09.27.07 kulturnatib

Biking for life

I do not know of anybody who bikes for death. Biking, like any other sport or activity that requires physical exertion always involves somebody who, in varying degrees, has to be conscious of life, of their life, of the workings of their muscles, tendons, sinews and will at that moment of engagement with that activity.

But there are those who when they bike, they do so, not only for their own lives, but for the lives of others. They are the ones for whom biking for life goes beyond its slogan-content into its life-affirming context.

I had heard from friends that last year the Cancer Warriors led by James Auste the founding-president of the foundation with the same name, were in town. I don't know what I was doing or where I was then that I failed to join the ride. This year, I vowed, I will not miss it.

This ride on bicycles is the main activity initiated by this foundation its supporters and friends in a particular locality in order to highlight their cause which is summed up in the foundation's slogan or vision: 'A world where no Filipino child will suffer a diminished quality of life because of cancer.”

For the local supporters and friends this ride could just be a cruise around the city or town which will often be no longer than a few kilometers. Certainly less than the regular kilometrage serious bikers log every time they go on a ride.

Or, it could be serious distances, like this year's edition of the Bike for Life is embarking on. This edition is, by far, the most ambitious and challenging for the foundation and this project. This year a total of 21 bikers, together with James Auste will pedal 1500 kilometers from Alabang to Davao City.

Along the way local supporters and bikers will make this number swell from the tens to the hundreds.

A bike parade is always inspiring to see. Especially at this time of global warming and the climate crisis when people are beginning to be conscious of the carbon footprint of an activity or the energy consumption of such.

But beyond that, what is specially inspiring about this year's Bike for Life rides is that together with the core group are 9 special bikers. They are otherwise quite ordinary people who, because of special circumstances, are in a very extraordinary situation. They are fathers of children with cancer who are beneficiaries of the Cancer Warriors Foundation.

Romeo Patnugot is one of them. He was a tricycle driver. He is the father of 9 year old Regine who is battling acute lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia accounts for 50 percent of all child cancers in the Philippines. Because of the burden of single-handedly caring for Regine he has had to sell his tricycle and give up his main source of livelihood. He now does laundry for his neighbors to make ends meet.

As quoted in the handout provided by the Cancer Warriors, he says, “To see my kid rise up with a smile every morning, to imagine her laughing and playing again, to know she has a chance to be healthy again and live a full and long life – this is what motivated me to get on the bike, prepare myself for this long, exhausting ride . . . .”
He continues, “This will be an opportunity to inform everyone how difficult and demanding childhood cancer is, especially if you are a child of poor parents. People out there need to know that children can have cancer and that they can do something to help these kids face cancer . . . .”

For me that was getting up early in the morning, hopping on my bike and joining these courageous people on a ride to dramatize and further their cause. Or that should be, our cause. This, I know, is a small thing. But it's something I can do.

For more information on the Cancer Warriors please log on to www.cancer-wariors.org.