route2outsmartcancer

Relay for Life in John's Honor

Friends and Family,

This coming May 5th, one year has passed since we lost my dad, John. To celebrate his life and memorialize his passing, I have decided to participate in Relay for Life. Relay for life allows survivors, family members, and friends to get together and participate in a moving, day long event to remember, to give thanks, and to share our common experiences, all while raising money to fight cancer.

I want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year's event. Please click on the link below to visit my memorial page. You will also find details on the inspirational Survivors' Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. I appreciate your support.

Christina Buck

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeCaliforniaDivision?px=6431052&pg=personal&fr_id=9835&et=tZKGbORxG4otWbw1KyhkXQ..&s_tafId=130806

Click here to view the team page for Alpha Dela Pi
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeCaliforniaDivision?team_id=253339&pg=team&fr_id=9835&et=9wsXDIOqslpbjszjval0Ig..&s_tafId=130806

A year ago today.....

October 21st, 2007

...I began my journey for John. 
On a cloudy, windy October afternoon, I pedaled down the gravel driveway away from our waving parents and the home where we were raised.  Coasting down a small hill I am keenly aware of the overpacked 60 lb trailer hooked to my back tire. I can't help but wonder, will I make it 30 miles much less 2000?  I just have to. I keep telling myself this just has to work. 

To any reasonable person,there were a million reasons to wait until the spring.  Family, friends, and perfect strangers (yes, even the guys at the bike shop) were not shy in itemizing the list.  Leading the checklist of a million cons, the not-so-minor detail that I am not a cyclist. In fact, I'm not even a "wanna be" cyclist.  Consequently, I have not trained for this cross country jaunt.  My 1995 Specialized Rockhopper, which for the better part of 2 years could be found in pieces in the closet, is the bike I was "riding." The last time the bike was in motion I rode 30 miles. That jaunt left me limping for 2 days.
Check.
Next on the list, I'm alone.  My bike path to California is Route 66.  The storied "Mother Road" has some desolate stretches where cell phone reception is poor and campgrounds limited.   
Check.
The wind, the mountains, the snow. 
Check, check, and check.

These were all valid points, valid reasons not to go. The betting odds of this endeavor; one million reasons to fail vs. one reason to try.  I knew I would most likely fail to make it through one state much less seven, but time was of the essence. The one reason for this effort could be found at the end of that 2000 mile road. The single reason to at least try, was my brother John. 

To spend 5 minutes with John you would understand. He was an original, truly one of a kind. It is rare to find someone so genuine, without any pretense or expectation for favors returned.  He was the best of the five of us.  The brother that always forgave, kept everyone laughing, thoughtful and humble.  The loyal friend and dedicated husband.  John's optimism was unshakable, his passion for life contagious.  He loved a good party and would move with ease from the welcoming host, to the cook, bartender, organizer of backyard games, and storyteller.  Everyone liked John, people just naturally gravitated towards him.  He was my trusted friend and brother, and he was sick. Very, very sick.

The first small uphill climb, not even a mile from the house, rattles me. This is a new touring bike. It feels big and clumsy under my 5'2" frame. My fingers barely reach around the padded handlebars.  The kindly bikeshop crew gave me the CliffsNotes on locking and unlocking from the clipless pedals. I had yet to master this operation from beyond the parking lot, especially in a pinch.

As I struggle against the small incline I am reminded I need to climb a mountain or two to reach John.  If this is a present indicator for future success, I'm in trouble.  At this point I am barely moving, compromising my situation by panicking and shifting up instead of down-gear.  Click, click, damn! In 15th gear the opposing forces of the incline before me and the trailer pulling behind me net in my inability to move the pedals.  With both feet locked-in I'm dropping like a rock with the falling bike.  Mental note to self, learn your gears.

As I ride down the shoulder dodging potholes, my fingers start to tingle before turning numb. This quickly becomes the least of my worries as I feel the chain derail while speeding downhill with 4 lanes of traffic to my left.  I have cycled all of 4 miles.   

Coasting to Joliet today is out of the question due to a thankless headwind. I rarely hear the sweet zzzzzzz of my chain. I left my water bottles on the kitchen counter, all 4 of them, filled with ice cold water.  A slightly regrettable oversight as I reach a stretch of cornfields.

John can't drink anything. Oral cancer is especially cruel because it can take away your ability to swallow while your thirst and hunger remain intact. I imagine my brother smells the neighbor’s barbecue but doesn't attend. It's too hard to be around food. He's keeping to himself more than usual these days. He fears no one can understand him when he speaks. His tongue has been partially removed and his mouth is completely numb. His breakfast, lunch, and dinner come through a feeding tube. We make each other a promise, someday soon we'll have prime rib and chocolate shakes together.

Amid the stoplights, moving gray pavement, and whistling traffic, I see my brother's face and hear his voice.  I hope this endeavor will provide him with much needed reprieve from the financial strain of cancer.  I prepare myself to shamelessly ask friends and strangers alike to help my brother win this battle.

His story is not unlike others with cancer, but he is unlike anyone I know. 

This just has to work, I keep telling myself.  This just has to work.

Our Deepest Gratitude

Perhaps you sent a lovely card,

Or sat quietly in a chair.

Perhaps you sent a funeral spray,

If so we saw it there.

Perhaps you spoke the kindest words,

As any friend could say;

Perhaps you were not there at all,

Just thought of us that day.

Whatever you did to console our hearts,

We thank you so much, whatever the part.

   ~The family of John Joseph Thompson Jr. 

     May 29th, 2007

Immeasurable Grief

Beloved John Joseph Thompson Jr. 

August 17, 1958 - May 5, 2007

Memorial services will be held today and tomorrow, May 9-10th in Costa Mesa, CA.

                                                                                                                                           Viewing May 9th 5-9pm
Harbor Lawn-MT Olive Memorial Park and Mortuary              1625 Gisler Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714)540-5554   

Funeral Mass Thursday May 10th at 11:00 AM                        Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church                               1015 Baker Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626  (714) 557-5060                                                                                                                                           

It is with profound sadness and immeasurable grief I write to share with you that on May 5, 2007 we lost my dear brother John.

Since we last posted, John's cancer recurred. He underwent another radical surgery last Monday, April 30th, at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, CA in which he endured 14 hours of surgical procedures. The tumor grew back for the 3rd time in the same location, and was discovered to be more aggressive than ever. The good news, we believed, was that the cancer continued to recur in his mouth/throat and had not spread, as oral cancer so easily does. The doctors removed his jaw for the second time, the tumor, and reconstructed his mouth, using skin grafts from his leg and muscle from his arm. John pulled through the surgery with flying colors. While recovering a doctor in the ICU told him, "I saw them take you apart and put you back together again. I have never seen anything like that before. You have an amazing team of doctors." John agreed. He truly loved his doctors for fighting with him, and in his usual form, he was ready to fight again.

The entire hospital staff fell in love with my brother as a patient, and he was progressing, recovering enough to be moved from the ICU to a step-down floor at the hospital.  Although he couldn't speak (due to a temporary tracheotomy) he continued making us all laugh, writing notes and communicating on his dry-erase board. He wanted ice cream.

The plan was to release John in a few days.  He would begin simultaneous rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.  He knew it was going to be 6 weeks of hell, but said he was ready, determined to beat the cancer. There was no doubt in our minds, since he had already won so many battles with this disease, he would prevail once and for all this time. On Saturday, May 5, John did prevail, but in a more profound way.

At approximately 3:15pm on Saturday, May 5, John experienced an unexpected complication from the surgery.  He had just finished watching the Kentucky Derby with his wife, Tracy, and was waiting for the rest of us to arrive.  Our sister Donna, brother-in -law Charlie, his wife and I had been with him throughout the week, visiting and sleeping at the hospital. I had left the hospital that morning to take a shower and pick up a change of clothes.  His nurse Angela was wonderful. I knew he was in good hands that day.  John needed rest and my hope was he would sleep for awhile. The last thing I said to my brother was "I'll see you later!" As I left his room I told the nurse's aide helping him get washed, "Be gentle with him."  Off I went, which I now deeply regret, not knowing that was to be our final farewell.

Tracy arrived around 1pm and John was awake and ready to visit. They watched the NASCAR race together, the Derby, and then the unthinkable happened.  We have been told a suture broke, causing an artery to rupture in his throat.  John's heart stopped and despite every effort, the team at the hospital could not bring him back. Instead, God brought him home.

John spent the last few hours of his life with his wife, whom he deeply loved, as it should have been. Tracy had the chance to share with him the news that Christina (his step-daughter) had been accepted into the University of California Berkley. He was elated, extremely proud. 

The shock and grief is beyond words for our parents, siblings, aunt, cousins, and friends, but his inspiration and life will live on in each of us. He has endured unimaginable challenges for the past 2 years, always with a smile, extraordinary courage and faith. In his honor, we will try to walk through this difficult time by his example.
 
Many of you have asked for information regarding the memorial service. My family would be honored to have you join us if you are in the area and wish to do so. John loved life. We hope to make the next 2 days a celebration of my beautiful brother.

~Michelle Thompson

Pledge Update, Jan. 20

Drum-roll please.......

Pledges received this past week helped us reach $11,000!

$11,146.35: Current total of pledges received              (+$445 from Jan. 12)
100% of your pledges have gone directly into an account John has established for his health-care costs.

Join Michelle and the Route2outsmartcancer Community in helping John Outsmart Cancer. 

$38,853.65: Pledges needed to reach goal

Thank you for considering a pledge today. We are profoundly grateful.                                                                               Odometer Reading: 2,441.3 miles pedaled    

Total Pledge/Mile (based on bike-a-thon total of 2441 miles)

$6.10       (1/4 cent per mile .0025)

$12.20     (1/2 cent per mile or .0050)

$18.30     (3/4 cent per mile or .0075)

$24.40     (1 cent per mile or .01)

$48.80     (2 cents per mile or .02)

$73.20     (3 cents per mile or .03)

$97.60     (4 cents per mile or .04)

$122        (5 cents per mile or .05)

$244        (10 cents per mile or .10)

$566.25   (25 cents per mile or .25)

Pledges may be made through the donation button on this site (PayPal) or our P.O. Box.
                    Payable to:
                    Route2outsmartcancer
                    PO Box 142
                    Glen Ellyn, IL 60138

Please know each pledge makes difference, whether it is $1 or $100. Sharing our website with your family, friends, and co-workers is deeply appreciated. 

In the News: KABC-TV, Los Angeles

KABC-TV, LOS ANGELES, DECEMBER 25, 2006

KABC-TV caught up with Michelle as she pedaled into Costa Mesa on Christmas Day and gave her brother John a hug!

Click here to view the video.

In the News: Bloomington, IL Pantagraph

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH, JANUARY 14, 2007
www.pantagraph.com

Biker’s trip complete, but the cause goes on

Some people inspire others by doing great things. Take Michelle Thompson, for instance.

