Johnny Westphal
Johnny is a senior at Keene State College. In the summer of 2012 he is riding with a group of college students on a 70 day, 4000+ mile bike ride from Baltimore to Seattle.
What is your connection with the cancer community?
Throughout my life I have encountered and lived amongst individuals that were and are currently taking on the biggest emotional and physical challenge of their lives, the fight to survive cancer. Having not been affected by it physically, yet being exposed to the pain and suffering that victims experience ive come to realize how much support is needed out there. I will never know or meet the masses that have been affected by this disease, but I support them. I support the strength and introspective drive that victims travel on the road to survival. My connection with the cancer community is my heart and soul, to reach out to those who need help whether to talk or raise much needed funds on their behalf.
Why are you riding the 4K for Cancer?
The 4k for Cancer represents two significant personal desires I can combine into one experience; my drive to help those living amongst pain and suffering as well as perceiving the country from the saddle of a bicycle. With the objective of fostering hope for cancer patients, raising awareness, and uniting communities, this is an opportunity to really make a difference in a lot of people’s lives. Taking on the challenge that this program poses to the 90 of us college students with different stories and backgrounds for why we signed up for the 4k sounds like a whole lot of potential energy for good things to come. I am riding 4000+ miles across the country with the 4K for Cancer to share the good I have to give, to help those in need, and to learn from others that have seen things differently than I have.
Ive come to realize over the past few years, being a fixed gear rider to mountain biker, local commuter to long distance tourist that being on a bike and integrating it into my lifestyle elevates my spirit to a level of high luminescence. A cross country bike ride is an adventure that ive dreamed of for a long time now. Though I never knew that this would be the way to which I fulfill this dream, it gives me great ambition to do so. I am pursuing my dream, but first and for most making a positive difference on this planet for the people that need the most help. Our spirit is what will get the 90 of us riders across this country, the good things we will do all along the way will help that spirit grow stronger as we continuously touch the lives of other.
