SEARSMONT — Children’s Cancer — well, cancer in general — just plain sucks and in its own way is a challenge.  

But one Waldo County resident accepted a different type of challenge. A challenge to work towards helping children beat cancer. 

For the entire month of June, John Strassenreiter participated in the Great Cycle Challenge that is held every June where riders cycle for 30 days, or the entire month, for children’s cancer.  

Strassenreiter concluded the challenge ranked as the top-fundraiser in Maine and 125th in the nation.

In total, Strassenreiter rode 377.1 miles to fight kids’ cancer and as of publishing, raised $1,617.53 for the cause.

When Strassenreiter announced Apr. 13 he was doing the ride, he wrote he was doing it to fight kids’ cancer because “right now, cancer is the largest killer of children from disease in the U.S. and on average, 36 children die from cancer every week. So I am raising funds to help these kids and support Children's Cancer Research Fund to allow them to continue their work to develop lifesaving treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.”

He also noted that he knows firsthand about children fighting cancer since his niece Kelly battled kidney cancer when she was “a little girl”. He also notes in a blog post that he himself beat cancer twice. On his challenge page, he noted he rode for Kelly Rogers and Ashylne’s Army. 

DAILY RIDES

The first week of the challenge began with a 10 mile ride around Searsmont on Monday, June 1 and was followed up by a 12 mile ride around Searsmont on June 2, a 10 mile ride from Route 173 in Liberty to the Searsmont Cemetery June 3, an eight mile ride around Searsmont June 4, an eight mile ride around Searsmont June 5 and a 13 mile ride from the Green Thumb Nursery to the Rockland Lighthouse June 6.

The second week of the challenge included an 11 mile ride from Church Street to High Street in Belfast June 7, a 10 mile ride around Belfast from Route 1 to Hannaford's June 8, a nine mile ride from Moose Point State Park in Searsport to the Steamboat Landing in Belfast June 9, a 13 mile ride on the "back", or "country", roads of Belfast June 10, an 11 mile ride around Belfast from Route 1 to Penboscot Bay June 11, a 10 mile ride around Belfast from Route 1 to Crooker Road June 12 and an eight mile ride June 13 in Belfast from Route 1 South to Wasses Hot Dogs and Reny's.

The third week of the challenge included an eight mile ride from Belmont to Searsmont that began at Back Belmont Road and ended at Fraternity Village General Store June 14, a 16 mile ride from Fraternity Village General Store in Searsmont to Morrill June 15, a seven mile ride around Belfast from Waldo Avenue to City Park June 16, a 13 mile ride in North Searsmont from Pond Road to Fraternity Village General Store, an 11 mile ride in Belfast from Route 1 to Steamboat Landing June 18, a 14 mile ride from Belmont Corners to Liberty June 19 and a six mile ride from the WTC Memorial to LL Bean in Freeport June 20.

The fourth week of the challenege included a six mile ride in Portland along the waterfront to Shipyard Brewery June 21, a 33.1 mile ride around Old Westbury and Long Beach Boardwalk June 22, an 8.2 mile ride around Old Westbury and a 15.3 mile ride from Oceanside Park to Peter's Clam Bar June 23, a 10.1 mile ride and a 10.4 mile ride around Cherry Land, Carle Place and Eisenhower Park June 24, a seven mile ride from Harvard Street to Cherry Lane June 25, a 16 mile ride from Pond Road in Searsmont to New England Road in Morrill June 26 and a six mile ride around Quantabacook Lake June 27.

The final week of the challenge included a 10 mile ride around Quantabacook Lake June 28, a 13.3 mile ride from New England Road in Searsmont to Pond Road in Morrill and a 5.5 mile ride from Appleton Ridge to the Appletown Town Office June 29 and 10.1 miles from Route 1 South to LL Bean, as well as 16.3 miles from Ames School to Fraternity Village General Store June 30. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To read some of John’s thoughts he had while riding, click here. 

To learn more about the Great Cycle Challenge that is held every June, click here. 

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.