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Aubuchon to again tackle 325-mile Cure on Wheels ride

By MEGHAN BRADBURY - | Feb 17, 2022

Gary Aubuchon will embark on a 325-mile bicycle ride from Tampa to Tallahassee this weekend as he participates in the annual Cure on Wheels ride. PHOTO PROVIDED

For the seventh year, Gary Aubuchon will take his trusty 1997 Schwinn Passage on the road for a more than 325-mile ride from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa to the capital building in Tallahassee to raise awareness, as well as funds for the fight against cancer.

“Really what the ride is all about is understanding the struggle that someone with cancer goes through,” Aubuchon said. “While we are riding and struggling, there is a connection there.”

About half of the riders that participate are cancer survivor themselves, or doctors and nurses who treat cancer patients.

“There is a lot of connectivity to the issue. A very emotional one,” he said. “When we arrive at the capital there is lots of tears of exuberance and joy and understanding that we overcame the same way that cancer patients overcome the hardships to get there. That part is very meaningful for every rider, certainly for me.”

In years past, Aubuchon has ridden in honor of his parents, as well as his wife’s parents, who were all taken by cancer. This year he is riding to honor three friends — Debbie Weis, Lois Nemec and Diane Salko — who are all at different stages of their cancer battles.

“Cancer is not a one time fight for many people. They may become cancer free for a while and then go into remission. It is a lifelong battle once a diagnosis hits,” Aubuchon said, adding that two of the women he has ridden for in the past and another was just diagnosed with cancer in the last year. “Letting them know that I am still in their corner, I think does mean something to them.”

Cancer is a disease that touches everyone in one way, shape or form.

“It is something that affects all of us to varying degrees. Communicating that message to the legislature and advocating for research dollars is the only way to get to a cure. It’s a long battle,” he said, adding that Cure on Wheels “emphasizes the importance and demonstrates what we are willing to do as a group to carry that message to them.”

The community has the chance to donate to the cause until Monday by visiting https://bit.ly/garyaubuchoncureonwheels. As of Tuesday afternoon, Aubuchon said donations reached $6,100.

“I just started fundraising a day and a half ago,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “I am always surprised every year how many people respond to that single email and go online and donate.”

Last year he raised $8,600, the most to date. This year’s goal is to surpass that amount. So far in seven years, Aubuchon has raised between $35,000 to $45,000 for Cure on Wheels.

“As opposed to what research costs, it is a drop in the bucket. It gets people thinking about it and improves awareness and definitely gets the legislature involved,” he said.

This year, Aubuchon believes there are 40 riders participating, which is the largest group he has ridden with so far.

“There are always new riders. Some people it’s a one-time accomplishment. For others it is an annual tradition. There are a couple of us that come from Lee County, but most of the folks are from the Tampa area. I have met lots of wonderful people that I would have otherwise not met because we are from different communities. It’s a bit of a family reunion to see these wonderful people that I have this common goal with.”

They will leave the Moffitt Center at 7 a.m. Saturday and ride to Ocala, where they will stay the night. The next morning they get up at sunrise and depart Ocala and travel to Lake City. Monday morning they will take the last trek of their ride from Lake City to Tallahassee.

“We get there Monday late afternoon. Then there is a ceremonial ride from our hotel to the capital. We arrive at the capital under police escort and end the ride in the plaza between the old capital and the new capital. There will typically be a couple hundred of people that greet us there,” Aubuchon said.

The riders will spend a few hours at the capital complex before getting on a bus Tuesday to travel back to Tampa. The bikes are put into a box truck, also to be taken back to Tampa. He said Tuesday is a very long day, as he usually does not make it home until close to midnight.

Last year’s ride was a bit different than previous years, as the capital was not open to the public because of COVID. The ride departed from Tallahassee to the Moffitt Cancer Center where they were met by a contingent of doctors and nurses who cheered for them.

In addition, there were safety protocols in place, as they all had to be masked up while not riding and maintaining social distancing.

The ride was also a completely different experience for Aubuchon than previous years, as he did not have the opportunity to work out, due to gyms being closed, to train for the ride. Although he ordered a Peloton bike, it did not arrive until a week or two before the Cure on Wheels ride begun. He said he prefers to ride on a thin bike indoors, rather than on a bicycle outdoors due to safety reasons.

“I didn’t get any training in. It was much more difficult for me,” Aubuchon said, adding that the ride is always challenging because there are three 100-miles-a-day rides. “I wasn’t in the same physical shape.”

To get ready for this year’s Cure on Wheels, he has been training indoors pretty much all year, at least five times a week. He enjoys taking the Peloton classes, as he said you feel like you are part of an experience with other people.

“My training method is to work very intensely for a short period of time, 45 to 90 minutes. It typically translates very well to long distance rides that we do,” Aubuchon said, because they are not racing, but rather riding at a pace that is comfortable for the day.