elebrating Living Well with Cancer: the 6th Annual Tour Des Chutes

A Beautiful Day for a Beautiful Cause

Roger Worthington with Michael McDaniel. Michael was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 15. Five years later he remains determined with a smile for everyone he meets.

Bend, Oregon. Under blue skies on a bright sunshiny day seemingly within a stone’s throw of the snow capped Cascade Mountains, thousands of cancer survivors, caregivers and supporters gathered to celebrate the 6th Annual 2010 Tour Des Chutes. For the third year, The Punch Worthington Lab proudly sponsored the fundraiser and fun ride to support efforts in Central Oregon to help cancer patients survive and thrive.

The Punch Worthington Laboratory, located at UCLA, is the home of novel research into cures for asbestos cancer under the direction Dr. Robert Cameron of the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute. The lab is dedicated to David “Punch” Worthington, a union sandblaster, genetics professor and beloved father and grand-father who lost his lengthy battle with asbestos cancer in 2006.

What a fantastic day!,” beamed Roger Worthington, who emceed the festivities. “We had live music, scrumptious chow, inspiring guest speakers, free schwag, ice cream and some of the most courageous people on Earth, all united in the mission to raise money and hope for cancer survivors.”

With ride distances ranging from 7 to 100 miles, the Tour Des Chutes attracted over 1,000 riders, from ages between 5 years and 91 years old. The event, which is the brainchild of cancer survivor and local celebrity Gary Bonacker, raised over $80,000. All proceeds will be donated to the St. Charles Medical Center’s Cancer Survivorship Program and the Livestrong Foundation.

Punch would have been happy, “ mused Worthington, whose father Punch Worthington , a long-time Salem, Oregon resident, survived over 3 years beyond his original lung cancer diagnosis.

Punch showed me that the greatest legacy a cancer patient can leave is his quest to live another day. He exemplified the adage about having the tranquility to accept the things he couldn’t change, the courage to change the things he could, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

For more information about the Tour Des Chutes, including how you or a loved one can participate in the survivorship program, please click here. http://tourdeschutes.org/

In only six short years, the Tour Des Chutes has spawned many novel programs designed to help cancer patients and their caregivers thrive. This year, director Dr. Archie Bleyer, announced the Soaring Spirits Camp, which will target children of cancer patients to spend a weekend in mid August swimming, kayaking, hiking, planting trees, birdwatching, and writing poetry at Suttle Lake near Sisters, Oregon. For more information, click onhttp://www.defeatcancer.info/Soaring/Soaring.html

Roger G. Worthington

7/20/10

2009 Tour des Chutes in conjunction with Lance Armstrong Foundation. Bend, Oregon

July 18, 2009.

Roger Worthington in conjunction with the Punch Worthington Research Lab is a lead sponsor of the Tour des Chutes, a multi-distance cycling event in Bend, Oregon benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation & the St. Charles Cancer Center. (http://www.tourdeschutes.org).

In 2008 the Tour raised $144,247.30. $35,000 was contributed to the Lance Armstrong Foundation and an additional $15,000 for their 2009 funding. The Lance Armstrong Foundation sends back approximately twice that amount for local programs in the form of a three year challenge grant to our local cancer survivorship organizations.

Cancer Survivors: Lance Armstrong, L, and Dr. Paul Van Camp (R), Labor Power teammate for life and prostate cancer survivor and advocate.

Stronger, Faster, Better: Tour Des Chutes 2009

Roger Worthington, asbestos lawyer, bike racer and sponsor, interviews elite athlete Michael Larsen at the 4th Annual 2009 Tour Des Chutes in Bend, Oregon (July 18, 2009). The Tour Des Chutes, a bike ride that raises money for cancer patient and caregiver support programs, reached two new peaks this year: the most participants ever -- over 1,000 -- and the most funds raised ever -- over $90,000.

The Punch Worthington Lab is proud to be a gold medal sponsor of the Tour Des Chutes for the second year in a row. Worthington again emceed the event and had a blast. "A day filled with vigorous exercise, good music, great views of the Cascades, new friends, delicious food and the joy of helping cancer patients live a better life," said Roger Worthington. Proceeds from the event are divided between the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the St. Charles Medical Cancer Survivorship Program.

Worthington also took the opportunity to celebrate the life of legendary endurance athlete and former Labor Power teammate Steve Larsen, who died this year in Bend while training for an triathalon. Michael Larsen, himself a talented and gritty bike racer, is Steve's older brother.