Pantagraph readers met her in October as she pedaled through the Twin Cities on her way to California. At 35, the self-described non-cyclist planned to ride the length of Route 66 on a bicycle to raise cancer awareness and raise money for her brother, John, who is battling the disease in California.

Before her trip, she’d ridden just a little more than 100 miles in all of 2006. Her late start meant she was surely going to hit bad weather. But she was driven to help after witnessing her sibling’s struggle with oral cancer, which claims 8,000 lives each year. About 30,000 cases are diagnosed annually.

The bike ride from the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean was to focus attention on her Web site, www.route2outsmartcancer.com and to attract the notice of reporters like me along the way. Her goal was to get information about oral cancer into the pages of newspapers and on television screens from along the way.

Cameras from KABC in Los Angeles were there to record the moment when Thompson, a manufacturing consultant, rolled into her brother’s driveway in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Christmas Day.

Total distance: 2,441.3 miles.

“Don’t forget the .3,” she said, laughing.

Total time: nine weeks, two days.

Total money raised: $10,200.

Total number of flats: “Nine or 10,” she said.

Add to that two falls that cracked her bike helmets, several nights spent in laundry rooms at campgrounds to escape frigid temperatures and countless “road angels” who helped lighten her load along the way. The angels were people she met who took her single-wheeled trailer, a bob, ahead so she didn’t have to pull it so far.

Thompson also crossed paths with people like Bob and Ramona Lehman, who run a motel on Route 66. They put her up for free for two nights during an ice storm and introduced her to Jim Conkle, who publishes the Route 66 Pulse, a newspaper that carries the news along the Mother Road.

Conkle dubbed her “the Bike Lady” and posted her story on the Internet where the Route 66 crowd could see it. They opened their doors to her along the way.

Once, after her bike had shifting problems in Amarillo, Texas, she spent a night in a laundry room. After hearing about her trouble, a Route 66 tourism promoter arranged for a limo with big horns on the hood to pick her up and take her to the Big Texan motel and restaurant.

The Big Texan is famous in Route 66 lore for its offer to feed customers a 72-ounce steak free of charge if they eat the whole thing within a time limit. Thompson spent the night there free. She skipped the steak.

Another couple drove 30 miles to pick her up, take her to dinner and offer her a room in their home to sleep. They drove her back to her starting point the next day.

So much kindness from strangers was something she didn’t expect.

“It took me by surprise,” said Thompson. “My hope was I would be left alone, that no one would harass me or heckle me. Instead, people went out of their way to be nice to me.”

There were times when she was in danger. She crossed a 7,000-foot mountain pass in a snowstorm with winds that threatened to blow her away. It was 17 degrees.

“I was numb.”

Workers at a truck stop let her spend the night.

When Thompson reached her brother’s house, he was just starting to eat again after surgery a month earlier to remove cancer from his sinus cavity. An earlier surgery removed oral cancer from his tongue and his jawbone.

He still faces reconstructive surgery. The good news is he’s cancer free.

“He’s battling every day,” said Thompson. “But, he’s on track and getting stronger everyday.”

John Thompson now has a date in Clinton, Okla. Officials there invited him to be the parade marshal for the 2007 Route 66 festival after Michelle Thompson paid a visit. Meanwhile, his sister plans to raise more money and create a nonprofit foundation to carry on.

“It (the ride) was absolutely worth it, but we are not done with the work,” she said. “This is my new passion. I have two jobs now, one as a consultant and one trying to raise awareness of cancer in our community.”

Thompson may also take on other cancer issues. While she was in a gift shop in Gallup, N.M., wearing a jacket bearing the name of her Web site, an American Indian approached her and said: “Cancer is killing my people.”

She learned uranium exposure from mining is the suspected cause.

The bike Thompson rode to California will be auctioned on eBay to add money to the fund to help her brother. But she plans to buy another and keep riding to outsmart cancer.

“Originally, this was about one person trying to help one person they love. Now, we would like to take it farther,” she said.

By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com

American Road Supports Route2outsmartcancer Mission

Thank you for joining us last night for the American Road magazine on-line chat. It was a lot of fun! We "chatted" for over 2 hours. 

The kind people at American Road are continuing their support by establishing an on-line account for new subscribers in Michelle and John’s names. When you purchase a subscription to American Road a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Oral Cancer Foundation ($2 for a one-year subscription and $3 for a two-year subscription). For more information please click here. Scroll to "ROUTE 66 BICYCLE ODYSSEY." A specific subscription link will be provided to ensure the OCF donation is made.

Route2outsmartcancer will be featured in their upcoming Winter 2006 issue so be sure to check it out!

Pledge Update, Jan. 12

Now that we have a final odometer reading we are just getting started!
ODOMETER READING: 2,441.3 miles

Current total of pledges received: $10,701.35
(+$2,560.35 from Dec. 19)
Amount needed to reach goal: $39,298.65

Join us in helping John outsmart cancer. Thank you for considering a pledge today.

Pledges may be made through the donation button on this site (PayPal) or our P.O. Box.
Payable to:
Route2outsmartcancer
PO Box 142
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138

Sharing our website with your family, friends, and co-workers is deeply appreciated! 

Join Michelle This Sunday, Jan. 14

Posted by American Road magazine:

We're happy to report that on Sunday at 8pm EST January 14, American Road magazine will be hosting an online chat with Michelle Thompson, who just completed her 2,400-mile bicycle trek on Route 66 to raise awareness and funds to help her brother, John, and his family during his fight with oral cancer.

Michelle will be with us online to talk about her journey and answer your questions. Please join us at the American Road magazine online forum at http://americanroadmagazine.com/forum.

Look for the "Live Chat" link in the upper right corner. No registration is required. To join in just select "Live Chat" and type the username of your choice.

Pat B./American Road Forum Moderator
-----------------------------------------------

Special thanks to American Road for its support of Michelle’s mission to raise awareness of oral cancer. Click here if you want to register a username in advance for the on-line chat.

Click here to find out how your subscriptions to American Road help make a difference in the fight against oral cancer.

Note From Michelle, Jan. 12

Happy New Year from my home in Chicago!

As we embark on a new year, please know you have brought hope and joy to my brother and his family.

With your help, we have raised enough pledges to date to allow my brother’s family to begin facing the mounting medical balances, as well as his health-insurance deductible ($6,000), which is subject to an increase every 6 months. Thank you for making a difference! 

As they have expressed in their posts, my brother and his family are beyond grateful for what we have accomplished together so far. Please be assured, your pledges have brought them much needed relief. 

Although my pedaling has come to an end, we hope to continue to raise pledges based on the final bike-a-thon mileage, so please stay with us! We will have video to share with you very soon, allowing you to see first-hand what it was like on the road.

If you’re free please join me on-line this Sunday evening, Jan. 14. I will be the guest of an on-line chat hosted by the kind people of American Road magazine. They have invited me to talk about my journey for John. I hope to have the opportunity to thank those of you who helped me along the road, so please join in! (Details at the top of our home page.)

There are many more trip photos to share as well as stories from the road. We will also start providing regular updates on John, as well posting more about his amazing team of doctors.

Feel free to e-mail us if there is anything in particular you would like to see on the site!

We are still a grass-roots organization and appreciate any ideas you may have in maintaining our momentum as we strive to accomplish our three goals:

 Raise $50,000 in bike-a-thon pledges. (100% of the pledges received go directly into an account John has established for medical expenses)
 Recruit local dental practitioners to provide free oral cancer screenings in their communities.
 Assist the Oral Cancer Foundation in its mission to raise oral cancer awareness.    

We are compiling a list of recognition for our generous donors. We will honor anyone’s request to remain anonymous. Please e-mail us if that is your wish.

Lastly, if you saw me pedaling (or more likely, eating ice cream) somewhere along the road and would like to post a picture or story, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me through the site.

Thank you for all your posts and comments. Please keep them coming! And always, thank you for passing our story along.

~Michelle Thompson

Trip Update, Jan. 11

Check back this weekend to see updated trip photos.

Update from John & Tracy, Jan. 1

The Thompson Family wants to thank everyone that made this happen. We cannot thank you enough. This will be a Christmas we will never forget. Our angel and the Lord gave us a gift from above that money cannot buy. The family bond is the strongest thing we all share. Hold onto that with both hands. We hope everyone has a good new year and many more to come...With all our love to all of you!
Love,
John, Tracy & Christina   

Christmas Arrival Trip Update, Dec. 27

Merry Christmas and warmest wishes for you and yours, from sunny Costa Mesa, California!

It is hard to believe I have actually arrived. Upon first waking this  morning, in a momentary haze, I was thinking, "How many miles can I make today? How's the  weather? The wind? And then it hit me, "I'm here!" And it  is nothing short of  a Christmas miracle. 


As I rolled in Christmas night, the sight of my brother John, standing in his driveway waving a checkered flag and holding a dozen yellow roses, is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. (View the KABC-TV video.)

He is my true definition of courage, fighting the odds of a devastating disease.  My brother is the one who deserves the accolades, and yet he is cheering me on, just as he always has. Humbling is an inadequate word. I now know the true meaning of an overwhelming moment.

Admittedly, with so many weeks and miles passing since leaving our parents' driveway in Glen Ellyn, it was surreal to arrive. Pedaling the last 1/2 mile of the 2,441 mile journey with my sister Donna, I came around a bend and saw an enormous hand-stenciled banner,  (compliments of my brother-in-law Charlie) that read "Congratulations Michelle, you made it!" After crashing through the finish line, there were many tears and hugs as John, his wife Tracy, my sister Donna, her husband Charlie, along with cheering neighbors filled the driveway. It was the perfect family reunion, immensely joyful. 

To have been able to share this celebration with our parents, Jack and Joan Thompson, the heart and soul of our family, would have been the only addition that could have made this moment more spectacular. Our parents have been an integral part of this family effort. Although they were deeply missed, without question they were with us in spirit. (Originally I had hoped to arrive during their visit over the Thanksgiving Holiday, but Mother Nature and the 12 or so "non-pedaling days" wreaked havoc with the schedule.)

To be honest, a Christmas arrival would not have been possible if not for my sister Donna, without whom I would still be pedaling somewhere in the Mojave Desert. Meeting me near the California border, acting as my route scout, and transporting BOB, (my trailer) her support allowed me to double my daily miles. Her headlights lit my way through the dark, difficult desert roads and beyond, one day following me until midnight. After descending down the Cajon Pass, I found her nervously waiting for my arrival 6 miles from the summit. I am fairly certain the experience aged her a few years, yet she hung in there. Without a doubt, the completion of this "Journey for John" has truly been a family effort.

