I have ever embarked on and I know I set a high goal. This part of the trip has proven to be very humbling. I guess I just expected everybody, specifically companies, to just open up their checkbooks and ask me "how much?" but that's not what is happening.

I don't have to tell you that the economy is a little tight and folks are just being more conservative about how and where they spend their money. I totally get it, believe me. All of the out of pocket expenses related to the trip so far have been paid for by me and my wife. It's not a cheap endeavor but it's one that we feel strongly about. Even though the economy is a little strained, my goal hasn't changed! I'm still shooting to raise $50,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Because this is a national fundraiser, I'm hoping to not only raise money in South Texas but also while I'm riding around the country. There are too many people who need help to stop now. It might take a little longer than I originally thought but I'll get there....with your help!

On a positive note, I have accomplished several tasks from the last time that I updated you, namely I purchased my helmet headset and intercom system (from J & M Incorporated) and will be purchasing the Goldwing's CB radio and antenna so that I can communicate with other bikers and truckers in case of emergency and to warn me about road conditions. Both allow me to communicate hands free while riding which is a big safety issue.

Since I was unable to secure a corporate donation from my two local Honda shops for a tune-up, safety check, and installation of front and rear tires, I will need to pay for these items myself. I have scheduled to bring the bike in to Gary at Cycle Rider (San Antonio, Texas), who worked on my previous motorcycle. I have full faith that he and his team will do a great job on my Goldwing.

Lisa has arranged, with the help of Team in Training, to have a couple of tables at their upcoming annual city wide garage sale. It will be on Saturday March 21st at a location to be determined in the San Antonio area. My thanks and appreciation goes out to Pat Hilburn of Team and Training and the local chapter for inviting us to join their garage sale. "Cruisin' For A Cure" isn't part of Team in Training but we're both raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and they were my initial inspiration for this ride. We're gathering items to sell but definitely need folks to show up to buy stuff.

In a new section I'm calling "Unconfirmed Possibilities":
I ran into a reporter from the San Antonio Express News at a local city council meeting that I was attending last week (City of Leon Valley) who saw my motorcycle and the "artwork" on it advertising the ride. She asked me about "Cruisin' For A Cure" and whether she could interview me about it. Seriously?? Of course, I graciously accepted. Again, unconfirmed at this point.

I stopped by my favorite motorcycle gear and accessories shop, Moto Liberty (San Antonio off of 281), to purchase something and started chatting with Nathan (owner). He said there might be a chance that he could get some motor oil and a filter donated through one of his vendors. In addition, another vendor of Moto Liberty may be able to donate a helmet / motorcycle video camera. This would give me the opportunity to share my journey with you. I want to thank Nathan and the Moto Liberty team for their help and support. Obviously either or both of these donations would be awesome but again, unconfirmed at this point.

In order for me to refocus on why I'm doing this ride, beyond all of the technical and logistical issues that I have to deal with, I thought it would be helpful to revisit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website and more specifically their discussion board. What comes through loud and clear when reading the discussion boards is that regardless of the diagnosis or treatment that it is very hard on families and patients and that they need a tremendous amount of support to get through it. I'm hoping that funds raised through "Cruisin' For A Cure" will help lessen the burden on these folks with the ultimate goal being a cure.

We still need your help! I was thinking about budgets the other day, which is something I try to avoid, but thought it might be more manageable if people donated a little over time, rather than one large donation. Kind of like a payroll deduction if you will. I know for Lisa and me that would work out a lot better for our personal budget than writing one large donation check. Anyway, something to think about.