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Bicycling for cancer awareness, funds

WARREN — The First Presbyterian Church of Warren served as host for a group of bicyclists traveling across country to raise both awareness and funds for young adults battling cancer.

The group of 25 riders who came through Warren represent 4K For Cancer, which helps the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Martha Siegmund, co-ride director for Team Seattle, said the group left Baltimore June 4 and will be riding to Seattle, aiming to arrive there Aug. 12.

While at First Presbyterian Church, where they arrived on a Saturday evening, they received a dinner and overnight lodgings before heading out early the next morning. They also were able to get showers at Trumbull Family Fitness.

The Rev. Rusty Cowden, minister of the church, said this is the first time the church has hosted the riders. He said the organization sent an email to see of the church would be a facility to host the bicyclists as they traveled across country.

Wearing shirts that said “Every Mile Matters,” the bicyclists were greeted by members of the church as they arrived at the main church parking lot entrance.

The bicyclists had traveled 80 miles from Oil City, Pa.

Siegmund said there are three groups of bike riders traveling different routes across the country. She said there is also a group of runners with different people running different places along a route in various states.

Cowden said the group a few summers ago stopped and spent the night at Youngstown Presbyterian Church, where Cowdenás wife, the Rev. Carolyn Griffith, was the minister. From that experience, the 4K for Cancer organization looked at other local churches to contact to see if they would be a host site.

Siegmund said the bicyclists share their own personal stories of someone who may be battling cancer and why they are taking part.

“There is always stories of people battling cancer, from small children to adults. We are helping the young adult group,” she said.

Funds cover services and needs of young adult patients.

“Churches are contacted in advance to see if they will be a host. We simply need a floor to sleep on. We have been to some churches before in past years and have developed a relationship with the riders. They look forward to the event each year,” Siegmund said.

The riders are ages 18 to 27 with some attending college and others recent graduates, or working on masterás degrees or already working.

Siegmund, who is from Arlington, Va., said she does not mind the heat of the summer.

ààWe came through the mountains in Pennsylvania and it was rainy and cold,áá she said.

Accompanying the riders is two support vans who have additional bikes inside.

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