Riding for LiveSTRONG on My Birthday -- Again!

This year we also celebrating my dear friend Paul Basken's 50th Birthday on the bike by raising money for cancer awareness and the cure. It is a great tradition.

And please remember October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I urge folks to give to Lance's organization or the wellness program of your choice.

Spotsylvania Livestrong Day Cancer Awareness Event:
October 2, 2011
Brief Description
Every year, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, AKA LIVESTRONG holds a global cancer awareness day. Last year almost 1500 events of all sizes and descriptions were held all over the world. This year, residents of Spotsylvania and the region are holding a SPOTSYLVANIA LIVESTRONG DAY on the grounds of our fabulous new Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Our goal is not only to raise awareness and funds in the fight against cancer, but we want to help improve the lives of the 11 million people in the USA and the 28 million people around the world who are living with cancer! Together we can do more!

Here is what we have planned and we look forward to see you there!

We will be holding a 7 kilometer (4.35 mile) RACE, RUN, JOG, AND WALK! Too far? The join us in walking as far as you want and can around our beautiful new hospital. One time around is about a mile!

NOT A RUNNER? No problem: Join us on a beautiful BIKE RIDE of either 25 or 50 miles.

Or come to our Health Fair and learn how you can eat better, LIVESTRONG and learn ways to reduce your chances of being impacted by cancer!

A Good Friday to Think About Bicycle Commuting

It is Earth Day and Good Friday and the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.85, according to the American Automobile Association.

While we wait to see whether a newly announced Justice Department probe reveals any gas price gouging by the oil industry, this is a good time to reflect on a more healthy, holistic and spiritual answer to the choke hold of gasoline economics: Bicycle commuting.

Thousands of miles of bike lanes are being painted in the nation's cities, old railroads are being converted to biker-hiker paths, businesses are adding bike racks to their establishments every day and slowly but steadily motorists are learning to share the road.

Between 2000 and 2009 bicycle commuting increased in the United States by 43 percent, according to the League of American Bicyclists. The reasons vary: health, savings, training, environmentalism, midlife crisis (Some guys like fast cars, some like fast bikes).

But the cycling revolution is being curtailed by politicians who have yet to embrace pedal power. The reasons vary: ignorance, short-sightedness, oil addiction and sloth. So say a prayer today for bike-deprived middle class SUV owners who may have to take out a second mortgage to pay their commuter costs this year.