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People Beat Cancer Every Day
By Todd Colitti, Thomaston
Well here it is summertime again, and with August just around the corner, I find myself again looking forward to riding in the Tour de Torrington. Although last year was my first ride in the tour, it was not the first I had heard of it.
I found out about the tour by accident, while looking up some cancer information on the Internet in May of 2000. My problem was that when I found the information I was not in any shape to participate, because at the time I was in my fifth month of chemotherapy for colon cancer. I was diagnosed in November of 1999, when I was 35 years old, with stage 4 colon cancer, which had spread to my liver. I underwent surgery and a year of chemotherapy before I was ready to tackle the tour.
Bicycling is a hobby I’ve enjoyed for many years, so the Tour de Torrington is a perfect way for me to prove to myself, and others, that not only can we beat cancer, but we can return to our normal lives as well. I rode the 75-mile loop last year in my first tour and raised over $1,000 for the American Cancer Society. I enjoyed the experience so much that I began to talk to the organizer of the event, Tim Grieco of Tommy’s Bicycles and Fitness in Torrington, and before long I found myself volunteering, along with my wife and many other dedicated volunteers, to help put together this year’s 13th annual Tour de Torrington.
I will participate in the 75-mile bike ride again this year as a continuing testament that cancer can be beat. I’m hoping that my continued commitment will encourage others to participate in the Tour, or to volunteer to help raise both awareness and money for the benefit of all who are affected by cancer.
I never imagined myself being in a position to be talking about cancer first-hand, but since I am I want to make sure people understand that the numbers don’t tell the whole story. People beat cancer every day, and with people coming together in events like this to raise money, the real winners will be the victims who benefit from the research, doctors’ care and treatments that would otherwise have been out of reach.
The 13th annual Tour de Torrington, which will be held on Sunday, August 4, includes 12-, 30-, 50- and 75-mile bike routes; participants can also choose to walk, run, or roll in courses ranging from 1.9 to 8 miles. All courses begin and end at Coe Park in Torrington, where food, music and prize drawings will be offered throughout the day. For more info or to register, call Tommy's Bicycle and Fitness at 860-482-3571, or visit <www.tommysfitness.com>.
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