Pedal the Cause

Ten years ago, I was in the middle of the fight of my life.

I was diagnosed with Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and like so many people facing cancer, everything changed overnight. My focus became simple: overcome the obstacle, get back on my feet, and keep moving forward—one step at a time.

This year feels different. This year feels like coming full circle.

I’m proud (and honestly a little surprised) to say that I’ll be riding 10 miles in this year’s Pedal the Cause in St. Louis - one mile for every year of remission. And if you know me, you know this is no small thing… I’m not a cyclist. I haven’t ridden more than a casual mile or two since I was a kid, aside from getting a bike to teach my own kids how to ride.

But this ride isn’t about being a cyclist. It’s about what it represents.

One of the most meaningful moments during my treatment was watching my wife and kids ride in my honor. It’s hard to put into words what that meant to me at the time: to feel their love, their strength, and their belief in me when I needed it most.

Now, ten years later, all five of us will be riding together. My wife and two of my kids will ride those same 10 miles alongside me, and my youngest is taking it even further with a 30-mile ride. What started as them riding for me has turned into us riding together—and that means everything.

My immediate family and I have set a fundraising goal of $5,000 this year, and I’m asking for your support. Just as special to me though would be for you to join my team too!  We are looking for an additional 20 riders to help us crack our goal of 75 riders this year.  

100% of every dollar donated goes directly to cancer research and patient care. Over the past 17 years, Pedal the Cause has helped fund groundbreaking treatments and life-saving research—real progress that changes outcomes for people going through what I went through.

If you’re able to give, thank you. If you are able to join, I look forward to riding with you! If you’re able to share, that means just as much.

And I also want to recognize a few people who’ve helped make this journey even more meaningful - my brother Zach Leeds for building our Ludicrous Speed team and pushing us to be stronger every year, and Mike Goldstein and Tim Ridderbos for helping take this team to a national level.  Last year our team raised over $125K, and this year we are pushing for even more.

This ride is personal. It’s for the fight, the recovery, the family who carried me through—and for everyone still in the middle of their own battle.

Thank you for being part of it.