Former Clarkston resident and CHS graduate Bobby Curtis was leaving his gym in Portland, Oregon when he noticed a brochure for the Livestrong Challenge being held in Portland.
Curtis opened the flyer to find a picture of his friend Nick inside. Nick had came out to volunteer at the event the year before. Nick, who was battling cancer, had a sign pinned on his shirt which read, ‘I am survivor Nick.?
Nick passed away on May 26 and seeing the pamphlet touched Curtis.
‘He was giving someone a hug, probably a new friend and advocate,? Curtis said, in a letter he sent to friends and family. ‘As I looked at these pictures my heart was pounding and I began to cry right there.?
Curtis decided he was going to participate in the Livestrong Challenge, which is designed to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
‘When (Nick) was here last year, he spent the weekend volunteering, and encouraging people as they biked to raise money for something he believed in,? Curtis said. ‘When I saw him that weekend, he told me how people were amazed that he flew out here just to volunteer for the event, but it was important and he knew how much it mattered.?
Curtis decided he was going to do the 70-mile bike ride and completed the ride on July 30. Curtis said the trek was difficult because he had never rode a bike for that long, but he never considered stopping.
‘I was just going to keep pedaling,? Curtis said. ‘The only thing stopping me was me falling over dead. It might take me 15 hours but I’ll get there. It was mentally and physically challenging but I was up for it.
‘It’s amazing what you can accomplishment. Riding 70 miles, anybody could do it. People with cancer face the real challenge. When somebody wakes up and faces cancer everyday, that’s a challenge. Riding my bike 70 miles today, that’s nothing compared to facing all challenges with having cancer.?
Curtis made his goal to raise $5,000 for the event.
He raised over $3,200 before he took part in the event on July 30 and hopes to meet his goal by September 1. People can still make donations by going to www.livestrongchallenge.org/06OR/bobbyc or calling 1-888-4CHALLENGE.
Curtis said he hopes raising money will help continue what Nick was trying to do.
‘He wanted to make a difference and he sort of didn’t get as much opportunity as he wanted,? Curtis said. ‘He wanted to do more. For somebody to pick up where he left off would make him very happy. He made an impact and to carry that on makes me make more of an impact. He was always thinking of other people and always wanted to do things for other people. To continue that would make him proud.?
During the ride, Curtis said he was glad to get time to know some of the other participants and share his story with them.
‘Everyone had story to share,? Curtis said. ‘There were people there with incredible stories. I got to share my story and people were sort of blown away that Nick had made such an impact to make the centerfold of the brochure. Thousands of people volunteer and he had the kind of affect that he showed up on brochure. People were inspired by that. The stories and people are what keep you going and make you realize why you are there.?