To do this, he is participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, benefiting the Norton Cancer Institute.

The ride is 150 miles long and runs from Louisville to Lexington, Ky., and back. It’s a two-day journey from Sept. 26 through Sept. 27.

Jones said he decided to take part in the event after hearing about it during a spin class at the Louisville Athletic Club gym.

“I thought it would be a neat thing to take part in and help other people,” Jones said. “My grandma died of cancer, so I know it can strike at any time.”

The ride starts on Saturday, Sept. 26, when riders will begin the route to Lexington, Ky. That night riders will camp out and get rested for the next day.

“After we ride to Lexington, we get up the next morning and ride back,” Jones said. “If we decide we can’t make it, there is a truck called ‘The Sweep’ that will pick us up and take us back.”

Jones’ best friend, Chad Combs, 35, is also participating for the first time. He says he is doing this because he wants to help take the burden off of other people’s shoulders.

“The reason that this ride is important to me is simply to make a change or a difference in someone’s life that has been turned upside down by cancer,” he said.

Jones and Combs have been training by doing spin classes and riding their bikes around town. Both also bought special Panasonic bikes with thin tires just for the event.

“We bought the bikes, but we discovered the seats weren’t comfortable, so we changed the seats and did some other minor work to them,” Jones said.

Both Jones and Combs have been hard at work raising money to benefit the Norton Cancer Institute.

In order for riders to do the bike ride, they have to raise $2,500. Jones has raised $2,600.

He said if he didn’t meet his goal, he could have given the organization his credit card, and hoped to raise the rest in the three month period they give riders. However, if he didn’t raise the additional $1,000, it would’ve been billed to his card.

“I really don’t have that money but I want to ride,” Jones said. “If I don’t raise it before the event, and decide not to charge it, I can’t ride.”

Combs has raised $1,147 so far.

Even though his total is lower, he says he has had a lot of promises of donations and is confident he will reach his goal.

Jones said Combs has a delayed pledge form, so he still has two months to raise the rest of the money.

“It calls for rain [Saturday], but we will all still be riding,” Jones said.

By LINDSAY VEITZ
Staff Writer
lkveitz@ius.edu