Pedal the Cause

I’ve been part of Pedal the Cause since the very beginning — first behind the camera, now on the bike. For the first seven years, I documented the spirit and determination of the riders as a photographer. In September 2016, I felt called to join them on the road, and for the past eight years I’ve been honored to pedal alongside so many others determined to create a world without cancer.

This mission is deeply personal. Both of my mothers-in-law, Jean Rudman and Susie Shevitz, have faced cancer with courage and grit. Jean was a survivor before her passing; Susie is once again fighting — and winning — her battle.

More tragically, I lost both my birth mother and father to cancer not long after we were reunited. Their loss fuels my resolve to ride and raise funds for the research that could spare other families the same pain.

Over the years, I’ve seen the incredible impact this event has on funding breakthrough cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. And here’s what makes Pedal the Cause extraordinary: 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to research.

As we celebrate 16 years of Pedal the Cause, I’m more committed than ever. This September, I’ll take on the metric century — 62 miles — knowing every mile is powered by your generosity and belief in this mission. Together, we can pedal toward a future where cancer is no longer a threat.