The Palmetto Peloton Project’s Challenge to Conquer Cancer (P3C3) is a 1,400 mile cross country relay cycling event from Greenville, SC to Austin, TX. The ride will benefit the Greenville Hospital System’s Cancer Services, Oncology Rehab Program at AnMed Health through the Cancer Association of Anderson and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Last year's event raised $15,000 for the Cancer Association of Anderson.
Anderson riders include Dr. Chasse Bailey-Dorton and Milton Bowen.
This is the event’s second year and will begin October 18 in Greenville with hopes of reaching Austin by October 22 or 23. Twenty six cyclists and fourteen support personnel, divided into five teams, will ride relay style from Greenville to Austin. Each team will ride a six-hour shift every 24 hours. The route from Greenville heads west through the mountains of GA, NC and TN then picks up the Natchez Trace Trail just south of Nashville. They will follow it all the way to Natchez, MS then head west to Austin.
Once in Austin, the entire team will participate in the weekend long event, LiveStrong Challenge. The LiveStrong Challenge includes a 5K run/walk Saturday and a bike ride on Sunday with Lance Armstrong.
As part of the P3C3 event, a Warrior Program will recognize individuals currently battling cancer, those who are in remission or affected by cancer. The warriors will be joining the relay teams in Austin to participate in the LiveStrong Challenge. The Warrior Program serves to bring awareness to cancer and the organization’s mission, while also providing some sort of normalcy to the lives of those with cancer, surviving caner or affected by cancer. The relay teams leave Greenville even more dedicated and focused on making a difference after having one of the team members was diagnosed with cancer just weeks before the event and losing two of the P3C3 warriors to cancer just this week. To remember and honor the fallen warriors, a bike will accompany each team as they make their way to Austin.
One of the bikes belonged to Scott Shuey, an enthusiastic cyclist, who had planned to ride in the Challenge. Mr. Shuey died of lymphoma on Oct. 5.
While the Challenge to Conquer Cancer is in its second year, the Palmetto Peloton Project formed in 2005 with its inaugural event, the Greenville Peloton Project. Since the organization’s inception, over $500,000 has been presented to beneficiaries. In addition to the Challenge to Conquer Cancer, P3’s efforts include the annual Stars and Stripes Challenge cycling event held in conjunction with the US Pro Cycling Championships held in Greenville, SC.
The Palmetto Peloton Project launched a website/blog to track and follow the progress of the team’s ride and fundraising efforts. Visit http://www.ridetoaustin.com/ for more information.
There will be a send off celebration for the P3C3 group on Sunday October 18 at 1:30PM from the Cancer Center on Greenville Hospital System’s main campus. The teams will leave promptly at 3:00PM.