Since Christmas night we have spent time together as a family, sharing stories and of course many laughs. I look forward to spending this holiday week on the west coast, as well as continuing my work in an effort to reach our pledge goal of $50,000 to help my brother and his family. John's journey has just begun as I watch him fight everyday to recover strength, eat, drink and speak. Upon seeing him this Christmas, I am more committed than ever. I ask for your continued support in spreading the word about the route2outsmartcancer bike-a-thon and my brother's battle.

Some of the first words my brother spoke to us on Christmas were "I am going to kick this, you wait and see, I am going to kick this!" And we know he will. He has beat the odds and will continue to do so, with the continued prayers, support and friendship of the route2outsmartcancer community. This is a community I am deeply proud to know. I pray it will continue to grow with your help.

I have been told repeatedly this organization restores one’s faith in human kindness, and I couldn’t agree more. It is a community made up of people who share a belief in the power of faith, family, friends, and the belief that each of us can make a difference. The outpouring of kindness and generosity is appreciated beyond words. Every pledge and prayer received has had an incredible impact on my brother's recovery. Each person I have met along the route, every e-mail, kind word of encouragement, letter and phone call, has been an inspiration. You have been a blessing and are now part of our extended family.

Thank you for taking the time to care about my brother, my family, and my ride. I have had the opportunity to witness humanity at its finest through the efforts of each and every person who has joined with route2outsmartcancer. In a sometimes cynical world that often discourages an effort such as this, with my deepest gratitude, thank you.

Many of you have shared personal stories of your own battle. I believe you will win the battle and beat the odds, just as John will, made possible through the love and support of your family, friends, good doctors, second opinions, and faith. Throughout the 2 month ride, you’ve inspired me with your courage and have made route2outsmartcancer even more meaningful. Please know you were close in my thoughts as I crossed the finish line and hugged my brother.

On behalf of John and our family, we wish for you and your loved ones the gifts that have been shared with us through the route2outsmartcancer community, these being faith, support, friendship, courage, humor, and unconditional love.

Health & Happiness in 2007.

Warmest regards,
Michelle

How You Can Help

Please make a pledge to help Michelle reach her goal. Any pledge amount, whether it is $5 or $500 (or anything in between), makes a difference. Thank you so much to everyone who has already contributed. Every pledge is greatly appreciated!

Make a secure pledge on this site by clicking the "Make a Donation" button located on the home page. All credit-card transactions are handled through PayPal. (To read more about PayPal, please click here.) Questions? Comments? Email us at: route2outsmart@sbcglobal.net

If you prefer to make a pledge by check, please make checks payable to route2outsmartcancer. Pledges or mailed correspondence may be sent to:
Route2outsmartcancer
PO Box 142
Glen Ellyn, IL 60138

Thank you!

In the News: Newport Beach/Costa Mesa, CA, Daily Pilot

NEWPORT BEACH/COSTA MESA DAILY PILOT, DECEMBER 25, 2006
www.dailypilot.com

Biking to benefit her brother and others
Illinois woman achieves goal of spending Christmas Day with her brother in Costa Mesa after fund-raising drive.

By Jessie Brunner

Cruising down the same driveway in Glen Ellyn, Ill., where she first learned to ride a bike, Michelle Thompson began a 2,400-mile bicycle journey to Costa Mesa for one simple reason: Her brother, John Thompson, has oral cancer, and she hopes to raise awareness and money to help him fight it.

"He is in the battle of his life, and I want to get in this battle with him," she said. "I wanted to help other families so they wouldn't have to go through what my brother is going through."

Inspired by her brother's daily walks, the initial idea for a community walk-a-thon quickly transformed itself into a solo bike-a-thon, a fitting tribute for the brother who purchased and taught Michelle how to ride her first bike.

Following a surgery over the summer in which doctors removed portions of John's tongue and jaw bone, leaving him temporarily unable to speak, his 35-year-old sister knew she had to do something truly substantial.

Leaving her job as a quality consultant for the duration of the trip, Michelle set out on a grass-roots campaign to raise awareness of oral cancer, which claims more than 8,000 lives per year nationwide, according to The Oral Cancer Foundation. She also hopes to offset her brother's mounting medical bills with the goal of raising $50,000 — a figure show knows to be "extremely ambitious."

Before setting off, the inexperienced cyclist spent a week surveying the inventory of bike shops throughout Chicago. Though the bike her brother taught her to ride on remains in her parents' basement, Michelle opted for an adult-sized touring bike, fully equipped with a trailer and head-to-toe cycling gear.

Michelle left Illinois on Oct. 21 hoping to make it to her brother's home in Costa Mesa in time for Christmas. Saturday marked her ninth week on the road, though she didn't ride for at least seven days due to extreme weather, including a blizzard in New Mexico, various wind storms and downpours of freezing rain.

No matter the challenges she faced along the way — whether it be lugging a trailer full of camping gear and other essentials, biting winds or numerous flat tires — Michelle's resolve never waned.

"In light of what my brother's going through, it's hard for me to complain about anything," she said. "I just think of what he's going through, and the rest seems insignificant."

Being 13 years younger than John, Michelle said her older brother was always there for her as a child and into adulthood. In addition to being mechanically inclined, he had a knack for making things fun and was always up for an adventure.

"To spend 10 minutes with my brother, you would know why I'm out here," Michelle said. "He would give you the shirt off his back."

When she was 17, John towed a white 1965 Ford Mustang, which he had recently restored, from his home in California to his sister in Kentucky just to surprise her — a story Michelle recalled as emblematic of her brother.

Though she lamented not having gifts to bestow upon her arrival, she said she will be bringing a hearty dose of Christmas spirit.

"I get to spend every single day doing something I really believe in, when normally I would be running around buying gifts," said the bicyclist. "It is just such a great gift."

Interrupting her journey for only a single day, Michelle momentarily ditched her bike in Amarillo, Texas, to fly home for Thanksgiving. That day, she walked 10 miles to the airport, cashed in $525 worth of vouchers for Southwest Airlines and hopped on a plane headed for Southern California. The very next day, she was back in Texas and on her bike heading westward, from whence she came.

Along the route, which has taken her through eight states, she has been collecting various bric-a-brac and sending it off to John. Her brother is now the proud owner of an obscenely large cowboy hat, a string of lights representing each state along Route 66, and hillbilly chopsticks — essentially an oversized clothespin.

Besides getting random tidbits of Route 66's extensive history, Michelle's favorite aspect of the journey was the helpful people she met at gas stations, motels and elsewhere. These "road angels" shared food, shelter and support along the way, many calling in or e-mailing to check on her progress, or offering advice.

"People I didn't know anything about nine weeks ago have become lifelong friends," Michelle said. "They have definitely stayed with me."

Though she's climbed as high as 7,300 feet and the odometer on her bicycle read 2,105 miles last week, Michelle didn't want to get overconfident about her cycling abilities, fearing she may jinx herself. She still found the riding difficult after nine weeks on the road, but hopes to maintain it as a hobby now that it is all over.

"I have really found the cycling world and the people in it to be really wonderful," she said.

REACHING THE FINISH LINE

At about 5 p.m. on Monday, Michelle finished her long trek to Costa Mesa in front of her brother's driveway, riding through a paper banner her family had made as they waved flags and cheered.

With 2,441 miles on her bike's odometer, Michelle didn't even dismount her bicycle before giving her brother John a hug.

"I feel great now that I'm here," Michelle said to the small crowd of family and neighbors who had gathered for her arrival. "I'm a little late because I had to stop and look at the ocean."

John, who assured the crowd he would win his battle against cancer, was speechless at his sister's feat.

"We're so ecstatic!" said Tracy Thompson, John's wife. "We've been worried about her every step of the way."

Without nonprofit status, Michelle has been unable to attract major sponsorship. Instead, she is relying on what she calls "everyday people" who still believe that one person can make a difference in the world.

So far, Michelle's Route 2 Outsmart Cancer campaign, www.route2outsmartcancer.com, has raised close to $10,000 toward her goal. She is still looking for ways to up the ante.

"Excited as I am to finally get there, I feel like there is so much more that I want to do," she said Wednesday, just after crossing the border into California. "I was thinking maybe I could turn around and ride back."

Trip Update, Dec. 25

She made it! Michelle arrived at the Santa Monica Pier (the end of Route 66) at 11:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve!

This afternoon she is riding Pacific Coast Highway/Highway 1 to Costa Mesa to see her brother John for Christmas. (Estimated arrival time: 3:00 p.m. PST)

Current odometer reading: 2,390 miles

Check back to hear from Michelle herself and to see photos.

Merry Christmas!

A Note From John Thompson

     Merry Christmas To Everyone
     I would like to thank everyone for all the cards, calls, gifts, and prayers. They have meant a lot to me and brought back many good memories. The last 16 months have been rough, and hopefully they are behind us now. I still cannot swallow, and have a feeding tube for now. I can't wait for that 1st meal in a long time.

     A lot of people are asking what happened and what is going on now, so I will try to make this as short as possible. Last year on August 10th was the 1st surgery, 12 hours I think to remove a tumor in my mouth/throat. It was a major neck dissection to remove the tumor, soft palate, 40 lymph nodes, ½ tonsil and part of my tongue. After 6 weeks of radiation followed by chemo I was told another surgery was needed, as the tumor had come back. This time I talked to other doctors for a 2nd opinion and found Dr. Larian (a referral from my neighbor who also is a patient) who I felt very comfortable with to do the surgery.

     So on July 3rd, 2006 , five days after Tracy was laid off from her job, the 2nd surgery was performed, by Dr. Larian and a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Azizzadeh. Another 12 hours to remove the tumor, replace lower jaw on left side with a carbon fiber plate, major portion of my tongue, more of the palate and the rest of my tonsil. Basically everything in my mouth. A skin graft from my left forearm and upper thigh was used to replace the tongue and rear palate.

     In early November 2006 my 1st checkup was ordered and there was something in my left lung and sinus. Surgery was needed again, this time to remove a tumor in my sinus and remove what was in my lung. So on November 29th, it was another 12 hours. The upper jaw and cheekbone was removed and sinus cleaned out. Another skin graft and muscle graft from the right upper thigh. The lung was just a sore, thank God, but my ribs hurt for weeks. A retainer was made for my upper jaw and will be replaced with a permanent one in approximately 6 months, so it is hard to understand what I am saying, and hard to eat and swallow. Now it is therapy time and hopefully everything is behind us now.

Merry Christmas and thanks again.
Love,
John Boy

          

In the News: Inland Southern CA, The Press Enterprise

THE PRESS ENTERPRISE, DECEMBER 24, 2006
www.pe.com

Rider determined to aid sibling

By MICHAEL MELLO and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

Michelle Thompson plans to give her brother a big hug today, a Christmas gift more than two months and 2,400 miles in the making.

Thompson hopped on a bicycle in October and left the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn for California. Her goal: a ride to benefit her brother who has cancer -- helping to raise money for his living expenses and focus awareness on oral cancer.

