Patrick Byrne has already biked across America three times. But this time he is taking the 4,000-mile trek from San Francisco to Boston to raise awareness of the fight against cancer.
As part of his ride, Byrne pledges to contribute $1 million to the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, a cross-Massachusetts fund-raising ride that supports cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass.
The cause is dear to his heart.
Between 1985 and 1988, Byrne had three bouts with seminoma, a cancer that invaded every part of his body. He was given salvage therapy, wherein doctors tried to make his last few weeks as painless as possible. But he beat seemingly overwhelming odds, and 12 years later is an avid cyclist and mountain climber. He also holds two black belts.
He has been in remission for 12 years but admits that for a long time, the cancer made him think in three-month horizons.
"My own battle with cancer was one of the turning points of my life. I know I only survived because of the work of dedicated professionals and the commitment of scores of people who have participated in fund-raising events such as the PMC," Byrne said. "These are people I'll never know and never be able to thank in any way other than by supporting their cause."
This 37-year-old businessman from Hanover, N.H., has amassed a $100 million portfolio as chief executive officer of High Plains, a personal investment fund. One of his most recent acquisitions, Oversock.com, is ranked as one of the fastest-growing e-tailers by Media Metrix.
Byrne studied moral philosophy at Cambridge as a Marshall fellow, and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Stanford.
He is expected to reach Sturbridge, Mass., on Aug. 4. There he will join more the 3,000 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge riders for the two-day, 192-mile ride to Provincetown, Mass.
TO CONTRIBUTE
Visit the Web at: http://www.pmc.org
or call: 1-800-WE-CYCLE
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