Marlboro plans to ride
Journey across America
will aid cancer research
College student from
Marlboro plans to ride
Gloria Vasconcellos of Marlboro, a student at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, is planning to spend her summer riding 4,000 miles on a bicycle to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Along with 24 undergraduate and graduate students, she will leave Baltimore June 1 and is scheduled to arrive in San Francisco July 29.
from Maryland to Calif.
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
Gloria Vasconcellos is an accomplished, well rounded young woman. She is also compassionate and generous with her time. The Marlboro resident and Johns Hopkins University student is planning to spend her summer riding 4,000 miles on a bicycle to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
She, along with 24 undergraduate and graduate students, will leave her college town of Baltimore June 1 and are scheduled to arrive in San Francisco July 29.
Training for the 4K ride started in February as soon as the participants received their LeMond bikes and training schedule. According to Vasconcellos, thanks to the generosity of LeMond and several bike shops, the riders will be able to keep the bikes and other biking paraphernalia they receive for the trip.
"Right now, I am keeping in shape by participating on the JHU intercollegiate fencing team as a saber fencer. During the fall season, I also ran for the JHU cross country team. Biking, however, is a total switch of gears. To date, I have not ridden 70 miles in one stretch," she said.
Vasconcellos, a freshman, expects the trip to be a wonderful experience in many ways. In addition to scheduling visits to national parks, the trip leaders are also planning day trips to places like the Hospice Home in Topeka, Kansas, where the riders will be able to interact with cancer patients, she said.
"According to last year’s riders, we’ll be staying at various places ranging from YMCAs, churches, school gyms and camping grounds. Each morning we’ll be waking up early to bike between 70 and 110 miles each day. Luckily, we also have two vans with us, so we don’t have to carry our sleeping bags and gear," she said. "Two different riders take the vans each day, which means that about every 12 days, two riders will be responsible for the vans and camp set-up. We should arrive at the Golden Gate Bridge on July 29."
The participants are motivated by the Mission Statement which says:
"We will educate ourselves on the issue of cancer and remember those who have been affected by the disease.
"We will draw on our idealism and help spread hope about cancer across the country.
"We will communicate with each other and work to create unity.
"We will follow through on our commitments and our word.
"We will be honest with each other and ask for help when we need it.
"We will motivate and support each other to do the best job possible.
"We will not yield to limitations.
"We owe it to each other and everyone who is inflicted with cancer to make this project the experience and achievement of a lifetime."
Vasconcellos, 18, attended the Freehold Regional High School District’s International Studies program at Freehold Township High School. She also attended the Manhattan School of Music to study the harp, and has played for the school’s philharmonic orchestra. In addition, she was the harpist for the New York City Opera’s "Opera in a Nutshell" performance of La Boheme and Tosca. She is the recipient of a Freehold Cecilian Music Club Scholarship Award.
In high school she was a member of the Human Relations Commission and the National Honor Society, and she participated in cross country and track and field.
Now she is a freshman in a double degree program with the Peabody Conservatory and the Johns Hopkins University.
"This program will allow me to receive both a Bachelor of Arts from Hopkins and a Bachelor of Music from Peabody within four to five years. My major at Peabody is harp performance and at Hopkins, international relations," Vasconcellos said.
She has one older sister, Andrea, who graduated from High Technology High School, Lincroft, in 2001 and is now a sophomore at the California Institute of Technology.
"I am very grateful for my sister and my parents, Jose and Mary, as well as all family and friends who have been very encouraging about the upcoming bike trip," she said.
"Our event is aimed at raising a total of $50,000 from sponsorships, after paying for the costs of the project. The amount raised will go toward cancer research in the American Cancer Society," she explained.
All proceeds raised by this event will be handled by the American Cancer Society and will go toward cancer research in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the A.C.S. Each rider is expected to raise $3,000 from friends, family and the local community.
Those from the Freehold Township area wishing to sponsor Vasconcellos as a rider should send their donation to: Rider: Gloria Vasconcellos, 3339 N. Charles St., Wolman Hall, No. 3976, Baltimore, Md. 21218. That address is valid through mid-April.
Checks should be made out to the American Cancer Society, with Hopkins 4K for Cancer noted on the bottom left corner. Also, sponsors should be sure to include their full return address so that Vasconcellos can send a receipt from A.C.S. and so that she can send a thank-you card.