She's followed Route 66 from Illinois and hopes to pull in front of John Thompson's home in Costa Mesa today. On Sunday, she began her journey in Rialto and aimed to reach the Santa Monica Pier and the end of Route 66 by the end of the day.

Michelle has been plagued by fierce winter storms, up to three flat tires a day and poor road surfacing.

She's also been blessed. Samaritans have bought her meals and provided her with lodging so she did not have to camp on frigid nights. Through it all she has pushed on.

On Sunday at Don's Bikes of Rialto, owner Scott McAfee gave her a discount on a new helmet and offered to tune up her bicycle for free. An employee gave her a big hug upon hearing her story, Michelle said.

"You don't expect that. I have been getting a lot of encouragement," she said. "People will come up to me or yell out the window, 'Good for you.'

"A lot of times, I wondered if I was doing any good," she said Saturday. "Then I would meet someone who would approach me at a gas station and tell me about their experience with cancer."

She said she could have made it to Costa Mesa by Sunday night, but after spending weeks on Route 66 and learning of its history, she felt compelled to finish riding the storied road.

With every pedal pump, Michelle said, she has kept in mind her brother, John, and the surgeries and chemotherapy.

"John was the inspiration for this whole journey," she said.

"He found himself in the battle of his life. He was worried about his mortgage and supporting his family," she said. "I thought if (his) financial burden could be reduced, he could focus on getting well."

Sister Donna Thompson-Becker said her siblings have inspired each other.

"She's pretty amazing. My brother is too," Donna said. "It's been a real morale booster for my brother."

Michelle said the trip was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and she did not do any training before leaving her parents' home.

"I had about three weeks to organize it, sublet my apartment and get on the road," she said. "In the very beginning, I was just trying to get out of Illinois, because I'm not a bicyclist. I was just focused on moving. I was in survival mode."

McAfee at Don's Bikes said, "Hats off to her.

"To do what she is doing with virtually no training and knowledge of touring blows my mind," McAfee said. "She is a pretty amazing person. We are happy to play a small role at the end of her journey."

There's only one disappointment, she said: Donations have lagged. Michelle hoped to raise about $50,000 -- about a one-year salary for John. By mid-December donors had given about $9,000. Still, she hopes to collect more.

Contributions may be made by credit card at www.route2outsmartcancer.com.

Checks made out to route2outsmartcancer may be sent to: Route2outsmartcancer, P.O. Box 142, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 60138.

"I'm going to pull into my brother's driveway and give him a big hug," Michelle said. "I'd like to go to Mass on Christmas Day, but that depends on what time I get there. I'd like to spend the day laughing and telling stories."

The trip, she said Sunday, "has renewed my faith in family and human kindness and God."

Trip Update, Dec. 23

Michelle cycled through the desert until midnight last night, ending up about 20 miles shy of Victorville, CA. She is shooting for San Bernadino tonight.

Starting odometer reading this morning: 2,258 miles
Afternoon temperature today: 62 degrees (For the first time in the trip, Michelle didn't have to wear a jacket today!)

In the News: San Bernadino, CA, County Sun

To view the video, click here. Follow this link to the photo gallery.

SAN BERNADINO COUNTY SUN, DECEMBER 23, 2006
www.sbsun.com

Woman hitting the road to fight brother's cancer

Andrew Silva, Staff Writer
As Michelle Thompson stood on the pedals to push her bicycle up a long, gentle hill on old Route 66 just west of Ludlow on Friday afternoon, her odometer turned over to 2,200 miles.

Two months ago, the 35-year-old business consultant left her parents' home near Chicago to ride most of the historic "Mother Road" on a grinding 2,400-mile journey to Costa Mesa.

Is she one of those cardiovascular goddesses out for a challenge? A fanatical Route 66 buff?

Hardly. An absolute noncyclist, she didn't buy her gear, including a 21-speed touring bike and a "Bob" bike trailer, until three days before she hit the road.

The trip, only three weeks from conception to rolling down her parents' driveway, is to raise both awareness of oral cancer and money for her 48-year-old brother, who's struggling with the devastating effects of the disease.

"He's the kind of brother, if you spent 10 minutes with him, you'd know why I was out here," she said while taking a short break at the cafe in Ludlow on National Trails Highway just off Interstate 40 about 50 miles east of Barstow.

For example, on her 17th birthday, he towed a classic white 1965 Mustang to Kentucky where she was vacationing with their parents as a present.

A talented car mechanic who lives in Costa Mesa, John Thompson had a second radical surgery in July to remove part of his jaw and tongue.

He's been using a feeding tube ever since, and can barely talk.

"I got to talk to him about three weeks after the surgery ... His wife said he had just come back from a mile walk," Michelle said. "He can't eat, drink or swallow, and he's walking a mile a day ... I'm a completely healthy person. There's no reason I can't do this."

John has been worried about getting back to his job managing a small garage and frets about keeping up with his house payments.

So Michelle hit on the idea of some kind of fundraiser, which evolved into riding across the country to raise money and to see him by Christmas.

Her family members were not thrilled with the idea, and in fact, were downright worried.

"My brother told me it's hard enough in a car," she said.

With a touch of luck, she stumbled on to Lon Haldeman, who pioneered ultraendurance cycling in the early 1980s as the winner of the first two installments of the Race Across America. Haldeman now runs a cross-country touring service out of Wisconsin.

"He grilled me," she said. He wanted to make sure she didn't get herself killed.

Haldeman provided the route maps that made the trip possible.

She planned to make 50 miles a day, towing her trusty "Bob" trailer.

On a tight budget, she tried to camp as much as possible, but sometimes Mother Nature put the kibosh on that idea, wreaking havoc with her schedule and her finances.

A blizzard in New Mexico forced her into a motel for four days.

And a few weeks ago, she ran smack into another storm as she was about to cross into Arizona. Fortunately, she was near a truck stop and got a ride from a woman there back to Gallup, N.M.

"I've encountered nothing but kindness that has just humbled me," she said.

She learned that lesson early on when a police officer in Illinois escorted her along a dark, dangerous road to make sure she got safely to a campground.

And the Route 66 community has practically adopted her, providing guidance and support, including an occasional place to stay.

But the cold weather has been brutal, and there are times when the solitude is pressing.

"Climbing Black Mountain (in Arizona), it's getting dark; you can feel the temperature plummeting; my phone doesn't work; if I get a flat, (while trying to change it) my hands will freeze. That's when you become aware you're alone. That's when the cold scares me," she said.

There are few profound thoughts on the road.

"Oh my god, I have to go up that? Oh my god, the wind..." she said, laughing. "Food. I think about food ... I'm now the kind of person (who goes for) a hot dog in a gas station for breakfast."

She hopes to make it to Rialto by tonight, putting her within striking distance of her goal to see her brother by Christmas.

Her sister, Donna Thompson-Becker, 47, also of Costa Mesa, met her just this side of Needles and is now carrying the trailer in her car for the last few legs.

A friend in Chicago (Alison Otto) keeps up the Web site, and the entire family has provided assistance.

Information on making donations is on her Web site, www.route2outsmartcancer.com.

Michelle refuses to complain about the tough days behind her, given what her brother is going through, and she treasures the entire journey.

Especially fine were those rare days, like one in New Mexico, when friends (Sara & Lee Snyder) met her on the road, took her trailer, and she was able to just ride. No wind, feeling strong, spectacular scenery.

"That's one of those days that get you through the next five," she said. "I can think about how lucky I am to be out there trying to help my brother."

Contact writer Andrew Silva at andrew.silva@sbsun.com or at (909) 386-3889.

 

Trip Update, Dec. 21

We have been waiting for this moment since Oct. 21.

After 8 weeks, 7 states, and more than 2,000 miles, we are so delighted to say:

Hello, California!
Current Odomenter Reading: 2,187 miles

Michelle crossed the California state line at Needles on Dec. 20, and is cycling through the Mojave Desert – day and night – in an all-out effort to reach her brother John’s home in Costa Mesa by Christmas. Tonight she made it to Ludlow, CA, and will head toward Victorville tomorrow.

To her surprise, Michelle discovered that the desert is not flat! Since Needles, she has made a long, gradual climb. (In total feet, or as cyclists' describe it: a gross climb of 4,200 ft.)

Michelle’s sister Donna Thompson-Becker drove from Costa Mesa on Thursday to meet Michelle and escort her on the last leg of her journey. Without the 50-lb. weight of Bob (the trailer) and with frigid temperatures behind her, Michelle will make much better time.

Michelle is several days behind schedule, but she has picked up the pace and is sprinting for Costa Mesa!

In the News: The Kingman, AZ, Daily Miner

THE KINGMAN DAILY MINER, DECEMBER 21, 2006
www.kingmandailyminer.com

Woman takes long ride on Route 66 for brother

Terry Organ
Miner Staff Writer

Michelle Thompson is enduring both physical and financial hardship as she makes a 2,400-mile bicycle ride along Route 66 from Chicago to Costa Mesa, Calif.

Her goal is to reach the home of her brother, John, by Christmas Day.

John Thompson, 48, was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2005. He has been unable to return to his job as manager of an auto repair shop for nearly two years.

The ride being made by his sister is to raise $50,000 (about one year's salary for John) so he can make his mortgage payments and pay other bills, and at the same time to heighten awareness of oral cancer. "I've taken a three-month leave of absence from my small consulting business and my clients have been very supportive," Michelle said Tuesday during a stop in Kingman. "When you're helping someone you love, the money seems trivial."

Her brother underwent radiation, chemotherapy and surgery in the first year after his diagnosis. The cancer came back and John underwent radical surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in July.

"He had part of his tongue, jaw and cheekbone removed, plus two skin grafts," Michelle said. "He's also on a feeding tube due to his inability to swallow."

Michelle bought a 21-speed Fuji tour bike three days before leaving Chicago on Oct. 21. She chose to ride along Route 66 because it seemed the best route. There are towns along the way and that gives her a sense of comfort since she is alone on her trip.

She is towing a Bob Bike Trailer with clothing and camping gear. It adds 50 pounds to her ride.

"I was camping out at night until I got into New Mexico, and then it got too cold at night," she said. "I've been staying with people associated with Route 66 since then, and some motels have donated a night's lodging along the way.

"I did camp just west of Flagstaff but ended up on the floor of a campground restroom because it was so cold. Your standards change pretty quickly when you're cold."

She was averaging nearly 40 miles per day until getting into the mountains of New Mexico, getting "beat up" by wind and cold in the last few days before reaching Kingman on Monday.

Michelle said she did not have any flat tires the first 1,400 miles of her trip.

After entering Texas, her back tire and those on the trailer began taking a beating, with her having to change up to three flats one day.

"I found myself on the side of the highway outside of Winslow at sunset one day trying to change a flat and very aware how alone I was," Michelle said.

"A trucker called the Highway Patrol and said he was worried after seeing me and a trooper soon pulled up.

