Cycling for a Cure:
help us kick colorectal cancer in the butt!

Welcome to our website, www.cyclingforacure.ca. We are Joseph Calderone and Karen Coleman and we are on a mission.

We want to make everyone aware of one of the deadliest diseases you can think of: colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer and rectal cancer. We want to help remove the stigma associated with your best asset!

For the past four years we've been on a journey to END BREAST CANCER. Our journey has not stopped. We continue to create awareness and to help find a cure by fundraising for breast cancer research, care and education and participating in the Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer each year.

However, because it is one of the biggest killers and there is such a stigma attached to it, we have made it our mission to help raise awareness of colorectal cancer too and our goal is to raise as much money as possible so we can kick colorectal cancer in the butt.

Why colorectal cancer?

Because earlier this year, Joseph's friend, Dave (Digger) Chute, passed away after a three-year long battle against colon cancer. He was only 46. Digger was too young to die. Colon cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, but only if it is diagnosed early. Digger was diagnosed too late.

We don't want others to suffer like Digger did. By creating awareness of this silent but deadly disease we hope you will become less embarrassed to ask to be screened for polyps. We want you to become more aware, remove the stigma associated with colon and rectal cancer and to look after your booty. We want to kick colorectal cancer in the butt!

Ride to Conquer Cancer

Our mission began last year, when we decided to register for the Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 2-day, 200 km bike ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls. We raised $5,000 benefitting Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and, on June 13 & 14 we rode (as part of the Walkers on Bikes team) in memory of Digger whose 47th birthday would have been the next day.

The money raised is already being used to help find a cure for colorectal cancer. But we want to raise much, much more and we want to make more people aware of this deadly disease. So, in 2010 we will both be participating in the Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer again.

Not only that, but Joseph hopes take part in all four Canadian Rides (in Ontario, Quebec, BC and Alberta) while Karen hopes to participate in two Rides (Ontario and Quebec). We each must raise a minimum of $2,500 per Ride, a total of $15,000. But we would like to raise much, much more!

To help us achieve our goal we will be holding fundraising tag days throughout central and south western Ontario. We also hope that by creating this website we will help raise more awareness about Canada's second leading cause of death by cancer!

View slideshow of photos from the 2009 Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Next year is a special year

In August, we learned that Chad Cieslik, former captain of Walkers on Bikes and 35-time walker in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, had been diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer earlier in the year. Amazing as it may seem, Chad still participated in all 7 Weekend events and 3 Rides after his diagnosis.

But now it is time for him to concentrate on fighting his battle with cancer. So he has taken a hiatus from these strenuous events and in 2010 Joseph will ride in his honour as Captain of the Walkers on Bikes teams in all four Canadian Rides.

If you have walked in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, are participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2010, and would like to honour Chad too, consider joining the Walkers on Bikes team. Visit www.conquercancer.ca and search for the Walkers on Bikes team in any of the participating provinces to join.