Schwartz: Great Cycle Challenge Raising Money For Children With Cancer

By Peter Schwartz
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Martin Green was just 7 years old when he looked over at his friend's father and saw a face filled with pain and sadness. In a perfect world, Green would have been playing with his buddy Keith in the backyard, or maybe they would have been at a ballgame together. Instead, Green was at his friend's funeral. Keith was just 8 years old when he lost his battle with leukemia.

Now 38 years old and a father of two, Green still carries around the painful memory of that experience.

"I'll never forget it," said Green, an NYPD detective with the Citywide Traffic Task Force. "I would never ever want to go through the hell that his parents went through. I would never want my children to go through the hell that Keith went through."

With the memory of his friend serving as inspiration, Green is stepping up to help the fight against pediatric cancer. Well, actually he's pedaling his way to raising money. Green is participating in the Great Cycle Challenge USA presented by Macy's, an event that is taking place this month to raise money for the Children's Cancer Research Fund.

Those who wish to participate or donate can visit GreatCycleChallenge.com.

Once you're signed up, you can then ask family, friends and co-workers to join you while also set a riding goal, customize a profile page and then ride your bike to raise money through sponsors that you recruit.

The inaugural event last year had over 12,500 participants throughout the country and generated nearly $1.7 million. This year, there are more than 26,500 people signed up with a goal of raising over $2.2 million.

"It's about the kids," said Green, who grew up in Bayside ,Queens, and now resides on Long Island. "You're dealing with kids that are sick, and nobody wants to see that. Kids are not supposed to be suffering. They're supposed to be having fun."

The money raised from the challenge not only helps the Children's Cancer Research Fund find a cure for childhood cancer, but it also goes toward funding quality-of-life services that enhance healing and care while educating the world about the need for research.

The numbers are staggering and sad. Over 15,700 American children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and 38 children die every week.

"That's sick," said Green, who participates in the challenge simply by carrying out his duties as a police officer. "I think that's good enough reason to get involved with this. We can stop this. We can prevent this, and we can definitely help these kids."

Green, as well as all of the participants in the challenge, can track their mileage and update their friends and family with the use of a free smartphone app.  That app syncs up with popular cycling apps MapMyRide and Strava.

Participants can log miles by cycling on the street, on a stationary bike at the gym or any activity that pedals. You can ride by yourself or create a team with your cycle club, friends or workplace.

While Green's main goal is to raise money for CCRF, his other intention is to try to build morale with the men and women that he works with.

"The bottom line is that I always wanted to be a police officer," said Green. "Unfortunately, the last couple of years have been really tough for us. We get bad press, but the guys and girls that I work with are just there to help. They want to help people."

And that's what Martin is doing by participating in the Great Cycle Challenge. Not only is he carrying out his daily responsibilities as a police officer, but he's also raising money for a worthy cause.

There isn't a day that goes by that Green doesn't think about his friend Keith. He had to endure the pain of losing his buddy at such a young age, but it's the memory of his friend that has inspired him to take part in the challenge.

"Yeah, I definitely hold it dear to my heart," said Green. "It's part of the reason that I did it. I just like helping people. That's what I do. I look at it as it's part of my calling. It's just a great opportunity. I'm lucky that I'm able to do it."

There's no question that Keith is looking down and smiling while also cheering on his friend Martin with every mile that he pedals.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. You can also follow the Children's Cancer Research Fund @childrenscancer.