Darell Provencher

Armstrong, Merckx lead a ride for charity







By TERRENCE PETTY, Associated Press Writer

September 25, 2005



BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) -- Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong

zipped through the Oregon countryside with five-time winner Eddy Merckx of

Belgium at his side, followed by some 3,500 other cyclists stretched out for

miles behind them. But there were no yellow jerseys, trophies or prize money

at stake on this ride. This army of cyclists showed up to catch a glimpse of

cancer survivor Armstrong and support his new campaign to raise money to

support cancer victims -- the LiveStrong Ride. Among the local cyclists was

51-year-old Kevin Adams, who raised $5,500 by sending out e-mails and

letters. Attached to his handlebar was a list of about 60 names, his reasons

for participating in the ride. ``These are cancer victims and survivors who

are close to me,'' Adams said. About a third of the people were deceased.







The Lance Armstrong Foundation hoped to raise $500,000 by soliciting

donations from cyclists participating in the ride and from others raising

money on their own.



Instead, the effort generated more than $1.3 million, foundation spokeswoman

Jennifer Halpin said.







A total of 3,500 cyclists signed up for the ride, each paying a minimum

$150. Dean Parsley, 70, was among them. Parsley recently finished radiation

therapy for prostate cancer, and is optimistic about the future. During

radiation treatment, Parsley refused to allow it to keep him off his

bicycle, even though he was feeling a loss of energy. At Sunday's LiveStrong

Ride, Parsely put in 70 miles. Parsley says admiration of Armstrong is

helping get him through his own ordeal. ``On days when I wasn't feeling very

good, I thought, this is nothing compared to what he went through,'' said

Parsley, referring to Armstrong's victorious battle with testicular cancer

that had spread to his lungs and brain.







The LiveStrong Rides are modeled after the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Ride

For The Roses, a fund-raiser held each year in Austin, Texas, Armstrong's

hometown.



Six LiveStrong Rides are planned in communities across the country next

year, Halpin said. The sites have not yet been chosen. Asked why the

Portland area was selected for the inaugural Livestrong Ride, Armstrong

cited Portland's successful promotion of cycling. ``It's one of the greatest

cycling communities'' anywhere, he said.



Portland gleefully encourages the sport by investing in bike lanes, putting

bike racks on city buses, and a host of other measures. Four years ago,

Bicycling magazine named Portland the best city for cycling. Armstrong said

Portland's approach is ``something to be modeled around the country.''







Another reason for choosing Portland is Armstrong's links with Nike Inc.,

one of his sponsors. Nike is also designer and marketer of the $1 yellow

LiveStrong bracelets sold to raise money for the athlete's cancer

foundation. Another Portland link is Armstrong's physician, Craig Nichols,

associate director of the Cancer Institute at the Oregon Health & Science

University.







The Sunday ride began at the Nike campus in Beaverton, where Armstrong

addressed his fans from a pedestrian bridge.



``We love you, Lance,'' a woman shouted ``We love you, too,'' Armstrong

replied. He told the crowd he was ``blown away by the level of support'' for

the fund-raising ride.



Riders started off in waves. In the front were Armstrong and VIPs including

Merckx, the Tour champ from 1969-72 and again in '74, and Armstrong teammate

George Hincapie.







Stretched for miles behind them were riders of nearly every age, including a

sizable contingent of husbands and wives on tandems -- and in some cases

fathers with their children sharing a tandem bike. Among the latter were

Steve Sterba of Portland and his 8-year-old daughter, Danielle. Stopping for

a cookie break at a rural rest stop, Danielle proudly announced that she had

raised $1,610 for the Armstrong foundation. Her 47-year-old father said:

``It's neat to be able to use cycling to further the cause (cancer

research.)'' Moments later, Armstrong rode into the rest stop, winning

cheers and applause from hundreds of cyclists who had come in for a pit

stop.