Ride for a Child - Candlelighters for Children with Cancer

   P.O. Box 2277
     Portland, OR
     97208
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Mentoring On A Bike

It was a few years ago when Dick Hartung walked down the street in a subdivision where he was building a house to the lot where I was also building a house. He found me in the backyard constructing a deck. A real builder himself, he had not come to see how I put things together. He had come to talk about a ride he was about to launch. This ride would soon be known as Ride-For-A-Child. I will be the first to tell you Dick had no clue what he was getting into. He is a wise old bird though, and he asked some good questions and sought some good advice about bikes and riding. You can give a person all the good advice
in the world, but in some cases advice will never trump having to learn from experience. Dick is 6’6’’, and they just don’t make a lot of bikes to fit a frame like his. I advised Dick to get a good road bike that fit him well. What he ended up getting was an old mountain bike with a heavy frame and fat knobby tires. When I first saw that bike I think I had some thoughts that may have hinted around the edges of Dick perhaps not being the brightest light bulb when it comes to bikes. Heavier bikes mean more work going up the hills. Fatter, knobby tires mean a lot more rolling resistance—even more work. But Dick confounded me by riding that mountain bike all 500 miles of that year’s Cycle Oregon route. It had to be incredibly difficult. Heck, it was probably painful. But that old bulb knew that it was not about the bike, the pain, or even that others may have enjoyed the ride in greater comfort than he did that year. For Dick, it was all about the love he carried in his heart for his daughter Jill. Dick had dedicated his ride that year to his daughter Jill who lost her battle to cancer at the age of nine. Jill’s is an incredible story, achingly similar to so many of the stories about other children that you will come to hear when you are around Candlelighters. Like many others before him, Dick chose to celebrate the short, wonderful life Jill had lived. Dick is a mentor and he chose to help others who were forced to face circumstances like his. He knew he could offer hope to others. He leant his big shoulders for others to lean on. He guided and steadied others with his strong hands and his kind, assuring voice. As RFAC grew through the years, Dick surrounded himself with other riders that choose to care and to help. Many of those riders have their own stories to tell—many of them wonderful and too many of them painful. A great mentor, Dick inspired them to include their friends and their friend’s friends. As a consequence, the group grew from a single dedicated rider to more than fifty, today. We are grateful that RFAC will raise more revenue than ever before. Perhaps more importantly, RFAC will raise awareness beyond anything that Dick imagined that first year when he conquered an arduous ride on an improbable bicycle. We plan and strive for revenue, of course, but the satisfying reward is what we are able to accomplish when others respond to the Candlelighters’ stories. Dick and I devote most of our time between the annual RFAC rides to raising public awareness of Candlelighters’ crucial mission. RFAC has changed substantially since other riders first joined Dick. Though it was never just a “bunch of riders” it has become a real team, with members stepping into the many necessary roles that allow RFAC to function with resourceful generosity. There are a general manager, finance people, office staff, coaches, players, and many more who work silently in the background and simply step in when help is needed. Of course the stars of our team are the courageous children who we honor and hold dear.
I want to thank Dick Hartung for being an extraordinary mentor to me these past few years. And while I’m at it, thank you for RFAC, too, Dick! You are a tremendous inspiration.
I still recall your improbable smile that first year as you ground that ponderous bicycle over mountains and deserts. The cramps and burning thighs you smiled through during that first ride have paid fabulous dividends. Those you have mentored now participate with openhearted generosity. You have passed inspiration on to others who follow your example, and the circle widens—all because you acted on your dream. Take a good look at this year’s list of Honored Kids when you want to see the proceeds of your inspiration.
The dream Dick had may not have been so ambitious in the beginning. Indeed, he set out on his first ride with the solemn desire to honor Jill. But, my friend, your dream has grown splendidly big, and Candlelighters will help a lot of children and families. Jill would be proud of her father. RFAC honors all the children we have ridden for over
the years. Jill Hartung, Mari Ishiveki, Rebecca Aronald, Jacob Biber, Maleah Darland, Justin Lambert, Stephen Bonesteele, John Arnold, Emily Olson, Amanda Hamilton, Ryan Klockers-McCray, Robert Lisac, Tanner Heckel, Sara Robinson, Madeleine O’Brien, Hunter Smith, Corbin Beckley, Joshua Brennaman, Samantha Sherwood, Taylor Jackson, Jackson Hill, Kimmie Olson, Kennedy Duval, Landon Williamson, Evan Getz, Katrina Henderson, Kevin Henderson, Kate VanNice, Cameron Ainslie, Matthew Stone, Tanner Hunter, Faith Jeppsen, Lesly Foster, Gabriel Scannell, Alexa delos Reyes, Austin Bell, Cooper Reynolds, Macen Kroll, Gabe Harrison, Renna Broesder, Kyle Erickson, Rebekah Adams, Kyle Chandler, Chloe Deputy, Madilyn Colley, Alex Scheresky, Austin Winters.
Thanks, Randy

