"The Kilmer Challenge Ride" benefiting The David Kilmer Cancer Fund

This is a picture of maximum happiness - i.e. David Kilmer, riding his mountain bike in the woods.

David has dedicated his entire life to making the lives of others better, healthier and happier, through he and his wife's chiropractic practice and by being himself: a fun, kind, caring and loving person, friend and role model. David's the type of guy you hope your son grows up to become.

David is now in a costly battle for his life with three rare types of blood cancer ... and he and his family need our help.

On November 11th Cannondale Factory Racing's Jeremiah Bishop, one of the top professional mountain bike racers in the US, professional cyclist Gordon Wadsworth, UCI World Road Race Champion Bernie Sanders and many others will participate in the "The Kilmer Challenge Ride" benefiting The David Kilmer Cancer Fund" and it's super easy for you to get involved too. Here's how:

1. SPONSOR a Rider - Sponsor any rider for as much as you'd like per mile. For example, if you sponsored Gordon Wadsworth for 10 cents per mile" and he's able to ride 130 miles on November 11th then you donate $11.30 to The David Kilmer Cancer Fund. Many cyclists will likely Join the Ride and you can very easily sponsor any of them by clicking here http://tinyurl.com/KilmerChallengeSponsor. 
2. Join the RIDE - You can participate in this ride wherever you are - anywhere in the world. To sign up just visit http://tinyurl.com/KilmerChallengeJoin, then kindly ask everyone you know to sponsor you and send them this link http://tinyurl.com/KilmerChallengeSponsor. On November 11th ... RIDE!
3. BID on Auction Items - numerous fantastic items have been generously donated to benefit The David Kilmer Cancer Fund. They are listed and pictured below and to place a bid simply email fledaaringartworks@gmail.com. 
4. DONATE - Donating directly to The David Kilmer Cancer Fund is very easy and even the smallest contributions are helpful and greatly appreciated. The David Kilmer Cancer Fund is accepting these donations: Money, Frequent Flyer Miles, Hotel Points. Donations can be made by visiting: tinyurl.com/KilmerChallengeDonate or sent to the following with "The David Kilmer Cancer Fund" noted on the donation - Parkway Wesleyan Church, 3645 Orange Ave. N.E., Roanoke, VA. 24012.

About David, his family and the Cancers he's battling: 

Well known in the Roanoke area cycling community, David Kilmer is also known from working and teaching ski patrol at Wintergreen, has worked on organ and muscle transplant teams, treats and educates patients with acupuncture and nutrition, not just chiropractic care, and, before moving to Virginia, volunteered and traveled with the US Olympic Taekwondo team as their Team Physician. David has more than given his life to the healing and well being of others, he has promoted better living, inspired and led, as an incredible example, many people to more enriched lives without faltering even when he discovered he has cancer. He continued to work until very recently and still rides his bike whenever he can find the time.

A 19 year Roanoke Chiropractor, 60 year old David Kilmer is no longer able to practice due to having three very rare blood cancers. An athlete and hugely outgoing man he was shocked when diagnosed four years ago at just 56 years old. When the Mayo clinic in Minnesota confirmed he has myeloid metaplasia, MDS and RARS-T, he began oral chemo twice daily continuing for four years. Last March when his hemoglobin dropped dangerously low, he began blood transfusions every three weeks. More recently, David has been going to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where his Mayo doctor has transferred, and his September bone marrow biopsy confirmed his cancer is rapidly worsening. To slow the progress down a more invasive form of chemotherapy was utilized to further inhibit blood cell growth and he is now awaiting a bone marrow transplant in mid November at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.

Leaving Virginia in November, David will be hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic for six weeks. Once released he will need to remain nearby for 100 days with 24 hour caregivers. That's five months total in the Phoenix area.

Clearly the gravity and toll on David, his wife Susan and daughter Julia is greater than what most of us can imagine. Their lives are not simply emotionally stressed along with David's physical trauma, but their business, Kilmer Chiropractic, personal and business finances are being hit equally hard. A practicing chiropractor in the clinic, Susan is co-owner and will be needed in both Virginia and Phoenix during David's hospitalization and recovery. Although Susan and Julia plan to spend Christmas in Phoenix Susan will begin scheduling caregiving journeys to Phoenix as often as her Virginia life will permit.

Auction Items:
To place a bid on any of the items below simply email fledaaringartworks@gmail.com.

2012 Dempsey Challenge cycling jerseys kindly autographed by Patrick Dempsey. The Dempsey Challenge hosts a 5k and 10k run on its first day and 20, 50 or 100 mile rides on the second to raise funds, $1.2 million this year, for The Patrick Dempsey Center f or Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center.

Men's Patrick Dempsey Autographed Jersey

Women's Patrick Dempsey Autographed Jersey

Images by John Hamill Photography. The copyright protected images below have been donated to benefit The David Kilmer Cancer Fund.

Route 43 From Parkway to Buchanan

2006 Artie Levin Century - Rapp's Church

2 FLOOR LEVEL TICKETS to the Virginia Tech Hokies Basketball vs Duke Blue Devils Tickets 02/02/12 (Blacksburg)

90 min session of therapeutic massage & bodywork

~Pete Eshelman with Roanoke Outside has donated some Roanoke Outside cycling jerseys.

~Bob Bowman has given us many items!! A skin suit that was given to Bob by the Director of the Advantage/Bissel cycling team, was an extra of Karl Menzies' who is currently racing with UCI Professional Continental team United Healthcare. He has also given a Team El Toreo Mail-It Plus and Roanoke Outside Mail-It Plus kits from Roanoke Cycling Organization. And! A Tour de Georgia grey oxford style dress shirt and a water resistant pullover jacket.

~The Hotel Roanoke has given us a one night stay and dinner for two! We hope to find some nice performance tickets to add to this.

We are so very excited about the building momentum and hope you are too! Our plans is to complete and announce winners of the auction for most or all cycling items at this year's BRBC Holiday Party.

Please consider putting your feet in the shoes of the Kilmer family. Any help or support you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You and Blessings to you from, David, Susan and Julia.

Contacts: Leslie Swanson likestoshop@cox.net

Fleda A. Ring fledaaringartworks@gmail.com

www.thedavidkilmercancerfund.org