Wood admits that he and Miller aren’t the fastest cyclists on the road. “There are two groups of people that ride in the long ride: the people who go first and then me and Rex,” he said. But it’s not about speed, it’s about connecting with community.

“Rex was Facebooking during the ride and I was talking to every volunteer,” he said. “Most of them work at Fred Hutch or were survivors or both, and it’s important to connect. It’s who you meet on the ride and what happens on the ride that’s the most compelling. I heard heartbreaking stories and stories of hope. I met researchers. And there was a mom and two kids who set up a lemonade stand just for riders. I probably had 100 names on my arms – people who had cancer in their family or have passed on and their loved ones were remembering them.”

Miller, who penned the names of nearly 50 survivors and lost loved ones onto his jersey, said the camaraderie between riders, the community and volunteer support -- more than 600 volunteers participated -- the shared stories of survival and the incredible scenic route all made for an outstanding experience.

“Riding across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, seeing Mount Rainier off to the left, it was magnificent,” he said. “It was a clear day, warm and sunny, and we met a family on the bridge and stopped and talked with them and took photos. It was all very inspiring. I’m already thinking about next year.”

Want to donate to Obliteride 2014? There’s still time -- fundraising continues until Sept. 30.

Related stories:

Diane Mapes is a staff writer at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She has also written extensively about health issues for nbcnews.com, TODAY.com, CNN.com, MSN.com and several other publications. She also writes the breast cancer blog, doublewhammied.com.Reach her at dmapes@fredhutch.org.

Want to donate to Obliteride 2014? There’s still time! Fundraising continues until Sept. 30. (LINK:http://engage.fredhutch.org/site/TR?fr_id=1340&pg=pfind)

Wood admits that he and Miller aren’t the fastest cyclists on the road. “There are two groups of people that ride in the long ride: the people who go first and then me and Rex,” he said. But it’s not about speed, it’s about connecting with community.

“Rex was Facebooking during the ride and I was talking to every volunteer,” he said. “Most of them work at Fred Hutch or were survivors or both, and it’s important to connect. It’s who you meet on the ride and what happens on the ride that’s the most compelling. I heard heartbreaking stories and stories of hope. I met researchers. And there was a mom and two kids who set up a lemonade stand just for riders. I probably had 100 names on my arms – people who had cancer in their family or have passed on and their loved ones were remembering them.”

Miller, who penned the names of nearly 50 survivors and lost loved ones onto his jersey, said the camaraderie between riders, the community and volunteer support -- more than 600 volunteers participated -- the shared stories of survival and the incredible scenic route all made for an outstanding experience.

“Riding across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, seeing Mount Rainier off to the left, it was magnificent,” he said. “It was a clear day, warm and sunny, and we met a family on the bridge and stopped and talked with them and took photos. It was all very inspiring. I’m already thinking about next year.”

Want to donate to Obliteride 2014? There’s still time! Fundraising continues until Sept. 30. (LINK:http://engage.fredhutch.org/site/TR?fr_id=1340&pg=pfind)

Wood admits that he and Miller aren’t the fastest cyclists on the road. “There are two groups of people that ride in the long ride: the people who go first and then me and Rex,” he said. But it’s not about speed, it’s about connecting with community.

“Rex was Facebooking during the ride and I was talking to every volunteer,” he said. “Most of them work at Fred Hutch or were survivors or both, and it’s important to connect. It’s who you meet on the ride and what happens on the ride that’s the most compelling. I heard heartbreaking stories and stories of hope. I met researchers. And there was a mom and two kids who set up a lemonade stand just for riders. I probably had 100 names on my arms – people who had cancer in their family or have passed on and their loved ones were remembering them.”

Miller, who penned the names of nearly 50 survivors and lost loved ones onto his jersey, said the camaraderie between riders, the community and volunteer support -- more than 600 volunteers participated -- the shared stories of survival and the incredible scenic route all made for an outstanding experience.

“Riding across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, seeing Mount Rainier off to the left, it was magnificent,” he said. “It was a clear day, warm and sunny, and we met a family on the bridge and stopped and talked with them and took photos. It was all very inspiring. I’m already thinking about next year.”

Want to donate to Obliteride 2014? There’s still time! Fundraising continues until Sept. 30. (LINK:http://engage.fredhutch.org/site/TR?fr_id=1340&pg=pfind)

Wood admits that he and Miller aren’t the fastest cyclists on the road. “There are two groups of people that ride in the long ride: the people who go first and then me and Rex,” he said. But it’s not about speed, it’s about connecting with community.

“Rex was Facebooking during the ride and I was talking to every volunteer,” he said. “Most of them work at Fred Hutch or were survivors or both, and it’s important to connect. It’s who you meet on the ride and what happens on the ride that’s the most compelling. I heard heartbreaking stories and stories of hope. I met researchers. And there was a mom and two kids who set up a lemonade stand just for riders. I probably had 100 names on my arms – people who had cancer in their family or have passed on and their loved ones were remembering them.”

Miller, who penned the names of nearly 50 survivors and lost loved ones onto his jersey, said the camaraderie between riders, the community and volunteer support -- more than 600 volunteers participated -- the shared stories of survival and the incredible scenic route all made for an outstanding experience.

“Riding across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, seeing Mount Rainier off to the left, it was magnificent,” he said. “It was a clear day, warm and sunny, and we met a family on the bridge and stopped and talked with them and took photos. It was all very inspiring. I’m already thinking about next year.”

Want to donate to Obliteride 2014? There’s still time! Fundraising continues until Sept. 30. (LINK:http://engage.fredhutch.org/site/TR?fr_id=1340&pg=pfind)