It’s hard to believe this is the 10th Anniversary of my Ride From Reno for Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI)!  What started 10-years ago with Janet, Josh, and I riding 667-miles from Reno to Salt Lake City as a fundraiser for Huntsman Cancer Institute has turned into an event which, this year, may include >200 people.  Who wudda thunk it?

The picture of Josh and me I’ve included above was taken when nearly 75 of us arrived at HCI after last year’s Ride From Reno.  To me, it personifies why I’ve continued to do this ride each year since 2002.  Take a look at the sheer joy on Josh’s face.  When I was diagnosed with Stage IV Head & Neck cancer on December 26th, 2000, I stood a 0 to 25% chance of surviving 5-years.  Because of the leading-edge treatment I received from Dr. Gordon Watson and his colleagues at HCI, coupled with the blessings of a kind and gracious Heavenly Father, I was restored to health.  And, I’m alive today to enjoy being an integral part of Josh’s life, the lives of our other 4-children and 9-grandchildren.  And, that’s why I’ve continued to do this fund-raising ride for HCI for what will be, in 2011, the 10^th year.

The facts are simple:  1 out of 3 women and 1 out of 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.  To make it more personal, think about your own family:  mom, dad, brothers, sisters, grandparents, your children and spouse, etc.  As you think of them, and count them, 1, 2, 3 . . . if it’s not one of them, it’s you.

Treatments for cancer are still draconian.  Clinically, treatment is known as surgery, radiation, and chemo, but I find those descriptions far too clinical.  Cancer and its associated treatment are personal at the most basic level and I refer to treatment regimens as slash, burn, and poison, which is much more descriptive of what really happens.

The results of the research that goes on at Huntsman Cancer Institute is shared across the world as efforts continue to find cures for more than 150 types of this damnable disease.  In addition to seeking cures for cancer, research continues at HCI to find better tolerated, less toxic treatments for cancer.  Why is this important?  One of the chemo drugs I took has the potential of causing me to have leukemia later in life.  To me, that sucks.  In essence, the medical community gave me the option of a drug that could save my life then, but cause me to have leukemia later.  Not much of an option is it?  And cancer patients are faced with this kind of dilemma each day.  That’s why finding better tolerated, less toxic treatments for cancer are critical.

So I am asking you to open your wallet, purse, checkbook, debit card, or credit card, and make a generous donation to Huntsman Cancer Institute.  My goal is to raise > $30K this year, every penny of which will go to support research at HCI.  My companions, Larry Peterson, Jason Bleak, Steve Kelly, Ravell Call, Scott Westfall, Joe Plater, my brother Coleman, and I, all pay 100% of our expenses so every cent you contribute will end up at HCI.

Please make a generous donation to Huntsman Cancer Institute through my Ride From Reno.  To contribute online, please go to www.huntsmancancer.com, click the ‘How You Can Help’ tab, and then click on the ‘Donate Online Now” button.

Checks can be made payable to Huntsman Cancer Foundation and mailed to me at:  Jeff Warren, 147 East 400 South, Centerville, Utah, 84014.

You will be able to keep track of what’s happening during the ride via www.ikickedcancersbutt.org.  We’ll be posting daily updates and pics so check in often.  And, when inspiration (or boredom) strike, take a moment to leave your encouragement and comments in the Guestbook section of the website.

Once again, I will be carrying in my seat-pack a list of names of people who have (or have had) cancer.  It’s my way of sending a message to this freakin’ disease that we’ll never forget those who’ve fought the valiant fight, and also my way of honoring those with whom I feel a very special camaraderie.  Whether you’re able to donate or not, if you’d like me to carry the name(s) of your family member or friend, I’d be honored to do so and consider it a sacred trust.  Please forward your names to me.  e-Mail is fine (anaerobic3@gmail.com).  If you’ve submitted names in the past, they’ll continue to remain on my list from previous year’s Rides.

Thank you for your generosity,

Jeff Warren (anaerobic3@gmail.com)

P.S.  When you get home from the office this evening, hug your spouse a little longer and harder, play with the children a little more enthusiastically, call your Mom and Dad and tell them how proud you are to be their son or daughter, or call your children and tell them how proud you are to call them yours.  We put off to many important things until tomorrow, and none of us know how many tomorrows we have left.