Twelve-year-old to ride in Century for the Cure bike-a-thon
By: Greg Forester
MONTGOMERY Over the past year, 12-year-old Montgomery resident Harry August came up with a half dozen possible service projects to complete for his upcoming bar mitzvah.
But none of the half dozen ideas he and his family came up with sounded better than taking part in the Century for the Cure bike-a-thon with his father, Dr. David August of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Harry said taking part in the 100-mile ride would not only support the cancer research that his father believes is so important in the fight against cancer, but it would also help him establish lifelong habits supporting his personal health.
"It will keep me healthy, and it could help save lives if they find a cure," said Harry. "It will also raise money for patients to get the products they need."
The ride which starts and ends at Camp Riverbend in Warren after a circuitous route through the Great Swamp, Far Hills and Bedminster was founded by Scott Glickman of Warren, who was treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma a decade ago by the staff at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
"I started the race to give back to them, and support the fantastic research the doctors and nurses take part in," Mr. Glickman said.
Harry’s father actually performed surgery on Mr. Glickman while he was being treated at the institute.
With Dr. August’s encouragement, Harry has decided to take part in the marathon ride, with a goal of completing at least a quarter of the 100-mile length.
"I’ll go farther than that if I can," said the 12-year old Yankees fan, headed into his first year at the Montgomery Upper Middle School in September.
Joining Harry on his 100-mile ride will be Dr. August, chief of surgical oncology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry at Robert Wood Johnson and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Dr. August said research and the fundraisers that support it like the Century for the Cure event is crucial to continuing the fight against cancer to which he devotes his career.
"It sounds a little trite, but if you brought your car into the shop and the mechanic told you there was a 60 percent chance of fixing the car, that would be unacceptable," said Dr. August. "We have made significant process getting to that success rate, but it still hurts me when we talk to patients and tell them there is a 40 percent chance they won’t be cured."
Dr. August said he wants that success rate to improve, but any improvement will come as the result of money and time devoted to cancer research, like monies generated by participating in the Century for the Cure with Harry.
Realizing the ride would be no easy task, Harry has been training six days a week, cycling 10 to 15 miles a day each week with a single day off.
He has made some longer trips as well.
"I did a 25-mile trip with the Boy Scouts, and a 20-mile trip with my father," Harry said.
Harry said he also took part in track at the Montgomery Lower Middle School this past year to improve his cardiovascular endurance.
Dr. August said the participation of patients like Mr. Glickman in the promotion of cancer research and the generation of funds for support is crucial to making cancer cure rates even better.
"Research is so important, and as a patient, people like Scott Glickman help show that interface between research and improved cancer treatments," said Dr. August. "It shows that cancer research is not some ivory tower."
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey has an ambitious plan to expand its program in an attempt to bring it into the top 10 of cancer research and treatment centers, according to Dr. August.
"My participation in this race is a tangible way to make a contribution to that goal," Dr. August said.
More information about the Century for the Cure can be found at www.centuryforthecure.com.