Tour of Hope receives huge welcome, Maricopa style

When the Lance Armstrong Tour of Hope 2005 Bike Team rode into town on Friday, they received a huge Maricopa welcome. The Maricopa High School Ram marching band played, the cheerleaders cheered and students from both the secondary school and Maricopa Elementary School, as well as many local residents, were on hand to greet the team.

One of the many student signs that lined Honeycutt Avenue.

Two bike teams spell one another to ride the 100-mile legs of the nine-day tour. Some one is riding all day and all night to cover the 3,300 miles from their San Diego starting point to Washington, D.C., where Lance Armstrong (see related story) will lead them on their final leg of the tour. Bristol-Meyers Squibb Health Company sponsors the tour, and several of its employees are on this year’s team.

The Maricopa rally point was at Maricopa High School.

Lynda Coe from Scottsdale, one of the riders on the 2004 team, explained, “It’s grueling. You go through five months of training. I was training by myself in the Arizona heat. The ride is an experience like no other. It really spreads the word on oncology research. It is grueling, but that’s what we have in common with cancer patients who are going through a grueling experience also.”

The crowd heard from Maricopa Mayor Kelly Anderson as well as several guest speakers. Jim Cooper, a social studies teacher at Maricopa High School, shared the story of his son, who had completed graduate school and spoke 17 languages. He died in his mid-20s from cancer.

Nate Scott said, “I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m a cancer survivor.” Scott was in training with the Phoenix Suns and about to accept an NBA contract when he learned he had cancer during a routine team physical.

Alex Odem, age 17, is a Survivorship Award Winner who has germ cell and brain cancer. Odem explained that he had been very depressed until he read Lance Armstrong’s book, It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. He credits the book with changing his whole outlook on his disease.

Local teacher Jim Cooper shares the story of his late son.

Survivorship Award Winner Alex Odem.

The tour’s Team B spoke, sharing their personal stories as cancer survivors, cancer caregivers, medical or pharmaceutical professionals. Mary Kries, a Pennsylvania teacher, learned that she had lymphoma and melanoma while she was pregnant with her daughter Viva. She implored the students to use sun block and to check moles monthly for irregularities.

Team B shared their inspirational stories with the crowd. Scott Perelstein, the only Arizona rider, is on the far right.

Mary Kries urging students to use sun block evey day.

Team B is called the “Viva” team, not only in honor of Kries’s daughter who represents all children, but because the term means “live long”. Live long and live strong are the messages the team promotes.

Students attending the rally enjoyed the free water, key chains, back bags, clappers and the chance to learn more about cancer and the need for research. Middle School Student Council President Tatum Early described Lance Armstrong. “He’s everybody’s hero. He’s gone through so much, and he does so much for cancer. I particularly like that he has such a low heart rate.”

Tatum Early.

Eighth grader Jason Milofsky added, “The tour is really cool. It’s for a good purpose, and it actually helps cancer funding.”

Jason Milofsky.

Team A rode in at approximately 1:15 p.m. As they appeared, to the cheers of a long line of flag and banner-waving students, Team B rode out. After taking a few minutes for cold drinks, the newly arrived cyclists also spoke to the crowd, expressing their gratitude for the rousing reception. They remarked that their ride got pretty hot today with temperatures of 109 degrees on the pavement.

Students lined Honeycutt Avenue to welcome the tour’s cyclists.

As Team A arrived, Team B (above) prepared to ride out.

The Tour of Hope Maricopa rally was both successful and inspirational, thanks to the planning and organization of Rich Ralstin, Maricopa Schools’ Activities Director, and social studies teacher Jack Toohey.