"I was having trouble with the bike pump and he tried to help, but the pump broke. It ended with him loading my trailer and bike into his patrol car and driving me into Winslow, where his father came and took me to a Wal-Mart."

"A perfect stranger got me a new pump and then dropped me off at a motel in Winslow. I'm amazed at the kindness I have witnessed."

All during her trip she has encountered people asking about what she is doing. Upon explaining the reason for her ride, many relate stories of their own about loved ones who have died or are afflicted with cancer, Michelle said.

She listens and hands out cards with her Web site address to which donations may be made for her brother. That site is www.route2outsmartcancer.com. Pay Pal handles credit card transactions, ensuring their security, she said.

Updates on her trip also are posted on the Web site.

Anyone preferring to make a donation by check may make one out to and mail to route2outsmartcancer, P.O. Box 142, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 60138. About $7,100 in donations have thus far been received.

Michelle embarked on her journey with no prior cycling experience. That factor along with the weather and different terrains encountered have made for a challenging ride.

"Kingman feels balmy compared to what it was like Saturday in Seligman," she said. "I might as well have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, as I could not stay warm and the wind would not let up. The trailer felt more like 120 pounds."

She estimates she must make 60 miles per day to reach her brother's house in time for Christmas.

"Oral cancer can be debilitating and fatal," Michelle said.

"But everything in me tells me John is going to beat it.

"I'm so proud of how he has handled this challenge. He has a great sense of humor and so many people are praying for him."

Trip Update, Dec. 19

Michelle arrived in Kingman, AZ, yesterday. Elevations have been dropping (Kingman is 3,000 ft.), but she had to ride up many a hill to go down again. As Michelle says, “It is not downhill from Flagstaff!” She has encountered some of the toughest terrain and worst wind of the trip over the last three days. Frigid temperatures also are a challenge. “When they say the high is 40 degrees, it means it is 40 degrees for 30 minutes!” Michelle tells us.

Michelle will head toward Golden Shores, AZ, today, and hopefully cross the California state line into Needles, CA, on Dec. 21. We are counting the days until warmer weather arrives!

The countdown to Costa Mesa is underway! Please make a donation to help Michelle reach her goal. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much to everyone who has already contributed. Every dollar truly does make a difference.

Current total of donations received: $8,141
(+$295 from Dec. 17)
Amount needed to reach goal: $41,859

Trip Update, Dec. 17

It has been a little slow going since Flagstaff. Michelle got a late start today because of another flat tire and problems with her bike pump. Tonight she landed at the Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn between Seligman and Kingman, AZ. She is shooting for Kingman tomorrow. (Elevation: 3,000 ft.!)

Current total of donations received: $7,846
(+$700 from Dec. 14)
Amount needed to reach goal: $42,154

In the News: Flagstaff, AZ, Daily Sun

ARIZONA DAILY SUN, DECEMBER 17, 2006
www.azdailysun.com

Bicycling for her brother

By BETSEY BRUNER
Community Editor

Michelle Thompson wants to be home for Christmas -- her brother's home in California, that is.

She left her home in Chicago Oct. 21 on a 2,400-mile solo bicycle ride across the country to raise awareness about oral cancer and raise money to help her brother John Thompson, a two-year survivor of oral cancer who lives in Costa Mesa, Calif.

John is the second-oldest of five siblings. The Thompson children, three boys and two girls, were raised in Glen Ellyn, Ill., where their parents still live.

"My brother's really the hero in this," said Thompson, 35, who gave an interview at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel on Friday after spending a night in a room donated by the hotel. "I'm just inspired by him. This is actually easier than being in Chicago and wanting to help. At least you're out here trying."

Thompson pulled into town late Thursday night and cycled through downtown Flagstaff before getting to the Radisson.

"I wanted to see some of Flagstaff," she said. "I can't wait to come back. It seems it has a lot of character."

DONATIONS NEEDED

Her ambitious goal is to raise $50,000 to help cover one year of wages for her brother, an automobile mechanic who has been out of work for two years because of the disease.

John Thompson, 48, was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2005. The cancer reoccurred in May 2006, and he underwent his fifth surgery in late November. Surgeons removed part of his tongue and jaw. He has been on a feeding tube since July.

"Because of the radical surgery he's had, it's very difficult for him to talk," Thompson said. "He's afraid he won't be able to work with the public. He's worried about his mortgage, supporting his family and fighting this cancer, all at the same time."

Supporters have raised about $7,100 so far, with 100 percent of the pledges going to help her brother.

"I'm very proud of that," she said. "That comes from donations through the Web site and post box, and people who just came up to me and gave me $5. I know it's Christmas, and it's hard to be asking for pledges, but even small donations can make a difference. Make a small pledge and help me help my brother."

Thompson said when a loved one gets cancer, it's not just a health issue. Loved ones have to also battle on financial and social fronts.

"I think it's important to not just wish our loved ones well, but to get in the battle with them," she said. "They're just hoping to get through next year without it coming back. We're very hopeful, and he's very optimistic."

NO TRAINING

Thompson hit the road without training, a daunting challenge. She said she hadn't been on a bicycle in two years.

"I'm not a cyclist," she said. "I knew it would be tough. But the truth is, my brother is suffering so much, my little aches and pains seem trivial. It puts it into perspective. The first month was really tough. I wasn't strong."

She purchased her 21-speed Fuji touring bike and other equipment three days before embarking on her journey. She also has a Bob Bike Trailer, which she tows behind, packed with her camping gear and clothing.

"It's just me and Bob," she said with a laugh. "A Chicago bike shop helped me. It was getting expensive really quickly."

To make the trip possible, Thompson, a freelance manufacturing consultant, took a three-month leave of absence and sublet her apartment.

Thompson was able to save money by camping, until she hit a blizzard in the desert near Tucumcari, N.M. Her budget took a hit when she had to hole up in a motel for four days.

Another big problem has been flat tires, sometimes three in one day.

"Little metal shrapnel just poke right in," she said. "The highway is the worst place to change a flat."

TRAVELING OLD ROUTE 66

Starting from her parents' driveway in Glen Ellyn, Ill., Thompson is cycling historic Route 66 on her quest to reach her brother's driveway in Costa Mesa in time for the holidays.

Aficionados of the historic route have provided unexpected help all along the route, including Jim Conkle of the Route 66 Preservation Foundation, who put out an e-mail message to Route 66 clubs and others across the country, asking them to help Thompson on the road.

Route 66 people gave her updates on the road, places to stay and called ahead to alert the next town or city about her scheduled arrival.

"The Route 66 community of people, that was really unexpected," she said. "I didn't even know this wonderful community existed. I don't think I could have done this without them."

Thompson usually wears a light blue wind breaker with the words "The Route to Outsmart Cancer" in black block letters on the back. Many people along the way have responded positively to her goal.

"I'm out here alone, but I have found there are many kind people," she said.

Plans are in the works to get 501-3C status, so she can seek bigger sponsorship. Thompson would also like to keep the Web site going and continue to garner support for the health issue of oral cancer, which she said is usually first noticed by dentists during routine check-ups.

Soon Thompson's trusty Fuji bike will be auctioned on e-bay, another way to raise money for her brother.

"It's traveled Route 66 from Chicago to California," she said. "I might keep the odometer for my own sense of accomplishment. I get excited every time it turns over."

Reporter Betsey Bruner can be reached at 556-2255 or by e-mail at bbruner@azdailysun.com.

Trip Update, Dec. 14

Hello, Flagstaff!
Michelle hit another major milestone today, reaching Flagstaff, AZ, (elevation: 6,905 ft.) under clear skies and ahead of the snow that's predicted for Sunday.
(Check back for a more detailed trip update this weekend.)

Current total of donations received: $7,146
(+$845 from Dec. 11)
Amount needed to reach goal: $42,854

In the News: Daily Herald, Chicago, IL (suburbs)

DAILY HERALD, CHICAGO SUBURBS, DECEMBER 13, 2006
www.dailyherald.com

Woman rides bike for brother with cancer

By Hafsa Naz Mahmood
Daily Herald Staff Writer

“I knew it would be hard. But my worst day is still better than (John’s) best day.”

—Michelle Thompson

Michelle Thompson left Glen Ellyn in October and hopes to arrive in California by Christmas Eve.

Why is the trip taking so long? She’s doing it by bicycle.

She’s encountered strong winds, blizzards and rain storms that have slowed down the 35-year-old’s 2,500-mile journey down historic Route 66.

Yet she’s determined to make it to California as part of a fund-raiser for her brother, John Thompson, who’s battling oral cancer.

John was diagnosed two years ago. He underwent treatment and it looked like he was getting better. Then the cancer came back.

“At that point, I felt like he needs as much support as he can get to fight this,” Thompson said. “I wanted to get in the battle with him.”

So she did.

The self-employed consultant, who now lives in Chicago, decided to travel across the country on her bike and try to raise $50,000 for her brother. The goal is to help financially and collect a year’s salary for John.

“It will be quite a while before he could work,” she said. “He needs to focus on getting well instead of worrying about finances.”

Mother Joan Thompson, who has lived in Glen Ellyn for 39 years, discouraged Michelle’s idea of an extended bike ride at first.

“I was really very concerned about her being on the road alone,” she said. “It’s just amazing that she’s gone as far as she has, and at this point I’m sure she’ll finish.”

Michelle Thompson raised pledges before she left Oct. 21 and has been collecting money during her bike ride. A group of friends are working on a Web site, www.route2outsmartcancer.com, where people can get updates on Michelle’s trip and donate if they’d like.

All monetary donations go directly into a bank account for John, 48.

Thompson said the size of the donation doesn’t matter, and every bit adds up.

“Every penny helps, and our hope is that awareness of the bike-a-thon will grow so that we will have alot of people making smaller donations.” she said. “I understand that with Christmas this is a hard time of year, but anything is appreciated.”

Thompson hasn’t had much experience with bikes, but said she’s getting more confident and fit with the sport day by day.

“I knew it would be hard,” she said, “but my worst day is still better than (John’s) best day.”

In the News: KRQE TV, Albuquerque, NM

Michelle was interviewed live on KRQE TV in Albuquerque, NM, on Dec. 5. She talks about her mission, her brother, and reveals some important information you may not know about oral cancer. Click here to view the video.

Trip Update, Dec. 11

Michelle found herself in a bit of a logistical pickle last night on her way from Gallup, NM, to Chambers, AZ. As she approached the Arizona state line, she ran into the last thing she expected: yet another snow storm! Soaked and freezing, she ducked into a truck stop in Lupton, NM.

A truck-stop employee kindly offered to give Michelle a lift back to a motel in Gallup. Only problem was that earlier in the day, some nice folks had offered to take her bag ahead to a motel in Chambers. So last night, her bag was in Chambers, the bike was locked up in the truck stop in Lupton, and Michelle landed back in Gallup!

Luckily, this fluke of a snowstorm (even the truckers were caught by surprise), disappeared as fast as it appeared, and Michelle set out for Chambers again this morning in very cold temperatures, but with sunny skies ahead.

Thank you so much to everyone who has made financial contributions. Every dollar truly does make a difference.
Current total of donations received: $6,301
(+ $1,155 from Dec. 3)
Amount needed to reach goal: $43,699
# of weeks on the road: 7
States left to cycle: 2

In the News: Tucumcari, NM, Quay County Sun

TUCUMCARI QUAY COUNTY SUN, DECEMBER 2, 2006
www.qcsunonline.com

Riding for a reason

By Thomas Garcia: Quay County Sun
thomas_garcia@link.freedom.com

Michelle J. Thompson of Glen Ellyn Ill., has been traveling by bicycle since Oct. 21 on Historic Route 66 from Chicago, Ill. to Costa Mesa, Calif. Her goal is to raise money to help her brother John Thompson who is battling oral cancer for the second time in his life. Thompson had planned to stay in Tucumcari for only a day but was snowed in from Wednesday until early afternoon on Friday.

“Some of the goals I set out to accomplish on this trip are to raise money for my brother, help raise the public's awareness of oral cancer, and remind people we have to get involved with our loved ones' plight to make a difference in the fight against cancer,” said Thompson.

Thompson has been on the road for almost six weeks and has covered five states. She has traveled virtually alone without any previous cycling training. And has discovered ever-changing challenges from the weather and the terrain.

She either stays in hotels or camps out to save money as she travels. Along the way she has met people who have opened up to her with stories of their cancer survival or family members struggling with cancer. She said she was honored that people would come up to a complete stranger and share intimate details of their family's life. She said she has drawn inspiration from the stories and people she is meeting along the way. She has also met people who have helped her along the way. Whether it's a night's lodging, a meal or the time they spend visiting is appreciated by Thompson.

“So many people have helped me. I truly appreciate what they have done for me. I am a stranger, who is riding a bicycle across America and people have shown me so much generosity and compassion it's overwhelming,” she said. “When I first started this trip I had no idea what to expect. A wrong turn in Missouri led me over a mountain I was not suppose to have to climb. I saw a mountain lion prowling in a pasture, was chased by a pack of dogs in Oklahoma and hit a blizzard in New Mexico.”

Thompson's brother John was first diagnosed with oral cancer in 2005. He suffered from a tooth ache that would not go away and several trips to dentist had failed to stop the pain. John sought the help of a specialist to find a way to stop the pain but learned that the problem was far more dire. He underwent surgery to remove the cancer from his mouth and had radiation therapy in the fall of 2005 and began chemo earlier this year. He was glad to be done with treatment and return to work. But in May the cancer returned.

“I was visiting a friend in Frederick, Maryland.  While at dinner one evening and I was suddenly compelled to call my brother,” said Michelle Thompson. She knew something was wrong and "that's when he told me that the cancer was back. I knew how concerned he was and that is when it struck me that I needed to get involved as he was battling something serious."

She said the doctors have told her brother to get his affairs in order. However, her brother, she said, didn't want to give up and went to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. He underwent 10 hours of aggressive surgery, where portions of his jawbone and tongue were removed. But, after two year's off the job, he's become concerned about his financial well being as well as his health, she said.

“I wanted to help my brother. I knew that he needed to focus on fighting the cancer and getting better and not about money,” said Thompson. “John has always been the strong one. He was always helping others. When he gave me his blessings to do a fund raiser for him I knew that he truly appreciated and needed my help.”

Thompson began to formulate ways to raise money. She considered doing a walk-a-thon to raise the money. But she began to feel if she was going to raise a good amount of money she needed to cover a vast distance. She eventually decided to travel from Illinois to California by bicycle. She thought that she could receive pledges for the miles she traveled and flat donations as well. When she told her family of her plans she received skepticism and concerns about the trip.

“My parents are supportive in my decision but my dad was hoping that my mom would talk me out of it,” said Thompson. “My brother asked me if I had ever made the trip I was planning by car. He told me he had and even in a car it was a long and hard trip. He was very concerned about me doing it by way of a bicycle.”

Thompson began to research her trip with multiple sources. She contacted Lon Hadleman who ran PAC tours which took people touring along Route 66 by bicycle. Hadleman provided Thompson with an established route with state by state directions. She would travel from Glen Ellyn, Ill. starting at the house that she and John had been raised in and travel to her brother's home in Costa Mesa. “If I had not been helped with the route I might not of been able to do the trip,” said Thompson. “I felt that riding from our parents home to his was the perfect way to go.”

Thompson is hopeful to travel Route 66 and make it to California by Christmas to celebrate it with her brother and family who will be waiting for her.

About John

My brother John is the kind of guy who knows no strangers. He is quick with a joke, knows his way inside and out of a car, and is our family "go-to man" when anything breaks, whether it’s the car or the dishwasher. He is the only Thompson who knows what all the tools are called, how to use them and where to find them in his garage.

You can count on the fact he is the first one to sign up and show up, whenever any of us have needed a hand. No job is too big or small. When he and his family traveled to Chicago for our parent's 50th anniversary celebration, he went from looking at a temperamental appliance door to making centerpieces for the party. Now that's a good brother.

While growing up John was always surrounded by friends and fun. He makes every occasion memorable and typically has more than a few surprises up his sleeve. He is the kind of brother that never misses a birthday, no matter how busy life becomes or the number of miles that separate us. His philosophy in life when it comes to the barbecue: "You need to grill enough to feed the entire neighborhood and a grilling machine large enough for the job!" 

Looking through our family photo albums there are many pictures that depict John's love for life and family. I recall the Irish Jig he danced with our grandmother at our parent's 25th anniversary celebration. There are pictures at the summer county fair, just as he is about to compete in the Demolition Derby (My mom was sick with worry, hence his name for his car, "Mother's Worry"); wedding pictures with his wife Tracy and step-daughter Christina; and pictures of us fishing, looking for the illusive "Norman," the bait-eating fish yet to be reeled in! (The photos here show two of John's passions through the years: boating on Kentucky Lake and fishing anywhere he could. Click on photos to enlarge.) 

John makes a great Christmas Morning Bloody Mary and when our Uncle Bill retired the annual Santa Claus visit, John took the torch, (and I believe a Miller Lite) dressed in the suit and beard, and kept the Jolly Old Man alive for our family to enjoy.

There are two things that I think we all remember in life, our first bicycle and our first car. John gave me both.

My first bicycle was red and black with a banana seat. In giving it to me, John explained I needed a "cool bike." The pink frilly ones with the flowered baskets clearly did not qualify. So I was to ride a boy's bike. In my mind that was quite alright, since my older brother's word was "as good as gospel" to me.

There was a hitch, however. Staying vertical on two wheels. As my frustration built as a result of the inordinate amount of time (in the mind of a six year old) it was taking to learn to ride, he took me to a small incline in front of our parent's house. I was terrified. A hill! But he promised the incline would make it easier to ride the bike, swore not to let me fall, and ran beside my little machine. He was right, of course, and I was proudly pedaling around the block for the rest of the day.

For my seventeenth birthday, he became the leading contender for "Brother of the Next 30 Years to Come Award." He did something so extraordinary I assumed there was some sort of blackmail involved; that I would have to wash his car for the rest of my life or clean his house, but of course there were no strings attached. As John pulled into the driveway, after driving from his home in California to Kentucky Lake, Ky., where my parents and I were vacationing, I remember standing on the deck, completely speechless. I believe you would have been too. Imagine a brown truck pulling up the drive with a white, 1965 Mustang hitched to the back.

I remember saying to our cousin, "Omigosh. Do you think that could be for me?" We both looked at each other and screamed. It should come as no surprise, that was my all-time favorite childhood vacation.

What John didn't realize at the time, was that in giving me that beautiful car, he gave me a chance to see Europe. When an opportunity came my way to study in Rome for a college semester, the extra expense was greater than what I could earn over the summer. Selling the Mustang made that dream a reality, and John understood.  It was a difficult choice, made easier by the fact it went to a family friend who loved it as much as I did.

In return, I experienced things I had only read about in class: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, the lights of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, the awe-inspiring Colosseum, and Oktoberfest in Munich. I received a blessing from the Pope and experienced European culture. Most importantly, I met some of my dearest friends in the process. In a nutshell, and please forgive me if this sounds cliche, my brother John gave me the world.

To spend 10 minutes with my brother you would understand why this journey is so important to me. I hope with the help of the route2outsmartcancer community I can help him win the battle he faces today and honor the inspiring man he has become. I am so proud to call him my brother.

  ~Michelle Thompson, November 2006

A Cyclist's Perspective: New Mexico

Lon Haldeman and his wife Susan Notorangelo are cross-country cycling record holders and owners of PAC Tour, which provides guided cycling tours. Lon has cycled Route 66 many times, and gave Michelle maps and guidance before she left Chicago. We asked Lon what it is like to cycle through the part of New Mexico where Michelle has been this past week. Here’s what he had to say.

Tucumcari
West of Tucumcari Old Route 66 is patched together with sections of frontage road and interstate. The chip seal pavement in rough and low areas of the road typically flood during mild rains. The towns of Palomas, Montoya, Newkirk and Cuervo remind travelers of what life was like before the interstate passed them by. The “Old Cuervo Cut-Off” angles southwest 15 miles toward Santa Rosa. This is a classic forgotten section of Route 66 suitable for a mountain bike and should not be driven with the family car. Washouts and potholes provide many obstacles.

Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is a welcome sight after 55 miles of desolation. This town is being revitalized with several state or national grants to fix the roads in the downtown area. Route 66 begins to climb leaving Santa Rosa. The old road is buried under the interstate. On a bike this section is slow. Between the hills and the headwind there is plenty of time to look at the roadside trash on the interstate. The groan of passing trucks going your way contrasts with the quiet coasting of trucks coming toward you. You know you are climbing when the trucks are working up the grade.

Clines Corners
Near the summit, the crossroad gas station of Clines Corners has been a landmark for over 80 years. Here you can buy everything from rubber tomahawks to rattlesnake eggs. The weather here is usually worse than anywhere else for the next 200 miles. It can snow here from September to June. The good thing is Route 66 begins to drop into the valley near Moriarty.

Albuquerque
Nearing Albuquerque Sandia Peak stands 10,678 feet tall. The frontage road begins again and descends 15 miles through a canyon into downtown. Old 66 is Central Avenue going across the city. Albuquerque claims “America’s Longest Main Street” with more than 17 miles and 60 traffic lights to cross.

Climbing west of the Rio Grande is the dreaded “Nine Mile Hill” out of the valley. The terrain changes from the hustle and bustle of the big city to the desolate landscape of rural New Mexico. Big rolling grades of three and four miles continue into the distance. The cliffs here are beautiful red rock.

Mesita
Near the town of Mesita Route 66 begins the best 35 miles of the whole tour. The old road leaves the noise of the interstate and winds around mesas and plateaus. Landmarks such as Owl Rock and Old Laguna Pueblo are worthwhile photo stops. A few miles later Route 66 splits again with an option to take the original trail, which is basically a one-lane road. This is a perfect cycling road because few vehicles beside those driven by local ranchers ever go this way.

Grants
After traveling 80 miles from Albuquerque, Route 66 arrives in the medium-size town of Grants. Mt. Taylor looms 11,000 feet tall to the north of town.

The next 40 miles gradually climb the shallow slope of the Continental Divide. From a cycling standpoint the wind is more of a factor than the grade or elevation. Route 66 follows the north frontage road here out of sight of the interstate most of the time. The Continental Divide summit is 7,275 feet. The 12-mile downhill combines with the interstate. Unfortunately, the shoulder of the big highway is not good for cycling here. The final 14 miles into the town of Gallup are back on Old 66 again.

Gallup
Gallup is a classic town with more to offer than Grants. The El Rancho Hotel is the best place to stay in town. All the rooms are named after '30s, '40s, and '50s movie stars who stayed there while making Western films in the area.

The final miles of New Mexico are on the old highway. Route 66 bends and crosses the interstate several times in the next 25 miles. The cliffs and scenery again make this a great bike riding area. You will not see another traffic light for another 100 miles until Holbrook, AZ. The varied terrain in New Mexico and Arizona make this area some of the most scenic of all Route 66.
--Lon Haldeman, PAC Tour

Trip Update, Dec. 8

Michelle's starting point today was Grants, NM, and she is shooting for Gallup, NM, 65 miles away. Her starting odometer reading was 1,605 miles. The expected high temperature is 45 and the low is 12. Grants was the location of Michelle's second flat, which she changed by herself. (She has the grease to prove it!) Today is a banner day because Michelle will cross the Continental Divide in Thoreau, NM, at 7,275 feet!

Trip Update, Dec. 3

Current odometer reading: 1,444 miles
Current total of donations received: $5,146
Amount needed to reach goal: $44,854
# of weeks on the road: 6
States left to cycle: 3

Michelle will arrive in Albuquerque, NM, today or tomorrow. This leg of the journey is proving to be the most challenging so far, with temperatures hovering in the teens and 20s, and long stretches of desolate and sometimes icy road. Right after the roads were cleared following a snowstorm in Tucumcari, NM, Michelle successfully tackled a 60-mile sprint into no-man's land to the next stop at Santa Rosa, NM. The dreaded "Nine-Mile Hill" outside of Albuquerque and the mountains of Flagstaff still await!

Michelle continues to be thrilled and amazed at the new friends she has met along Route 66 who have opened their hearts and homes to her, offering lodging, meals, donations and moral support.

Highlights of the last two weeks:(Oklahoma border to Albuquerque, NM)

~As Michelle entered Oklahoma at twilight, new friends Ron and Coleen Yockey drove 30 miles from their home on Monkey Island so she wouldn’t have to cycle the dark and windy road into Afton alone. After treating Michelle to a great dinner and stories of Ron’s travels along Route 66, they spoiled her with her own private guest house. The next day Ron and Coleen kindly drove Michelle 30 miles back to where they picked her up, and she set out on the road again. (Michelle has a strict rule: For safety reasons, occasionally she will accept a ride, but only if she is returned to the exact spot where she was picked up. No cheating allowed!)(Ron and Coleen in front of their guest house. Click all photos to enlarge.)

~In Arcadia, OK, Michelle met Jim Ross, author of several books and maps on Route 66. Jim knows Route 66 like the back of his hand, and provides Michelle with daily route assistance.
(Route 66 photograher Shellee Graham and author Jim Ross.)

~After battling 50-mile winds in Weatherford, OK, Michelle was relieved to see her long-time friend and route2outmartcancer posse member Traci Bidinger. Traci flew in from Maryland to lend a hand, and drove 14 mph for hours on dark country roads so that Michelle could reach the Texas border.

By the end of the second day of Traci’s visit, somehow the Mustang rental car was smashed to smithereens (No injuries; Traci blames it on the blind spot!), and Mustang Sally was relegated to a mini van shipped in from Oklahoma City. In another first of this journey, Michelle’s bag got a ride in a police car. (Below: Bob gets a ride)

~After maneuvering the hills of Texas with broken gears on the bike (yes, there are hills in Texas!) Michelle landed in a giant rest stop in Groom, TX. As she looked for a place on the grass to pitch her tent, she ran into a “Watch for snakes” sign that made her rethink this strategy! A firm avoider of anything creepy, crawly or slithering, Michelle pitched her tent on the concrete as close to the front door as she could get!

~In Groom, TX, Michelle had her first flat on the bob. She discovered that the bike pump wouldn’t work on the bob, but Ron, a rest stop worker, helped her change the tire and Tony, from the Texas Department of Transportation, filled it with air. (What is the bob? The bob, formally known as Yak Bob, is the trailer that Michelle has hitched to her bike.)

~As Michelle was assessing the gear situation in a campground outside of Amarillo, the calvary arrived in the form of a stretch limo (complete with longhorns), dispatched by Becky Ransom at the Big Texan! Michelle, the bike and the bob were whisked to the hotel to regroup—and find a bike store.

(Above Left: Ron, finest cowboy in Texas, drove Michelle and the bob to the hotel. Left: Becky Ransom and the Big Texan Band.)


~After walking nine miles to the Amarillo airport on Thanksgiving morning, Michelle got a lift the last half mile by Southwest Airlines employee Gene Jolly who happened to be working Michelle’s flight. Gene arranged for an announcement on the flight about Michelle’s mission. (Gene Jolly and Michelle at the airport.)

~Michelle flew to Costa Mesa, CA, to surprise her brother John on Thanksgiving and present him with a big Texan hat!

~On Nov. 29, as Michelle waited out a snowstorm in Tucumcari, NM, she received news that John’s fifth surgery was a success! In a six-hour surgery, doctors successfully removed a tumor and infection in his cheekbone.

Trip Update, Dec. 1

The weatherman didn't lie. Snow in New Mexico closed roads this week and sent all Route 66 travelers scrambling for cover. Michelle was forced to hunker down for three days in a motel, but she's on the road again (in 20-degree temperatures!), headed toward Albuquerque.

Trip Update, Nov. 28

Michelle hit the midpoint of her trip a few days ago in Adrian, TX, (Thanks, Fran!) and is making her way toward Albuquerque, NM. That's almost 5 states and more than 1,200 miles down! Weather permitting (tomorrow's forecast calls for snow), Michelle hopes to make Albuquerque, NM, by this weekend.

In the News: Oklahoma City Oklahoman

OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMAN, NOVEMBER 21, 2006
www.newsok.com

Sister bikes Route 66 for her brother

By Ann DeFrange
Staff Writer

Michelle Thompson came through Oklahoma last week. She was riding a bicycle down Route 66, going from Chicago to L.A., like the song says; and at almost every gas station she talked to somebody about cancer. Just west of Weatherford, she logged her first 1,000 miles.

Getting a mental picture? Forget it.

Michelle Thompson is no cyclist and no athletic contender. She's a 35-year-old business woman. She isn't a Route 66 devotee; that just seemed the straightest line from point to point as winter weather lurked down the road and the road rose higher through the mountains — and she doesn't have cancer.

Her brother does. Her older brother John lives in California, where he copes with oral cancer, which has made eating and talking almost impossible, and which has become an expensive burden.

He was the brother who helped her get her first car and who always took care of other people. So Michelle and the other three siblings talked a lot about what to do to help John. When they had talked too long without coming up with an action, Michelle took a leave of absence and bought a bicycle. In October, she put her feet on the pedals and glided west.

Hooked to the back wheel of her Fuji bicycle is a light, one-wheeled trailer, called a bob; it carries a duffel bag, a tent and Michelle's gear. Like the wagon trains that crossed the prairies, she has disposed of baggage along the way; she has even traded economy-size toothpaste tubes for lighter, travel sizes. The concept of "bare minimum" has been renegotiated several times, she said.

It hasn't been easy, she said. "As hard as it is, it isn't meant to be a vacation. ... My worst day out here is better than his best."

At the beginning, "I didn't know if I would make it out of Illinois." She started out anyway. The six-week itinerary will probably be seven now, she said. But she will be in California to spend Christmas with her brother's family, and to sit back and assess what her adventure accomplished.

The good part is the acquaintances she makes along Route 66. It's a community, she's found. A lone woman on a bike with a funny little trailer is "pretty ostentatious," she said, and people don't mind asking questions. She doesn't mind answering them. Many are cancer survivors or families of cancer patients; they tell her their stories and they make pledges to her campaign and they promise to pray for John. She gets to talk about oral cancer, a generally unfamiliar topic.

"It's such a devastating cancer," she said, discovered most often in the dentist's office. Early detection can affect cures. Therefore, she can't pass up any opportunity to talk about it.

It's important she attract attention. She needs to educate people, needs to ask for donations for John's treatment, needs to set up local screenings for oral cancer. The Oral Cancer Foundation in California ignored her until she proved she was a serious activist, she said; now they're working with her. Her fund-raising goal is $50,000, a sum she figures will support her brother's family for one year.

Before she left Chicago, she created an e-mail network of girlfriends across the country. The "route posse" maintains her Web page, which includes a blog; occasionally one will meet her along the way for brief support and company.

Her Web site is www.route2outsmartcancer.com.

It's not so remarkable that Michelle Thompson is pedaling across the continent; others have done that. It's not novel to report on the fund-raising she's done for cancer patients, no matter whose brothers they are. But we rarely meet someone who acts on principles and selects the most effective process, even though it's not the most comfortable fit for her. It's good to meet a woman who sets her sights in the direction of a brother who needs her and pedals until she reaches him. It will be seven weeks that changes her life — maybe his, as well.

"I'm amazed I made it this far," she said.

Beginning the Journey, Oct. 21

Michelle left her parents' house in Glen Ellyn, IL, on October 21, 2006, with the goal of cycling approximately 2,400 miles to her brother John's home in Costa Mesa, CA.

Many thanks go out to everyone who has wished Michelle well on her journey. She is truly grateful for every single warm wish, thought, prayer and financial pledge. In fact, she is speechless at the incredible kindness of strangers.

Trip Update, Nov. 16

Michelle hit a major milestone today!
Odometer reading: 1,000 miles near Weatherford, OK

(Actual dates of this Trip Update are Nov. 7-Nov. 12:
Lebanon, MO, to Claremore, OK)
We pick up our story on Nov. 7 (we’ll try to do better keeping up) at the Munger Moss in Lebanon, MO. Michelle had the good fortune to meet Ramona and Bob, and as they say … they told somebody (Route 66 preservationist Jim Conkle) and he told a lot of great somebodies (Rod Harsh, Ron and Coleen Yockey, and Ron Jones to name a few.)