Ride-For-A-Child Chair
Randyradcliffe58@aol.com
503.351.7239

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His First Good Day

The other day was an emotional rollercoaster for me. Or, using a metaphor that cyclists will appreciate, I had a day of tough climbs and thrilling descents. I was headed into Doernbecher Hospital to visit with my honored child for this year’s ride, and as I was passing through the front entrance, I spied a couple of familiar faces. Madilyn, who is one of this year’s Ride-For-A-Child honored kids, was on her way out of the clinic after a checkup. She had just received a clean bill of health and life was great. She had six inches of pretty hair on her head and she was looking great. I visited with her father for a little while and he was just beaming. Our conversation covered a lot of ground, mostly bike riding, kids and fun stuff. I really enjoyed talking with him and Madliyn. The roller coaster was on its way to the top, and when we said our goodbyes we looked forward to seeing each other again at the pizza gathering when this year’s honored kids will be introduced to the RFAC riders. So there I was at the apex of the rollercoaster ride, where you look out and there is nothing below, or so it seems. I gathered my thoughts as I rode the elevator to the tenth floor. I stepped out onto the floor that I have come to know well from the Wednesday night dinners. The florescence lighting and the sterile hospital smell brought a rush of memories. I paused for a moment at the door to room 19 before knocking, knowing full well that the roller coaster might soon be on its way to the depths of its journey. The voice from inside the room beckoned to me to come in. I entered, and there on the bed was the special child I would honor for the next year. He checked me out and then went right back to playing with a lump of Play Dough. I introduced myself and gave him a little gift. His mother told me that this was his first good day in quite some time. I sat back in the only chair left in the room and continued to chat with the mother. While I spoke with her I continued watching the boy play and smile and do the little things that boys will do when confined to bed. The IV tubes were hooked up to his port and the chemo bags slowly dripped the drugs into the pump that infused them into his body. This roller coaster ride wasn’t as fun as at the start but there is no place to get off. While the mother and I talked I began to notice how tired she was. She was beyond mere exhaustion and weariness. I thought I saw resignation to a fate that was overwhelming and beyond any semblance of control. Her weary face revealed the stress that months of intensive care for her son had imposed upon her. I knew she wasn’t giving up, though. She was just plain tired. When the nurses arrived and measured vital signs, her eyes seemed to plead for good news in the readings. The roller coaster wasn’t at the top any more. In fact it is that point where you are hurtling towards the ground and the adrenalin starts pump so fast that your head spins. My friend Larry Smyth, also a RFAC rider, showed up and as Larry has a gift of doing, the atmosphere immediately brightened. Larry is the kind of friend who’s caring and generosity are revitalizing and renewing. We passed the time in pleasant talk and I enjoyed his encouraging companionship. Then I noticed that my honored child had stopped playing and had cuddled down into the bed. His mom called for some anti-nausea medication. The young boy had had a good day, but now that was over. Larry and I could see that it was time to leave and let him rest. We stepped out of the room and talked quietly with the mother. She was dead tired and deeply concerned. We left her with our good wishes and phone numbers. I wished I could have offered more than “Call if you need us,” but that is all we had. That roller coaster was headed to the bottom at light speed and you have no control. As Larry and I walked together to the elevators we talked about what had just transpired. Larry is a father and a grandfather. He truly enjoys kids. He said it was tough to see a child who was hurting so much and not be able to do anything about it. I just want to tell you, Larry, you did do something. Something big. You showed up. You cared. You gave your time and your heart. Sometimes that is all we have to give. Seeing how you brightened that room and witnessing your healing spirit is what will propel that roller coaster back up again for me. Not everybody will get in line for one of these tickets to this roller coaster. So thanks Larry. We know RFAC riders are special people simply because they care.

