UConn coach riding to fight cancer

Updated: Saturday, 09 Jun 2012, 7:15 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 09 Jun 2012, 11:39 AM EDT

SIMSBURY, Conn. (AP / WTNH) — Several hundred bicycle riders and walkers are joining Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun in Simsbury for his annual charity ride to benefit cancer research.

Calhoun understands the fight, being a prostate cancer survivor.

"Your mindset has a lot to do with your success," says Calhoun. "Does it change your blood cells, does it change to organisms? No, not necessarily."

Like coach says, everybody knows someone who has has battled cancer.

We spoke with one bike rider who's riding for someone very special, his father.

"When I'm about to say, you know what, I'm either going to walk or just throw in the towel, or whatever, I just think, why am I here? That thought, that motivation says keep going. So you know, don't give up," says biker Robert Cook.

His father James Cook Sr. fought cancer, but died two years ago.

"With the hills on the 75 mile route," I'm definitely going to need him pushing me up.))

"One of these dimes, one of these dollars, one of these five dollar bills is going to find something that's going to help eradicate this disease and make it nothing more than a regular disease," said Calhoun.

Saturday's event benefits The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center and Coaches vs. Cancer, a program established in 1993 by the American Cancer Society.

This year's ride is dedicated to the memory of RuthAnn Lobo, who died a year ago after battling breast cancer. She was the mother of former UConn women's basketball star Rebecca Lobo, who will be participating in the event's 5K walk.

The event also includes bicycle rides of 10, 25, 50 and 75 miles.

Calhoun fell off his bicycle during the 2009 event and broke several ribs, but finished the ride.