Before she knew it, the word was out: Michelle had an instant community of 66er friends. To her delight and sincere appreciation, it has been that way ever since. (Our next trip update will be all about friends of this mission.)

On Nov. 10, Michelle only racked up 30 miles, but she hit a record of three states in one day, cruising through Missouri, Kansas and into Oklahoma.

Best place to stay in Missouri when you’re in a bind: Fire station (We don’t endorse pestering safety officials, but thank you, chief!)

Favorite Route 66 landmark in Kansas: Eisler Bros. Old Riverton Store. Michelle had the “best bologna sandwich ever” here, and Scott sang a full rendition of “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.”

Route 66 “faithful” met on this leg of the journey:
~Jim Conkle, Route 66 preservationist and general manager of The Route 66 Pulse. Michelle met Jim by chance at the Munger Moss. He bought Michelle “the best hot chocolate ever,” pulled out his BlackBerry and hooked her up with countless new friends along the route.
~Bob Waldmire, a traveling artist for 37 years and Route 66 map artist extraordinaire, who graciously allowed the use of his cool Route 66 map on the homepage of this website. Michelle just happened to meet Bob at Eisler Bros., where he gave her a hug and some oatmeal cookies!
~Ron Jones, “tattoo man” of Route 66. (Ron has 48 tattoos of Route 66 landmarks all over his body! Photos to come.)

Up next: Claremore, OK, to Weatherford, OK, and more friends along the way.

Trip Update, Nov. 14

Michelle's current odometer reading: 902 miles
More updates to come very soon!

Trip Update, Nov. 7

Election Day and ... Michelle is definitely winning her race in the Ozark foothills. (We're staying apolitical in this forum!) Besides chilly weather and a few loose screws on the bike, the adrenaline is still pumping and the hills will soon be a distant memory.

# of days spent cycling in the freezing rain: 1

# of days spent hiding out from the freezing rain: 1 (a girl's gotta get some R&R!)

Favorite Route 66 landmark in Missouri: Historic Munger Moss Hotel in Lebanon. (Thanks, Ramona and Bob!) Nostalgia buffs, check out their website. It's full of cool Route 66 legend and lore. (Click on photo to enlarge. This is Michelle with Munger Moss Hotel owners Ramona and Bob.)

# of campers it took to build a really big fire for a weary cyclist: 4

# of wipe-outs as a grand entrance to the campground: 1 doozy (We're blaming this one on the bob.)

What is the bob? Formally known as Yak Bob, the bob is the trailer Michelle has hitched to her bike. Michelle has a love-hate relationship with the bob.

Trip Update, Nov. 5

Ah, the Show Me state, land of the Ozark foothills and the pleasure that comes from trying to ride your bike vertically. To put it in perspective:

Elevation of Springfield, IL: 600 ft.
Elevation of Springfield, MO: 1,310 ft.

Michelle is intrepidly tackling the mountains, and she insists she would choose the hills of Missouri over the wind of Illinois.

# of miles ridden today in the rain: 55 (more than 500 miles to date)

# of jamborees attended: 1 (The hills are alive with the sound of bluegrass music!)

Best place to stay if you can't make it to a motel: Campground laundry room. It's quite warm in between the washer and dryer (and, as Michelle points out, "Hey, a load laundry is only 50 cents.")

Trip Update, Nov. 1

Hello, Missouri!

Leaving the Land of Lincoln never felt this sweet before. With sunglasses held together with electrical tape (don't ask), Michelle cut a dashing figure trimphantly peddling under the St. Louis arch. She is closing in on 300 miles, and that is all that matters!

Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions.

What kind of bike is Michelle riding? A Fuji Touring bike.

Has she had any accidents? No, but she's been run off the road twice by motorists. Oh, and she took a tiny topple in a motel parking lot, but we think that was more related to joy (and the promise of a comfy bed) than anything else.

How is she feeling? Pretty darn good for someone who didn't train. Her cyclist friends told her the first week would be the worst and she would have to agree. Ouch. For a while there, everything hurt. But yesterday she put in 75 miles. More on this later ... she still has seven states to go!

What has been her craziest experience so far? Every day holds a new adventure, that's for sure. But this ranks right up there: Response of one motel owner when Michelle asked for a discount on a room with a leaky toilet: "This is not a full-service hotel ... now get out!" (Now that's what we call hospitality.)

In the News: Bloomington, IL Pantagraph

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH, OCTOBER 25, 2006
www.pantagraph.com

Cyclist hopes to raise awareness of oral cancer 

By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON -- Not even Michelle Thompson’s brother can accuse her of being “prissy” anymore.

To avoid that label, John Thompson taught his little sister to ride a boy’s bicycle when they were kids.

This week, the 35-year-old Chicago woman started a bike ride on Old Route 66 that will take her nearly 2,500 miles from their parent’s home in Glen Ellyn to Costa Mesa, Calif., where her brother, 48, is undergoing treatment for oral cancer.

Her goal is to raise awareness about oral and pharyngeal cancers, which claim 8,000 lives a year. About 30,000 are diagnosed annually. She also hopes to raise $50,000 to help his family. She expects her trip, which is taking her through Central Illinois, to take at least six weeks.

“I’m not a cyclist; that’s the irony here,” said the spunky self-employed manufacturing consultant who was awaiting word on her brother’s third surgery Wednesday. “My odometer reads 150. That’s the only miles I’ve put on a bike in two years.”

The cross-country trek came about when she saw how cancer affected every aspect of her brother’s life after he was diagnosed last year. His first round of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation didn’t halt the cancer’s progress.

He underwent a second surgery which led to the loss of parts of his palate, tongue and jawbone. The latest surgery was to open his esophagus to make it easier for him to eat and drink.

“It’s a health issue. It’s a financial issue. It’s a social issue. He is relearning how to talk,” she said. “On a personal level, I want to help him fight this. I couldn’t sell enough brownies to make a difference so I decided on the bike-a-thon.”

She bought a touring bike, a trailer to haul her camping gear and all the clothes and accessories with help from Performance Bicycle, a Chicago-area cycling outlet at www.performancebike.com. A mechanic there showed her how to change a flat.

She launched Route2outsmartcancer.com to help spread the word about cancers like her brother’s and to point people toward the Oral Cancer Foundation, she said.

She hopes others will have a checkup. Early diagnosis is the key, she said.

“If it’s caught early, the cure rate is high,” she said.

How to help
Donations to Route2outsmartcancer.com can be made online or by writing:
P.O. Box 142, Glen Ellyn, IL 60138

Copyright © 2006, Pantagraph Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

READER COMMENTS ON ARTICLE:

lostabftocancer wrote on October 26, 2006 12:05 PM: "It is a wonderful thing that you are doing for your brother and his family. My many prayers will be sent to them. Pantagraph did do a good thing to let people around here know what is taking place and to help the family. Safe riding and hope that the weather is on your side. You will be greatly rewarded."

JimmyTheBuddha wrote on October 26, 2006 9:43 AM: "Good for you, Miss Thompson. And kudos to the Pantagraph for plugging her website. It sounds like it's going to be a beautiful ride."

Trip Update, Oct 30

# of states covered: 1 (well, almost!) Illinois is almost history. Michelle is approaching the Show Me State.

Favorite songs to sing while biking so far: Gambler, Proud Mary, Friend of the Devil and the occasional “Cats” show tune. (What can we say, cycling seems to have messed with her mind! When she left Chicago she was a Dave Matthews fan … we think this is a temporary setback. )

# of farmers it took to duct-tape a light on her bike: 1

# of very cold nights spent camping with a broken zipper on her sleeping bag: 1

# of Wisconsin tourists it took to fix the zipper on her sleeping bag: 2 (Yay!)

# of McDonald’s apple pies donated by well wishers: 2

Record # of financial pledges in a single pit stop: Casey’s General Store in Williamsville, IL, where store employees and customers pledged $65. Wow!

Biggest hindrance to progress: The wind!

Acts of kindness from strangers: Too numerous to mention.

Besides the 8 or so bruises, including the pesky one on her ankle that appears permanent, Michelle is doing quite well! Is she tired at the end of the day? No doubt. But she is building stamina with each passing day.

And now … It’s on to Missouri!

In the News: Pontiac, IL Daily Leader

PONTIAC DAILY LEADER, OCTOBER 26, 2006

Cyclist riding to California to raise money

By John Holaway/Staff Reporter

Thanks to the gestures of a local good samaritan, bicyclist Michelle Thompson's stay in Pontiac earlier this week was a little bit warmer than it would have been.

Thompson is bicycling along Old Route 66 from Glen Ellyn, a Chicago suburb, to Costa Mesa, California, to raise money for her brother's cancer treatment. On Monday she reached Pontiac and stopped at the Marathon gas station, 922 W. Custer Ave., to pick up some goods before her planned overnight stay at the Livingston County 4-H Park.

The 35-year-old Chicagoan never made it to the park because Pontiac resident Brenda Fellers happened upon her at the station and insisted she stay with her and her family for the night.

Michelle Thompson stands with her bike before departing from the home of Tim Rork and Brenda Fellers earlier this week. Thompson is on a 2,400-mile journey to California raising money for her brother's cancer treatment costs. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

"I just saw her at the gas station and begged her to come back and stay at home with us," said Fellers. "I wasn't going to let her stay out there in the cold when she has such a big trip ahead of her. I wanted her to get a warm shower and stay in some heat."

Thompson accepted and an instant friendship was formed. Fellers treated her to a meal, shower and a good night's sleep before Thompson's emotional departure the following morning.

"They've done so much for me," said Thompson of Fellers and Tim Rork, who live at 67 American Ave. in Redwood Manor. "I can't describe how much this means to me. They were so kind and inviting ... I'm speechless."

Fellers promised to keep in touch with Thompson before wishing her luck.

"She's such a great person and very brave to be out doing this," said Fellers. "The least I could do was give her a place to stay. I wish her the best of luck and hope that her brother, John, is OK."

Thompson began her 2,400-mile journey last week and is expecting to reach her brother's home in Costa Mesa in approximately six or seven weeks. What makes this trip even more challenging is the fact that she is an unseasoned bicyclist going about it alone.

About Oral Cancer

~30,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year.

~It will cause more than 8,000 deaths, killing roughly one person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 30,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only half will be alive in five years.

~The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkins disease, cancer of the brain, testes, kidney, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma.)

~The death rate associated with oral cancer is particularly high due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development. Often is is discovered when the cancer has metastasized to another location, most likely the lymph nodes of the neck.

~Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because it has a high risk of producing second, primary tumors.

Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation

For more information on oral cancer, visit The Oral Cancer Foundation at www.oralcancerfoundation.org.