Thanks, Randy

Ride-For-A-Child

Randyradcliffe58@aol.com

503.351.7239

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Ride-For-A-Child: !!Sun Shines on Ride-For-A-Child Barbeque!!

As if to christen our 2008 ride with the hope of blue skies and tailwinds, the sun shone bright and warm at our May 4th rider orientation and barbeque. Each year, our spring gathering draws team members, new and old, to meet their teammates, learn about Candlelighters and their honored child, and understand Ride-For-A-Child’s mission of raising funds and awareness for Candlelighters. Though we had to compete with graduations and family functions, it was gratifying to see that 30 of our 50 person team were able to attend the gathering. It was also amazing to see the many new faces. About 20 of our team are new to RFAC this year. I never cease to wonder at the compassion, generosity and commitment of our team, new and old. Seems like this is a good place, as I have done in the past and will continue to do, to tell each team member how much they are appreciated! With so many new faces this year, we dedicated part of our time to discussing the mission of Candlelighters. Though I was presenting some of the material, I was as impressed as everyone else concerning the depth and breadth of our services and programs. Especially clear was how Candlelighters focuses on the whole family, and how childhood cancer impacts the child, the siblings, mom, and dad. We had lots of positive feedback from the presentation and it made me proud to be a part of Candlelighters. It was also clear from the presentation how important RFAC is in supporting our programs and services. With our goal of raising $140,000, RFAC will fund 40% of Candlelighters 2008 budget! We get a little bigger each year, but our passion is still lighting a candle of hope in the darkness, one child at a time.

Our RFAC corporate sponsors, listed below, are a big part of why 100% of every dollar raised by our riders goes directly to supporting Candlelighter programs and services. These companies and individuals have dedicated their resources to support their community, and their partnership with Candlelighters is gratefully acknowledged.

Ride-For-A-Child Presented by Huntair Sponsored by:

Antico & Forbess LLP

Beaverton Toyota

Boyds Coffee

Collier Arbor Care

Continental Fireplaces

D.A. Davidson & Co.

Dorothy Tester Sales

Emerson Electric

FEI

Farleigh Wada Witt Attorneys

John L. Scott Foundation

Larkspur Hotels & Restaurants

Norlift of Oregon

Norton Folgate

NW Mortgage Group

Rob Koch & Associates

Therapeutic Associates

Wesco Distribution

~ Dick Hartung, June 2008 Newsletter

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Ride-For-A-Child is a fundraiser for Candlelighters. Every September, RFAC riders participate by riding the Cycle Oregon route. Riders raise funds and awareness for Candlelighters, as well as give support to an honored child. Children we honor are representative of the Candlelighters families and are selected in order to put authentic faces on the wide variety of diagnoses and ages of children who battle cancer.

Donate to Ride For A Child

If you can't join us as a rider, please consider honoring those children fighting cancer by making a donation to Ride for a Child. Click on the "Make a Donation" button and join us in spirit for Cycle Oregon.

-- BETTER TO LIGHT ONE CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS --