Friday, October 18, 2002

Bikers ride for cancer

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and hundreds of motorcyclists, friends and families including many from South Fulton are expected to take to the road from Suwanee to Lake Lanier and back on Saturday Nov. 2 to benefit pancreatic cancer research.

The first annual Ride to Make a Difference for Pancreatic Cancer Research will begin and end at the new Fire House Food & Spirits restaurant at 300 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. with the ride starting promptly at noon. Commemorative T-shirts and pins will be given to the first 300 registrants donating $20 per bike.

An added attraction for motorcycle enthusiasts will be a bike show after the ride. For an additional $10 contribution per bike, the competition will cover 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in eight categories plus Best of Show:

The categories include Best Chrome; Best EVO; Best Pre-EVO; Best Sport; Best Paint; Best Rat; Best Custom Manufactured; and Best Custom Built.

Sponsors of the event include Fire House Food & Spirits Restaurant, Mall of Georgia Ford, MicroLiter Analytical Supplies Inc., J&S Chemical, World Gym, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, and Results Realty Services.

Media sponsors include 96Rock, 680 The Fan, B98.5, Lake 102.5, and Full Throttle Magazine.

Event organizers are encouraging non-riders as well as riders to attend, enjoy themselves and contribute to pancreatic cancer research.

"The Joseph C. Monastra Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research and Prevention at Johns Hopkins University was established by my mother, my three sisters and me in honor of my father who died of pancreatic cancer in April of this year," said Pamela Monastra Swanson, a resident of Forsyth County.

"We met this summer with Georgia Congressman Johnny Isakson to help increase understanding of the need to support pancreatic cancer research."

Swanson explained that pancreatic cancer has a 99 percent fatality rate, is the deadliest of all cancers, and attacks men and women equally.

Of the one percent who survive, less than one-half percent will live beyond five years.

Most die quickly. "My father was taken only four weeks after diagnosis," she said. "There are no known effective treatment options and no early detection methods," she added.

"That's why we're dedicated to help provide resources to Johns Hopkins University, the leading center for pancreatic cancer research and prevention in the United States."

Monies raised at the ride will go directly to the fund. Representing the pancreatic research team from Johns Hopkins at the event will be chief scientist Christine Iacobuzio who will be the ride's official starter.

Additional tax-deductible contributions may be made directly to the fund instead of or in addition to attending the event, Swanson explained. Checks should be made payable to "Johns Hopkins University" and, in the memo area, write "Joseph C. Monastra Fund" to be sure it is applied correctly.

Checks may be brought to the event or mailed directly to Dr. Ralph Hruban, Johns Hopkins Department of Pathology, Weinberg 2242, 401 N. Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland 21287. For more information on the Fund and pancreatic cancer research, visit http://pathology2.jhu.edu/pancreas/monastra.htm