USU frisbee coach biking for a cure
In 2002, Harold Ikerd took up fixed-gear bike riding as a way to make commuting into a slight workout, while making his commute more fun at the same time.
“I’ve never gotten out of my truck and said, ‘Wow, what a ride,'” he said. “After four years, I’m still saying it about the fixed gear.”
Now, four years later Рstarting on June 17 and for the next 28 days, Ikerd and a handful of other fixed-gear bike riders will make their way from Davis, Calif., to Boston, Mass., on fixed-gear bicycles. He said they will eat at caf̩s or wherever food is provided along the way and sleep in high schools, elementary schools, recreation centers and the occasional motel, after riding an average of 120 miles every day.
This ride, called the “Big Fix,” is being sponsored by the Histiocytosis Association of America (HAA). Twenty-seven riders will be riding for at least a part of the distance in an effort to raise money and awareness about histiocytosis, a rare blood disease that mostly affects children under the age of 10, Ikerd said.
Ikerd, who is the coach of the Ultimate Frisbee club at Utah State University, said he got involved with the ride because of his involvement with the fixed-gear bike community. Fixed-gear bikes, he said, are single-speed bikes with only one gear. As long as the wheels on the bike are moving, the pedals are moving, making it impossible to coast. This makes it more challenging, but it’s worth the effort.
“It’s more work that’s fun,” he said.
After taking up fixed-gear bike riding, he said he found that finding parts could be difficult. So he said he started talking to people on the Internet, meeting other fixed-bike enthusiasts and getting tips and tricks for “fixie” riding through that avenue. It was also through these Internet contacts that he said he learned about the Big Fix.
Ikerd said the Big Fix was started by Michael Cosgrove, a fixed-gear bike rider whose daughter was diagnosed with histiocytosis in 2004. Histiocytosis is extremely rare, affecting approximately one in 200,000 children born each year in the United States. There are only about 200 doctors and scientists in the world who are doing research, and the cause, cure and best treatments are still unknown, Ikerd said.
The disease is caused by an excess of white blood cells which cluster and can attack the skin, bones and other organs. It acts kind of like lupus or leukemia, Ikerd said. Currently, histiocytosis patients are treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and steroids, but some cases don’t respond to treatment, Ikerd said. Cosgrove’s daughter Dakota is currently in remission from the disease, but, according to his bio on the Big Fix Web site, he wanted to help others who are coping with histiocytosis. Cosgrove began doing smaller rides in California to raise money and awareness, Ikerd said, and the Big Fix grew out of these smaller rides. The ride is an effort to raise funds, but also to educate the public about histiocytosis, his site stated.
Ikerd learned about the ride in October of 2005, he said, and decided to get involved.
“Histiocytosis just really hit a lot of cords for me,” he said. “I wanted to do a cross-country trip anyway, and this disease hit home.
In spite of his enthusiasm for the ride, Ikerd acknowledges the challenge involved. “It’s going to be very arduous – I wonder if I’m going to be able to do it.
The challenge of the ride is part of the point. The struggle to ride a bike, since it is impossible to coast over mountains and across the country, is meant to mirror the struggle histiocytosis patients and their families face, he said.
Since getting involved, Ikerd said he has learned of two children in Logan who have been diagnosed with histiocytosis. Both children, a 13-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, are currently doing well, he said.
As a rider, Ikerd said he is committed to raising funds for the HAA. His goal for the Cache Valley area is $10,000. His first weekend of fundraising, he said he raised $2,000, but “it’s been slower since then.”
As part of his fundraising efforts, Ikerd will be holding a raffle in Logan starting March 2. The raffle will last until there are 250 entries. Various businesses in Logan such as Firehouse and Al’s Sporting Goods have donated food and services as prizes that can be won with a $25 donation.
All money goes directly to the HAA to fund research and education.
“If everyone dug in the bottom of their cars, we could come up with two or three bucks,” Ikerd said. “I’m not asking a lot from any one person. Every little thing helps.”
The route of the ride takes it through southern Utah, with stops in the cities of Tropic, Hanksville and Blanding. Ikerd said he would love to see a benefit concert organized at one of these stops that could raise further money.
Still, Ikerd said, it isn’t just about money. “For every person you see on the [Big Fix] Web site, I’ve had 10 refusals. But they know about it now. If I don’t raise the money, at least I’ve raised awareness.”
Those wishing to get involved can visit the Big Fix Web site at fixhistio.org, or stop by Ikerd’s booth outside Café Ibis and the TSC March 2, or inside the TSC March 6.
-dmaxfield@cc.usu.edu