You have to wonder!

There are so many "connections" in this year's Great Cycle between me and Niko.

1. I saw a story about Niko's cancer battle in a Eagle Scout Facebook Group. (I am an Eagle Scout).

2. Niko's Eagle Scout project was collecting LEGO sets to give to patients at the Children's Hospital were he had been treated. (I collect Pez dispenser's and this year's giveaway at a Pez convention was a LEGO inspired dispenser.)

3. Only 4% of all scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. (Only 4% of all federal cancer research funding is allocated to childhood cancers.)

4. On my very first ride of the Challenge, I had an accident and am undergoing physical therapy on my neck and shoulders. (Niko's mother is a cooperative owner of a physical therapy business and is also certified therapist for cranio-sacral massage.)

5. Niko had brain cancer. (Several years ago I rode for a high school classmate's granddaughter who also had brain cancer. She survived and was asked to prom by a boy named Niko.)

My t-shirt stopped a crowd!

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia had a fundraising walk scheduled that was washed out by heavy rain. A large group of participants decided to go the King of Prussia Mall to do their walk. I happened to be doing one of my PT walks there. When they saw the t-shirt I was wearing, they stopped to thank me for my donations of blood and platelets. They too know how important these fluids are to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Please donate either if you are eligible. It costs nothing other than your time.

$6.11 for Troop 611

Fundraising for the GCC will officially end at the end of October. I think it would be a wonderful gesture have donations of $6.11 made during this time period. Why, because that was Niko's troop number. A donation of that amount would be a tribute to Niko and the troop that supported him while he dealt with his cancer.