LIVESTRONG Challenge Ends Strong in Austin

myFOXaustin(AUSTIN) - LIVESTRONG Challenge Ends Strong in Austin

The LIVESTRONG Challenge is more than just the name of an event. Started by cancer survivor of 13 years, Lance Armstrong, the challenge began its final day, Sunday, with a 90-mile bike ride.
For cancer survivors like Carlos Garcia living with strength is the only way. Garcia lost his leg to cancer but says he's still fighting for those who weren't as fortunate. His cancer has been in remission for 3 years. "I've had cancer myself twice and just for everybody else who's had cancer, people who've past away and can't be here. I'm alive and I can ride a bike so it's my duty to do that."
That survivor's spirit and the belief that many family and friends share that cancer can and will be cured-is what's driving so many people. LIVESTRONG Challenge Executive Vice President for Development, Phil Hills says 3,800 cyclists took part in the challenge's 5 rides, anywhere from ten to ninety miles.
"There are over 20 million people living with cancer in the United States alone. By 2010, cancer will be the leading cause of death in the world. We know that to raise awareness and to keep fighting raise funds for research and services, these folks all come out to raise the funds to allow us to be able to do that.
Raising money to help find a cure is a personal mission for cyclists like Andrew Lanning who's riding because of what cancer has done to his family.
"I lost both my grandparents, my grandfathers, and my father to cancer and I really believe in what they're doing and came down from Hawaii, Honolulu, in support. I raised a few thousand this year. I'm gonna raise a lot more I hope.”
Also striving to do more is Ginny Mattox. Mattox’s husband lost his fight with cancer in 1998. Even though she and her friends with the Ravinia Charity Champions from Georgia have raised $50,000, they are still setting their goals higher. "Last year we were out here watching and we did the walk the 5k walk on Saturday and we were out here watching the race and this year we wanted to be part of it. Ten miles is where we are, maybe next year we'll go for twenty."
With the people who took park in the 5k walk and run on Saturday, 6,300 people joined the challenge.
LIVESTRONG Challenges in Seattle, San Jose, Philadelphia and here in Austin have raised 10.1 million dollars to fight cancer. Austin brought in 4 million dollars of that total.
For questions or comments about this story, email james.irby@foxtv.com