Public Service Message: Americans are Awesome

Kate Trono is cycling across country to raise money for the National Brain Tumor Society in her dad's memory

At a time when many of us are unhappy with many of the rest of us for supporting an evil socialist/selfish plutocrat (choose 1), I have a public service message: This country is full of great people.

I ran into one today while bicycling. I had stopped after a long climb to take a picture of one of my favorite vistas. Another bicyclist stopped, clearly winded from her climb up the other side of the hill. I was feeling quite superior until I noticed that she had four fully loaded packs on her bike. She told me that she’d ridden about 3,580 miles farther than I did to get to that point, having started her trip in San Francisco two months ago. Her bike and packs weighed 90 pounds. Mine totals about 25. She’s a strong woman.

More impressive is the cause that has propelled her all these miles through heat and rain and over mountains. Her dad and a close family friend were both victims of aggressive brain tumors that slowly disabled them and ultimately took their lives. Kate decided to turn her grief into something positive. Her long, hard bike ride is a fundraiser for the National Brain Tumor Society, which is funding research and awareness to try to find a cure for this terrible disease, and help patients, family, and friends cope with it in the meantime.

Meeting Kate also reminded me that Americans are among the most generous people in the world, at least when it comes to private philanthropy.  When my son Paul and I biked across country to raise money for Partners In Health, 300 people contributed an average of $360 (or 10 cents a mile) for a total of $108,000. My fundraiser achieved the kind of bipartisan support that is only a wistful memory in the corridors of power in Washington.  I learned that my friends were engaged in amazing philanthropic activities themselves. And they were so supportive. It made our cross-country bike ride a truly amazing experience.

At 25, Kate’s a lot younger than I was and has few friends able to pony up 10 cents a mile, which in her case would be about $400 since she’s taken a longer route.  But a self-supported ride across country is way harder than what Paul and I did (we went with a company that carried our clothing and provided on-road support). And she is a great person who you would like instantly. I did.

So why not take a break from the angst and rancor of the election season and help Kate honor her father’s memory by contributing to the National Brain Tumor Society.  You can find a link on Kate’s website (www.pedalingforacure.com).   And pass this on to your friends.

Imagine if something like this went viral.  Really.  It is why Al Gore invented the internet.

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PS, Yes, I did steal that line from Jon Stewart.