By Jere Hough Meteorologist / Feature Reporter
Published: Wed, December 05, 2007 - 4:35 pm
Last Updated: Thu, December 06, 2007 - 5:57 pm
Last Updated: Thu, December 06, 2007 - 5:57 pm
Jere Hough
On Good Friday, 2007, over 200 bikers rode through the Mobile's Bankhead Tunnel completing a one day ride from Monroeville...ninety-plus miles to the north.
But even more impressive...the contributions from this most recent Peddlin' for a Cure brought the grand total raised since 2004, to a third of a million dollars! All of it given to the American Cancer Society. All of it because of a challenge on Kelley's morning radio show in Monroeville. He was trying to help the community's Relay for Life...an event sponsored by the Cancer Society.
Kelley recalls, "I just said that if we can raise a thousand dollars this morning on the radio, I'll ride a bicycle from right here on the Monroeville Square to the Battleship Alabama. In fact, I'll put in the first hundred dollars."
By noon Kelley and his radio co-host, Phil Allen, had over $5000 in pledges!
Kelley continues, "And at the time I made that "wager" on the air here, I did not own a bicycle."
But on Good Friday, 2004, Kelley and seven other riders set out after dark for the Battleship Alabama in Mobile. "And at noon we all rode up onto the ship and we had raised $36,000."
Each year the destination has changed, and at least one cancer survivor has ridden each year. The 2008 ride will be to the Battleship again as this spring is the 5th anniversary for Peddlin for a Cure.
There's something else you should know about Fred Kelley.
He admits, "I had had a heart attack, and I'd started walking and trying to lose weight, and so I was wanting to get into bicycling...but I didn't really want to get into quite that far!"
Now he rides regularly...including up some tough hills. He has two other tough challenges: Congressman Jo Bonner has challenged him to increase that one-third million to a full million dollars over the next few years. Also, he still has heart problems; in fact his doctor has placed him on the waiting list for a heart transplant. He does plan to ride this spring from the Courthouse Square in Monroeville to Mobile.
2008's Peddlin' for a Cure will be on Good Friday, March 21st. If you would like to participate as a rider or as a contributor, go to the website of Phil and Fred Radio Show. You can find out more about Peddlin' for a Cure and contact Fred Kelley.
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