Thirty-five children woke up Sunday at Lurie Children’s Hospital hoping to beat cancer. On the streets below, 22 bikers prepared for a five-day, 100-mile ride through Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin to fund pediatric cancer research.
Shawn Horton, of Hugo, Minnesota, began training for the event in May, shortly after his 7-year-old son, Felix, completed his final round of chemotherapy. Felix thinks his father is “crazy” for biking so far, but the 38-year-old views the bike ride as an homage to his son’s battle.
“I’ve never ridden this many miles all at once, but putting myself through a hard time — it’s nowhere near as hard as cancer — is a way to struggle, to pay respects to those kids,” Horton said.
Every day this year, approximately 46 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer, yet less than 10% of the federal cancer research budget is specifically allocated to pediatric cancer, according to the Children’s Cancer Foundation .
“We’re funding pediatric cancer research through 5Ks, bike rides and lemonade stands. We need more support,” said EJ Klage of North Aurora, who woke up early Sunday to cheer on the bikers. She got involved with bike ride organizer Cal’s Angels after her daughter Megan Klage Sporny was diagnosed with glioma, an aggressive brain and spinal cord cancer, in 2018.