The 8th Edition of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Raised over $7,000 for Prostate Cancer

MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORINIA — Manhattan Beach resident and Cancer Journeys Foundation President Robert Hess rode in the 2018 Edition of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo on September 30, 2018, along with professional mountain bike racer Jeremiah Bishop, leading 526 bicyclists on what many call the most challenging Gran Fondo bicycle ride in the US to raise awareness for prostate cancer and raise funds for the Cancer Journeys Foundation’s prostate cancer early detection system, ProstateTracker.org. The riders raised over $7,000 to support prostate cancer awareness and prevention.

Gran Fondo bicycling events are a widespread phenomena in the United States. The Cancer Journeys Foundation teamed up with pro cyclist Jeremiah Bishop and the Bishop Family Foundation in 2010 to create the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, which has developed into one of the top gran fondo bicycle rides in the United States.

“Cyclists love a challenge and the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo weekend has four routes that provide challenges for cyclists at all skill levels,” said Robert Hess, founder and president of the Cancer Journeys Foundation, as well as an experienced long-distance cyclist.

Said Hess, “We created the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo as a fundraising tool for the Cancer Journeys Foundation, to make men aware of the importance of early prostate cancer detection, and to provide cancer survivors who are cyclists a goal to toward during their cancer journeys.” ”Again this year, one of our male King of the Mountain winners was a prostate cancer survivor. Mission accomplished!”

“A cancer diagnosis is just the beginning of a lifelong journey. The first stage of the journey is diagnosis and treatment. At the end of their medical treatment, cancer survivors are pretty much on their own. Survivors need knowledge and tools to develop survivorship plans they can follow going forward. Nutrition and exercise are key elements in quality of life and bicycling is a great form of exercise and mental wellbeing. That’s why this event is so important,” according to Hess.

Jeremiah Bishop lives the Cancer Journeys Foundation’s “Never Give Up!” moto every day. Jeremiah is one of the world’s most successful mountain bike racers. He created the Bishop Family Foundation along with his wife Erin, to support cancer awareness and prevention and provide support to community projects in his home town of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Mr. Bishop not only races professionally, but leads Jeremiah Bishop racing, where he is coaching and mentoring a new generation of professional bicycle competitors.

ABOUT THE ALPINE LOOP GRAN FONDO

The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo is held in Harrisonburg, Virginia every September. It offers four challenging routes from 36 to 111 miles in length. Men and women compete to win special red polka dot King and Queen of the Mountain climbing jerseys like those awarded in the grand tour bicycling events in Europe and the Tour of California. The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo is widely supported by the Harrisonburg, Virginia community, with over 150 volunteers donating their time.

ABOUT THE CANCER JOURNEYS FOUNDATION

The Cancer Journeys Foundation provides a comprehensive digital information center for cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers. The Foundation is developing a nationwide network of cycling and walking programs to support America’s 15+ million cancer survivors in their journeys. The Foundation created and operates a free prostate cancer early detection at ProstateTracker.org.

For more information, contact Robert Hess, president, at the contact information below.