To support cancer survivors, some ride 100 miles

WESTPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- A ride to help support cancer took place and some of the participants are cancer survivors.

More than $1 million has been raised by this event and it is all to support cancer survivors.

Jeffrey Keith lost his leg to bone cancer at age 12, but he is living proof that survivors can live a long and active life.

"A lot of the kids I was taking chemotherapy with didn't make it and I always said I would never forget those kids who didn't get to live their life," said Keith, Co-Founder of the CT Challenge.

So, in 2005, he started the CT Challenge, now in it's eighth year. It has turned into a huge event with 1,100 riders from ages 7 to 75. Some will ride as far as 100 miles.

"We have some people doing the 100-mile who are cancer survivors," explains Keith.

It's those survivors that make the event so powerful. The Lap of honor is where they are recognized.

"Just having this camaraderie and the way it's done, it's such a wonderful event," said Carolyn Taylor, a cancer survivor. "Everyone is in such great spirits."

The CT challenge also helped fund a "Center for Survivorship," the only one in the country. It will be opening in September offering exercise, nutrition, and other resources.

"The one thing we hear from survivors a lot is that they do not want to go back to the hospital setting where they've been treated," said Tamara Deyle, Program Director of the Center for Survivorship. "They've moved on and want to move forward."

Tamara Deyle knew immediately she would be the perfect fit as the program director. She has a background in exercise physiology and her mother is a survivor.

"I'm just so blessed to be here and when I rode last year, people are riding by me saying, 'Yes, survivor.' I never really thought of myself as a survivor, but I am," said Betsy Payn, cancer survivor.

As they all take off for a non-competitive bike ride, they'll have time to think how much their support is appreciated.

"Today there are over 13 million cancer survivors and that is growing to 20 million by 2020," explained Keith. "That's the good news and we're there to help those survivors."