page 2 kitsapweek Friday, September 14, 2012
Taking his message on the road
Illinois cyclist passes through Kitsap on a ride to raise money for three causes MEGAN STEPHENSON Kitsap Week
B
ob Lee says he hasn’t met a bad person in more than 10,000 miles. “I think the more we can practice doing random acts [of kindness], the richer our lives will be and the better the world will be,” Lee said on the first blustery day in September. Lee recently began his third bike ride for charity, called Ride for 3 Reasons, passing through the north end of Kitsap on his way south to Mexico. Ride for 3 Reasons raises money for the American Cancer Society, Les Turner ALS Foundation and National Hospice Organization, and Lee hopes to hit $1 million raised. The 70-year-old Illinois man will bike the nearly 1,500 miles in about seven weeks, completing 12,000 total miles around the perimeter of the U.S. in 11
to me. I was a workayears. He started Sept. 5 holic at the time,” Lee in Vancouver, B.C., reachsaid. He worked for ing Poulsbo Sept. 9. International “If we all asked Harvester in what could we Illinois for years, do, it’s going to Cover and ran a few make a differStory small businessence,” Lee said, es. “[Schwartz’s] calling the Rides message about givfor 3 Reasons the ing back, paying back, “best thing to happen hit a chord.” in my life.” Lee became involved At age 57, Lee was in the Les Turner ALS inspired to not only conFoundation, and he heard tribute to charity, but to of another man who was start his own. He said he biking the perimeter of remembers watching the Ted Koppel interview with the U.S. for ALS research and awareness. When he Morrie Schwartz, a proheard a friend of his had fessor dying of ALS, also been diagnosed with ALS known as Lou Gehrig’s — a friend to whom he disease. had just loaned “Tuesdays Lee read the book, with Morrie” — some“Tuesdays with Morrie,” thing clicked. listened to it on tape, “That could be me, that watched the movie and could be you,” Lee said. “If the play. Schwartz often I hadn’t been connected commented to Mitch to that book, I might have Albom — his student and thought, ‘Oh, that’s too author of “Tuesdays” — bad,’ and go on with life. that there is more to life But, because I did know than a career. what a dreadful disease it “That really spoke
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Bob Lee rode his bicycle 6,500 miles in 2007 to call attention to, and raise money for, ALS and cancer research and hospice services. Courtesy Bob Lee is, I thought, ‘What could I do?’ ” By biking around the country, he hopes to connect people with his message. “This isn’t about a bike ride, it’s about the three reasons. The bike is just a tool,” Lee said. “I’m not a bike rider, I’m a peddler, and I’m peddling a mes-
sage … There are many people that can’t [ride]. I can be their arms and legs and voice.” At age 59, Lee rode his bike the first leg from San Diego to St. Augustine, Fla., raising $86,000 for ALS and the National Hospice Organization (his mother was cared for by a hospice).
In the beginning, it was awkward asking people for money, Lee said. There was no Facebook, no blog, no way to update his donors while on the road. As a way to reach more donors and spread his message, Lee has been keeping up with technology — which keeps him See rIDe, Page 3