"Giving is Not Just About Making a Donation...It is About Making a Difference"

Dear Family and Friends,

The I Care I Cure Foundation was founded by our sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Brad Besner, (along with their friends and family) in honor of our nephew, Ian, who was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in January, 2006, one week before his 11th birthday. Ian was an extraordinary boy who shared his joy and love of life with everyone who met him. Sadly, Ian lost his battle with cancer just four months after his diagnosis suffering during that time the ravages of chemotherapies that were supposed to save his life. 

Click here to learn more about I Care I Cure

The  I Care I Cure Foundation supports the development of, and raises public awareness about, cutting-edge, targeted therapies for childhood cancer, so that the treatment of childhood cancer will be gentler and more tolerable. By educating the public about scientific breakthroughs in genetic childhood cancer research that are within reach but seriously underfunded, the foundation hopes to quickly raise money to fund research grants and provide seed money to researchers for new studies. 

By sharing with you how close the medical community is to more humane treatment for childhood cancer, we hope that you will want to be part of the effort to fund this ground breaking research so that fewer and fewer children have to suffer as Ian did.

Many of you are aware that Glenn and I created I Care I Cure I Cycle in memory of Ian, to shine a light on childhood cancer and to raise funds for more humane treatment for kids with this insidious disease.  What you might not realize is that Glenn has been participating in rides for charities for many years.  He has done several MS 150 rides and a ride for the Diabetes Foundation but his long distances charity rides began in earnest 17 years ago when he was 50 years old.

In 2000, he took on a huge challenge, riding his bicycle from Seattle to Washington, DC for the American Lung Association.   After completing the ride, he suffered a heart attack and had open heart surgery six months later.  I thought that this would end his long distance cycling but he persevered and did another long ride from San Francisco to LA in 2004 for the Arthritis Foundation.  

After Ian's death, these rides became a passion for both of us.  That is when our life became a personal journey to use Glenn’s love of cycling to honor Ian and to raise funds and awareness for targeted therapies for childhood cancer.

Since 2009, Glenn has cycled the East Coast Greenway from Key West to Maine at the Canadian Border, we traveled from Seattle to San Francisco with Ian's Aunt Laurie and Uncle Jim, Glenn pedaled the route from New Orleans to St. Augustine, FL and last fall we traveled from Phoenix to New Orleans, all for I Care I Cure. I handle the logistics and follow along as our SAG (support and gear) vehicle every mile along the way.

That brings us to today when we will embark on the last chapter of this adventure.  Next month, Glenn will complete the full circle around the perimeter of the continental US, more than 10,000 miles in 17 years all for charities.   We will depart from Phoenix on December 20 and ride to San Diego by December 24 and onto the Santa Monica Pier on December 29.   

Our children and grandsons will join us for the last few miles and we invite anyone who might be in the area to help us celebrate this incredible accomplishment!    If you can't join us but would like to help us honor Ian and fund this cutting edge research, Click here to donate now!

Thank you so very much to all who have already donated for this year's ride and to all who follow this blog for your continued love and support!  It has meant so much to us over the years to know that we had so many people pulling for us, cheering us on and sending their thoughts and good wishes!

Lynn and Glenn

The ride starts 6 weeks from today! 

Let the countdown begin!

PRIDE IN OUR RIDE

We decided that this ride needed a very special

new logo to celebrate the fact that Glenn will

complete his ride around the entire perimeter of 

the continental USA, a distance of more than

10,000 miles, at the end of this leg of 

our journey on December 29, 2017!

Thanks to my sister, Laurie Beaty, for her

time and talent in creating this fun and

meaningful logo.  You'll be seeing it often and

it will grace the front of our 2017 tee shirts!

All The Way.....Around The USA!

Not an exact recreation of Glenn's route

but very close!

Here is our updated route for this ride:

December 20 - Depart Phoenix AZ to Wickenburg, AZ

55 miles

December 21 - Wickenburg, AZ to Blythe, CA

112 miles

December 22 - Blythe, CA to Brawley, CA

89.4 miles

December 23 - Brawley, CA to Alpine, CA

98.7 miles

December 24 - Alpine, CA to San Diego, CA to Oceanside, CA

68.3 miles

December 25-27 enjoy Oceanside, CA

December 27 - Oceanside, CA to Laguna Beach, CA

36.4 miles

December 28 - Laguna Beach, CA to Venice Beach, CA

63 miles

December 29 - The whole family/friends will ride from

Venice Beach to the Santa Monica Pier to complete

the ride and Glenn's journey around the entire

perimeter of the United States

2.9 Miles

Please let us know if you would like to join us as we complete this 

journey.  I have a few hotel suites reserved in Marina Del Rey that

could be yours if you are looking for a get-away from 

for December 28-31.  Ride the last 3 miles with us on December 29

or just meet us at the Santa Monica Pier to celebrate!

