Little Bear

BEN LIWNICZ REMEMBERS TWO LOST TO CANCER WHEN HE RIDES AT THIS YEAR’S TOUR DE PIER.

Edited by Darren Elms | Photographed by Jeff Berting

Ben Liwnicz lost his father, Boleslaw, to pancreatic cancer in 2003. Although the disease caused him to age physically, the diagnosis never dampened his spirit. He continued to take vacations with Ben’s mother, traveling to new places and spending more time on hobbies and interests outside work.

A neuropathologist who specialized in diseases of the brain, Boleslaw said, “It is not a matter of if but when we will beat pancreatic and brain cancers. We just need the research to continue advancing.”

A few short years after Boleslaw’s passing, Ben’s friend and college roommate, Zane Melmed, was diagnosed with glioblastoma—a deadly brain cancer. The loss of both his father and his “brotherly” friend inspired Ben to learn more about the Tour de Pier, an annual stationary cycling event on the Manhattan Beach Pier that raises funds for cancer research.

Although I didn’t know him then, Heath Gregory (the event cofounder) and I went to the same high school. The little sister of his high school best friend is a dear friend of mine. “She talked about the event with me one year, and the charities it supported,” shares Ben. “It went right to my core, and I immediately wanted to join her team.”

He began riding on the Uncle Kory family bike, then graduated to his own team bike, Team Little Bear, with which he has fundraised tens of thousands of dollars. “Little Bear has two meanings,” explains Ben. “First, it’s my mom’s nickname for my dad (‘misiu’ in Polish means ‘little bear’ or ‘teddy bear’). Second, the golden bear is Cal’s mascot, where Zane and I met as freshman roommates in the dorms.”

The fact that the Tour de Pier benefits nonprofit organizations such as the Hirshberg Foundation and the

Uncle Kory Foundation, which are dedicated to advancing research and finding a cure for pancreatic cancer and brain cancer, respectively, was all the incentive Ben needed to engage.

“I love so many parts of the event because the energy and enthusiasm are infectious,” he adds. “What pumps me up most is that I get into a bit of a transcendental state when I ride. I think back to a lot of happy memories with my dad and with Zane. I feel like they’re there with me. I cry. And then I snap back into it for the second half of the ride to enjoy all the music and fun.”

The 11th annual Skechers Tour de Pier will take place on Sunday, May 21 at the Manhattan Beach Pier. To sign up or make a donation to a rider, visit tourdepier.com. ■