Riding for the Cure: Yellow leader jersey means life for cyclist
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Someone else is finally wearing the yellow leader jersey instead of Tour De France champion Lance Armstrong and that someone is Buddy Boren. Boren made a pit stop in Demopolis on Sunday, while in the midst of his third solo bicycle ride that will carry him over 2,500 miles from Georgia to California.
“I’m riding to show all the people with cancer and the survivors of cancer that anything is possible,” Boren said.
Boren, 60, of Dallas, Texas was diagnosed with Squemas Cell Carcinoma and later had an egg-sized tumor removed from his neck and then went through radiation treatment at the Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. The doctors told him that he only had a 30 percent chance of survival.
“I know I could beat this cancer,” Boren said, “I never gave up hope that I would beat this disease.”
Well 10 years and 5,100 miles later, he has completed two bicycle rides that have taken him completely around the perimeter of Texas (3,100 miles in 60 days) and from Dallas to New York City (2,000 miles in 37 days).
Now he has sent his sights on a new challenge riding all the way from Savannah, Georgia to the City of Angels Los Angeles, California.
“I plan to deliver a proclamation from Dallas City Council offering greetings and good wishes from the people of Dallas to the citizens of Los Angeles by bicycle to Los Angeles City Hall in late July,” Boren said.
The same bike has made every trip so far, he said. It’s a 24-speed Trek 7500 bicycle that he bought at Bicycles Plus in Dallas.
“I’m totally alone when I ride,” Boren said, “No chase cars or motor home, I carry a tent, map, tire repair items, and a minimal change of clothes in four saddle bags.”
The proceeds from this trip will go the Lance Armstrong Foundation, he said. Anyone wishing to make a donation to this effort can go directly to www.LAF.com or mail a check to LAF, P.O. Box 161150 Austin, Texas 78716. Please reference #200090503.
“I’m also raising money on my own website called www.therideforlifeusa.com for the Lance Armstrong Foundation,” Boren said.