I'm still looking for media coverage and would love some 

help if you have a contact!  Just let me know!

As always, the purpose for this journey remains our

commitment to raising awareness and funds for targeted

therapies for childhood cancer.  Join us as we support

I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation!

CLICK HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO DONATE NOW!

During this last ride, we'll take you back to earlier 

rides that you might have missed.

This photo was taken on Saturday, November 7, 2009

as we departed from Key West, FL on the very first

day of our I Care I Cure I Cycle journey!

I Care I Cure I Cycle in the News!

Thanks very much to The Marietta Daily Journal and to

contributor, Kim M. Nielson for this great coverage of I Care I Cure I Cycle! 

We hope to share this journey with the world!  

Sunday, September 24, 2017  MDJ 

RIDING ON: Vinings man to complete cycling tour of United States perimeter, raises funds for childhood cancer treatments

By Kimberly M. Nielson

MDJ Contributor

VININGS — This December, Glenn Hirsch is going on a journey.

The family physician will endure uphill climbs across some punishing terrain, withstanding hours on a stiff bicycle seat and perhaps repairing a few flat tires on his carbon-frame bicycle.

But the Vinings resident is hoping his 512-mile route will be more than simply a quest to see the American Southwest — it will help fund research for better treatments for children with cancer and complete his tour of the perimeter of the United States.

Though he is a lifelong cyclist, Hirsch, 67, began long-distance cycling for charity in 2000, when he completed a nearly 3,000 mile ride from Seattle to Washington, D.C. for the American Lung Association. Over the years, he continued riding during his off-times from work, including a 2004 ride from San Francisco to the Santa Monica Pier for the Arthritis Foundation.

He continued to add miles in his quest to travel the perimeter of the U.S with rides along the entire East Coast Greenway, which stretches from Florida to Maine, and last year’s ride, which took Hirsch from Arizona to New Orleans. When he cycles from Phoenix to Santa Monica in December, he will complete the perimeter loop of the continental U.S.

Since 2009, Hirsch’s cycling efforts have been focused on raising funds for the I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation,(icareicure.org) an organization that seeks to improve cancer treatments for children. It’s an organization close to the Hirsch family’s heart. In early 2006, the Hirschs’ 11-year-old nephew, Ian, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Ian endured traditional cancer treatments that shattered his immune system and isolated him from his friends and schoolmates. Though I Care I Cure notes he was cancer-free after just 15 days of treatment, his immune system was unable to combat a case of meningitis. He died May 31, 2006, a mere four months after his cancer diagnosis.

Glenn Hirsch, a Vinings family physician, has been long-distance cycling for charity since 2000.

Lynn Hirsch said that I Care I Cure was started by her sister and brother-in-law to ensure other children did not go through treatments that their son Ian endured. Most notably, I Care I Cure supports research of targeted therapies that allow children to be treated for cancer without the side effects typically associated with traditional cancer treatments.

“Right now, it would be nice to (have) a cure for childhood cancer, but before that happens, it would be nice to know that the kids who are suffering with cancer have a more tolerable way to fight the disease,” said Lynn Hirsch, who drives a support vehicle while Glenn cycles. “Besides raising the funds, we try to raise awareness (about childhood cancer treatment) with the rides.”

The couple blog about their mission — which they call I Care I Cure I Cycle (icareicureicycle.blogspot.com) — and donate all funds raised on Glenn’s rides to the I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation.

A CHALLENGING BUT REWARDING RIDE

Though the rides can be challenging — some days, Glenn Hirsch will log eight hours on a bicycle — he feels it’s a small sacrifice given what his nephew endured as a cancer patient.

“When things really get tough, I have a tendency to think back to Ian, and figure what I’m doing didn’t compare to what he had to go through. He (is) an inspiration,” he said. “I like to cycle. I figure this is one way to make something else good to come out of it, by being able to raise funds for the foundation.”

