Climb to Conquer Cancer

Published 5:30 pm Tuesday, May 2, 2017

John Cash’s annual Climb to Conquer Cancer bike ride, held Saturday, April 29, attracted more than the usual number of riders, each of whom made from one to ten round trips up the Saluda Grade on U.S. 176 from Caro Mi Dining Room outside Tryon, to Saluda. Cash made his usual ten round trips totaling 80 miles and 10,000 feet of elevation gain. Snacks and refreshments were provided by Rize Energy and Buck’s Pizza. Here, Cash, second from left, in the dark Gibbs Cancer Center jersey, leads the first trip up the grade. All money raised for the event goes directly to Gibbs Cancer Center’s Survivorship Program in Spartanburg. Cash, a new Gibbs board member, had raised some $60,000 for the program before this year’s ride. Donations, made out to Gibbs Cancer Center, Survivorship Program, may still be mailed to or dropped off at Nature’s Storehouse, 427 S. Trade Street, Tryon, NC 28782.

Linda Votey, left, a five-year breast cancer survivor, was one of the cyclists riding up and down the Saluda Grade between Caro Mi Dining Room and Saluda, as part of John Cash’s annual Climb to Conquer Cancer. Votey rides for Bearden Josey Center for Breast Health team. Beneficiary of the ride was, as always, Gibbs Cancer Center’s Survivorship Program in Spartanburg. Alongside Votey is Stacey Kindall, coordinator for the survivorship program. Kindall and Gibbs provided shirts and handout material for riders and their families. (Photos by Mark Schmerling)

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox