The MetLife cycling team has been racing to raise money for the Dana Farber cancer research institute http://www.dana-farber.org/ and the Lance Armstrong foundation http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.2660611/k.BCED/Home.htm , but they have not been the only one’s teaming up on bicycles to raise money to fight cancer. Five medical students from the University of Connecticut and the University of Maryland spent their entire summer riding across the country to raise money Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research.

Russ Johnson, a native of New Hampshire, Sarah Steenbergen, a native of Connecticut, Daniel Morris, a native of Michigan and Jennifer Feige, a native of Maryland, started their cross country cycling journey on the Pacific coast and journeyed all the way to the Connecticut shore line. Along this seven week trip trip these cyclists endured inclement weather and all of the highs and lows that go hand in hand with cycling. Accounts of their epic Journey can be found at http://coasttocoast2008.blogspot.com and information regarding Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research can be found by visiting www.leasfoundation.org

All cyclists, competitive or non-competitive, share a common bond – a love of the outdoors and a passion for seeing the world while traveling on two wheels. This passion is becoming contagious as the cycling community grows steadily in the United States each and every year. Many of us in the cycling community are also excited to see that cycling is quickly becoming a medium to raise money and awareness for cancer research. MetLife cycling team member Alain Ferry summed it up well by saying, “cancer has touched each of our lives in some way and we are inspired knowing our efforts are helping to win a greater battle.”