This December, the couple will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, where Glenn Hirsch will begin a 500-mile ride into southern California. He hopes to arrive at the Santa Monica Pier, and be joined by family members celebrating Ian’s life and the end of his journey. As Glenn Hirsch notes, the rides have been emotional, and raising money for better treatments has served as a method of healing for the family.

“Government (funded cancer research) only goes so far sometimes, unfortunately,” Glenn Hirsch said. “(We’re) making lemonade out of lemons — making something good come out of this.”

As he prepares for December, Hirsch’s training for long distance rides include trips along the Silver Comet Trail and to his office in east Cobb, where he practices medicine. Hirsch’s long distance cycling is also a testament to the power of going forward. Though he has always led a healthy lifestyle, he has had health concerns. After his cross-country ride in 2000, he suffered a heart attack upon his return to Georgia. But following his recovery from bypass surgery, Hirsch, who now works three days a week as a physician at WellStar Medical Group’s East Cobb Medical Center, went back to his love of the open road aboard a bicycle.

“My goal every year is to see if I can get more miles on my bike than my car,” he quipped.

When asked about his love of cycling, Hirsch noted the sport’s relaxing qualities and meditative nature.

“One of the things about it is, when the world goes by as fast as you can peddle, things slow down immensely,” he said. “Some of my best thinking is on a bicycle.”

While Glenn will continue to ride, both he and Lynn said the December 2017 ride is the completion of I Care I Cure I Cycle. Though he may still do other long distance rides in the future, it’s time, Glenn said, to focus on other goals. With that in mind, the couple is hoping to raise more than they ever have for the I Care I Cure foundation.

“This is kind of the last hurrah,” Lynn Hirsch said, later adding that as far as the journey’s fundraising goals are concerned,” … The sky’s the limit.”

Glenn Hirsch, a Vinings family physician, has been long-distance cycling for charity since 2000. When he cycles from Phoenix to Santa Monica in December, he will complete the perimeter loop of the continental U.S. / Special to the MDJ

Here is our route for this ride:

December 20 - Depart Phoenix AZ to Wickenburg, AZ

December 21 - Wickenburg, AZ to Blythe, CA

December 22 - Blythe, CA to Brawley, CA

December 23 - Brawley, CA to Alpine, CA

December 24 - Alpine, CA to San Diego

December 25-27 enjoy San Diego

December 27 - San Diego, CA to Laguna Beach, CA

December 28 - Laguna Beach, CA to Venice Beach, CA

December 29 The whole family will ride from Venice Beach to

the Santa Monica Pier to complete the ride and Glenn's

journey around the entire perimeter of the United States

If you will be in the area and would like to join us 
along the way or at the Santa Monica Pier, just let
us know!  The more, the merrier!

Click here to donate now!

Go Gold!

Cancer is diagnosed each year in about 175,000 children
ages 14 and under worldwide.

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease past
infancy for U.S. children.

However, thanks to better therapies, more than 80% of U.S.
childhood cancer patients now become long-term survivors.

Survival rates can vary depending on the type of cancer.

About 420,000 childhood cancer survivors live in the U.S.,
with many more around the world. 

The I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation supports the development of, and raises public awareness about, cutting-edge, targeted therapies for childhood cancer, so that the treatment of childhood cancer will be gentler and more tolerable.  By seeing how close we are to more humane treatment for childhood cancer, we know the public will demand better treatments, NOW.

One more child’s life that is lost to cancer is one too many!

We are going Gold in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!

I Care I Cure I Cycle is dedicated to raising funds to
insure that children with cancer do not have to suffer
the way that our nephew, Ian, did!

If you would like to donate in memory of Ian and in honor of

Glenn's final leg of his bicycle ride, just click below:

Click Here to Donate

Now on to some details about the ride!

Many of you may know that we are planning to depart on our last ride for I Care I Cure in December.  It seems the right time to close this chapter as Glenn completes his journey around the entire perimeter of the United States.  The map above is a fairly accurate depiction of his 10,000+ miles of pedaling for charities during the last 17 years.   This will be the 8th year that we have hit the road for I Care I Cure in memory of Ian and these adventures have been exhausting and fulfilling.  We hope that you will follow us and support us one last time!

