WW-P South grad raising money for cancer facility
By: Justin Feil
In addition to playing soccer and lacrosse for the Johns Hopkins women’s teams, Sandra Lebo teaches spin classes three times per week.
This summer, she’ll be spinning well beyond Baltimore as one of 26 students partaking in the Hopkins 4K for Cancer ride across the country. It won’t be joyride, but Lebo can’t wait for the fourth annual trek to San Francisco to raise funds for the Hope Lodge in Baltimore.
"I’ve always been one to take challenges," said the West Windsor-Plainsboro South graduate, who will graduate JHU three days before the ride departs May 25 with a degree in psychology. "I like athletics a lot. I’m not a good bike rider. I’m a spin instructor. I haven’t had a bike since I’ve been in college. It will be an interesting experience. It’ll probably be painful in the beginning, but well worth it in the end."
Lebo has been volunteering all year with the residents of the Hope Lodge, a facility of the American Cancer Society that serves as a temporary residence for cancer patients and their families who travel to Baltimore for medical treatment.
"We do events with them," Lebo said. "We have game nights. We make them dinner. We go and hang out with them."
The ride is another level of commitment to the Hope Lodge. A soccer teammate of Lebo’s, Leah Blom, was an organizer of the first ride in 2002.
"When I was a freshman, she had just gone on the trip and it sounded really great," Lebo said. "This is the first time I actually had time to do it. I don’t have a preseason to get ready for."
Lebo, who was a captain for the JHS women’s soccer team that went 16-5-1 and reached the finals of the Centennial Conference and ECAC South Tournaments, is in the midst of her final collegiate season of lacrosse. The Blue Jays are ranked sixth in the country after improving to 2-2 with a 14-0 shutout of Ohio on Sunday. Besides trying to finish out that season on a high note, Lebo is working on her final requirements for graduation and has applied to graduate schools. On top of it all, she’s working on her commitment to raise $3,000 toward the $60,000 goal of the ride.
"It’s going well," Lebo said. "It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be though. It’s hard to ask people for money. But people are pretty willing to donate. It takes a lot more time than I thought it would. It’s been hard to juggle everything."
Lebo hasn’t returned to her West Windsor community in search of funds, though she was in the area when Johns Hopkins challenged the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team two weeks ago. But she’s hoping she can find support for what is a worthwhile cause. She thinks it’s something that will help the Hope Lodge patients and their families as well as enrich her own life.
"I’m assuming it will be a pretty life-changing experience," Lebo said. "This is definitely going to be the most physically demanding thing I’ve done. It’s rewarding in terms of the cause it’s for. It will be interesting to spend two months with 25 people I don’t know."
Lebo will be joined by her best friend from JHU, Jen Sciarpelletti, who is a fellow soccer captain. Stephen Dunay, a Pennington resident and JHU student, is another rider with local ties. The riders depart May 25 and are scheduled to be in San Francisco July 29th. The 64-day trip has 12 non-riding days in which the participants will be stopping to do community service events, including meeting with cancer survivors.
"Anyone can apply," Lebo said. "Typically it’s Hopkins students. I think it’s pretty interesting that there’s an application. It asks how dedicated you are and why you want to do it. It’s like a college application. It’s pretty intimidating."
So is venturing 4,000 miles across the country, through a range of weather and terrain. But Lebo hopes that her athletic background helps make up for a lack of pure cycling knowledge.
"A lot of people who have done it said they had not athletic experience and no bike-riding experience," Lebo said. "I hope my (athletic) background helps. We got our bikes."
Lebo is hoping to spend some time on the weekends leading up to the trip to get used to the clip pedals that come with the bike. The rest of the preparation centers on drumming up interest in the ride and support for the Hope Lodge. Lebo’s time is limited now, but she’s looking forward to the chance to undertake the challenge.
"I’ve never been able to do it," Lebo said. "I looked at the time frame and it was always hard. I’m sure I could have done more in the community service part without the ride. I didn’t have that much time until this year."
Back home, Lebo’s family is supportive. And the 2001 WW-P South’s extended family is also wishing the best for her.
"My parents are very athletic, and my Grandpa rides every morning for 20 miles," Lebo said. "They’re like, ‘She can do it.’ He’s had skin cancer and prostrate cancer and beat them. He’s a pretty impressive guy. I’m dedicating my ride to both my grandparents (who reside in North Carolina). They’re great people."
Sandra Lebo is following in their footsteps, or at least in her grandfather’s cycling tracks, as she goes one revolution at a time in a cross-country ride for cancer support.
To make a donation to the Hopkins 4K for Cancer, monies can be sent to: Hopkins 4K for Cancer, 210 Mattin Center, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. You can reach Sandra Lebo by e-mail at [email protected]. More information about the ride is available at: www.hopkins4k.org.