Photograph courtesy of Sean O'Rourke
During the Virginia portion of his cross-country bike ride, Sean O'Rourke paid a visit to the famous Cookie Lady--a.k.a. June Curry.
Saratogan hits the road, bicycling for cancer cure
By Shari Kaplan
Like one of his heroes, 1999-2000 Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, 27-year-old Sean O'Rourke of Saratoga has also proven--with the help of a bicycle--that cancer is not a disease that anyone should accept without a fight.
In O'Rourke's case, it is his father, Jim, who is battling the disease. In honor of his father, and as a benefit for the Santa Clara County Unit of the American Cancer Society, O'Rourke decided to plan and execute a cross-country bicycle trip to raise awareness of cancer and raise money at the same time.
In early May of this year, O'Rourke shared his cause with family, friends, and friends of friends with a personal letter explaining his plan for a 5,000-mile trip.
"This bike ride is my call to arms; a personal journey that will take me through the heartland of America, in search of myself and in support of finding a cure to this life-destroying disease," he wrote. "It has always been a dream of mine to see the U.S.A. and the many different faces that make it up. Now is your chance to be a part of my journey and help make a difference."
His fundraising formula was simple--people could either sponsor him a penny (or some other amount of cents) per mile, or they could show their encouragement of his completing the trip by giving a lump-sum donation. Because he financed his own trip, the donations were 100 percent tax-deductible and went directly to the ACS for research, education, patient services and advocacy programs.
With their gear packed and their attitudes psyched, O'Rourke, his girlfriend Virginia Robinson of Sonoma County and a few close friends boarded a train for Seattle, Wash., the starting point of the trip. O'Rourke planned the route to follow the Trans-America Bicycle Trail, which wends its way along rivers, across prairies, up and down mountain ranges and through small towns and large cities. It ends in Gloucester, Mass.
"Actually, before this trip, I had never been on an overnight bike tour before. I wasn't really into biking, but now I quite enjoy it," he says of his adventure. Seeing as O'Rourke already enjoyed running, working out and hiking, bicycling was an easy addition to his physical interests.
Due to some time schedule conflicts with his friends, O'Rourke ended up biking cross-country with just his girlfriend--and her dog, whom she toted behind her bike in a toddler trailer. "We were so approachable to other people because of the dog," O'Rourke recalls, chuckling.
"The trip seemed more about meeting people; the sites were a bonus," he adds of the many tourist attractions--both natural and man-made--they visited during their trip. At night, they either camped or stayed in motels.
Some of the people they met were fellow long-distance bicyclists, many of whom told O'Rourke and Robinson to be sure to visit June Curry, also known as "The Cookie Lady." An elderly woman in Afton, Virginia, Curry has, for 25 years, provided food (including fresh cookies!) and lodging for the night to bicyclists passing through. When O'Rourke and Robinson arrived there, they discovered walls upon walls covered in postcards 'The Cookie Lady' had received from her guests.
The end of the line came on Sept. 8, in Boston. O'Rourke returned to Saratoga on Sept. 13. On Oct. 17, he was honored at the monthly board meeting of the ACS's Santa Clara County Unit, where he presented the organization with a check for the $10,000 he raised.
Although O'Rourke can't even begin to sum up all the things he felt and experienced on his trip, one of the things that made him happiest was learning "the U.S.A. is still an amazing place to visit and it is made up of a wonderful mix of warm, friendly and giving people."
"Most importantly, I was able to raise money for a great cause and ride in honor of my father," he adds. "You know the real heroes are the people fighting daily against [cancer]. Biking was easy; they have the hard part."
Additional donations are welcome, and may be sent to the American Cancer Society, "Sean's Big Bike Ride," Attention: Cory Reding, 1715 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 100, Campbell, 95008.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