Here is our route for this ride:

December 20 - Depart Phoenix AZ to Wickenburg, AZ

December 21 - Wickenburg, AZ to Blythe, CA

December 22 - Blythe, CA to Brawley, CA

December 23 - Brawley, CA to Alpine, CA

December 24 - Alpine, CA to San Diego

December 25-27 enjoy San Diego

December 27 - San Diego, CA to Laguna Beach, CA

December 28 - Laguna Beach, CA to Venice Beach, CA

December 29 The whole family will ride from Venice Beach to

the Santa Monica Pier to complete the ride and Glenn's

journey around the entire perimeter of the United States

If you will be in the area and would like to join us 
along the way or at the Santa Monica Pier, just let
us know!  The more, the merrier!

California Dreamin'

We loved last year's logo so much that we are using it again 

but my sister, Laurie, tweaked it to show our new destination!

Thanks, Laurie!

Click here to see Laurie's Website!

Although no definite dates have been set, we are

starting to plan and will share details with you soon.

What I can promise is that it will be an exciting ride 

with much hoopla as we pull into Santa Monica.

This ride will be the final leg in Glenn's bicycle ride

around the entire perimeter of the United States!

This 500 mile segment will bring the total number of

miles pedaled for charities to more than 10,000!

If you would like to join us for this historic ride

 or have any media contacts that might help us to

 cover this event, please feel free to reply to this email!

Just in case you were wondering, this is one thing that Glenn 

does when he is not doing the long bike rides!  This framed bike

puzzle now graces the wall is our bicycle themed office!

Thanks for your continued interest and support!

10th Anniversary of the I Care I Cure I Run 5K

We are very excited to be heading to Florida for the weekend of

February 10-12 to join the festivities for the 10th Anniversary

I Care I Cure I Run 5K and family fun day.   This event has grown

enormously over these years and we are proud to be platinum

sponsors again this year.  It was with the help of our many

generous supporters that we raised the $10,000 necessary for 

this level of sponsorship!   Thanks so much to all of you. I am

including this letter in case there are some of you who have not

yet had the opportunity to donate and would like to do so.

Dear Family and Friends,

The I Care I Cure Foundation was founded by our sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Brad Besner, (along with their friends and family) in honor of our nephew, Ian, who was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in January, 2006, one week before his 11th birthday. Ian was an extraordinary boy who shared his joy and love of life with everyone who met him. Sadly, Ian lost his battle with cancer just four months after his diagnosis suffering during that time the ravages of chemotherapies that were supposed to save his life. 

The  I Care I Cure Foundation supports the development of, and raises public awareness about, cutting-edge, targeted therapies for childhood cancer, so that the treatment of childhood cancer will be gentler and more tolerable. By educating the public about scientific breakthroughs in genetic childhood cancer research that are within reach but seriously underfunded, the foundation hopes to quickly raise money to fund research grants and provide seed money to researchers for new studies. 

By sharing with you how close the medical community is to more humane treatment for childhood cancer, we hope that you will want to be part of the effort to fund this ground breaking research so that fewer and fewer children have to suffer as Ian did.

Our family will be participating in the 10th Annual I Care I Cure I Run 5K and Family Fun Day at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, February 12, 2017 which is just a little more than a week after, what would have been, Ian's 22nd birthday.  We will run past the Ian Besner Baseball Field on the campus which will make this year even more special!   If you will be in Florida at that time, please join our team to walk or run for this important cause.  Just let us know that you are interested and we will email you all of the registration details!  I still have some free registration spots available on our team!  If you can't join us for the race, please consider making a donation to this cause that is so very important to our family.

To donate, just go to this website:

https://fundraising.active.com/fundraiser/WeAreFamily2017

Thank you so very much for your continued support!

Lynn and Glenn

Team WE ARE FAMILY 2017

Had Phun Meeting Phlash

Some of you may have heard that we met Phlash Phelps

from Sirius/XM 60's on 6 at BWI airport last week!  He 

was heading to Hawaii to visit his 50th state in his 50th

birthday year and we were on our way to see our MD

family.   He is a wealth of US geography knowledge and

is excited about following our final ride next December!

More details to follow soon!

Update on this Update!

Had to add this audio!!  Soon after I sent out this blog
 update, Phlash (who subcribes to the blog), spoke about
it on air.  I caught most of it in the car!