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No. 15 Vol. 8
www.mtolivenews.com
August 2017
Two Local Men Join Cross Country Bike Journey To Raise Money For Pancreatic Cancer
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By: R.E. Wagner hen Josh Johannessen, Scott Philips, and José Ignacio Alfaro, began their six-week, 3,700-mile bicycle trip from Portland, Ore, to Portland, Maine, in June to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research, each had their own reasons for participating. For Johannessen, the ride was a chance to once again give back to those less fortunate. “I biked across the country last summer and raised money for my friend who had breast cancer,” Johannessen explained, “I just want to help make a difference in people’s lives. By the end of this trip, I want to have raised as much money as possible for pancreatic cancer research and help as many people as we can along the way.” To prepare for such a massive undertaking, the 26-year-old Lawrenceville resident began logistically organizing the ride months
in advance. First he set up a website, Facebook, and Instagram account to help spread awareness and donations. Next Johannessen began designing t-shirts and bracelets to sell at fundraising events. During the designing process, Johannessen shared that the idea to include a superhero theme on the shirts, along with dressing up as one of his favorite superheroes during the ride, came from a conversation he had with a friend. “He’s a big comic book fan; I forget exactly what it was we talked about, but he put the thought in my head that anyone can be a superhero, so it stuck and became part of the trip,” Johannessen said, “I picked Captain America because I’ve already done a trip across the United States and so it kind of fit with who I am.” Armed with this simple yet powerful idea, Johannessen then recruited like-minded individuals to share his passion and take
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part in the journey. In just a few short days, Budd Lake residents 27-year-old Philips and 26-year-old Alfaro connected with Johannessen and had signed up, each with superhero alias of their own. “I chose Spiderman because ‘with great power comes great responsibility,’ Philips shared, “as a history teacher at Belvidere High School, I have a great amount of power to influence the lives of young people. I take that responsibility very seriously and try to be the best role model I can be for my students and in my community.” For Alfaro, who picked the comic book character Deadpool as his alter-ego, his decision to join the ride came from a very personal place. “Pancreatic cancer is a cause close to home since my friend’s mom recently passed away from the disease,” Alfaro said, “it inspires me to raise awareness and money for research.”
When asked what kept them going on the bike when things got tough, Philips confirmed that his biggest source of strength has been the company he kept on the road. “My biggest inspirations are the two guys I’m riding alongside during the journey,” shared Philips. “It takes a lot of guts to dive right into a trip like this.” When asked what one of the most important methods of preparation were, all three cyclists agreed that physical preparation was key to their success. “I would wake up every day for five months and hop on the indoor trainer and cycle for about four hours per day,” Alfaro recalled, “I also did a 10-week program to help prepare – it trained my brain to persevere and not quit.” United by a common cause in doing some good in the world, the group has received overwhelming support as they have biked their way across America.
Pictured, from left, are Scott Philips, José Ignacio Alfaro and Josh Johannessen.
Many people contributing to the cause learned about their journey through social media and donated online. “It’s been amazing to see people from all over the country, old friends, new friends, family, and total strangers share our story,” exclaimed Philips. “Every day, we post on social media and every day we receive kind words of encouragement via comments and donations through our
website. It truly does inspire us to keep going through the tough times. Special shout out to Danielle Rivenbark for creating our website!” If interested in donating to Portland to Portland’s charity, be sure to check them out on their website, https://www.bikingportlandtoportland.com/, Facebook Biking Portland to Portland, or check out their Instagram Portland_to_ Portland.