NACCC's Lance Armstrong

Victory Ride Over Cancer

Goes 1230 Miles on Bicycle

For many of the longtime attendees of the Annual Meetings of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, this is a time for renewal of friendships, getting caught up with the latest news and general camaraderie among longtime friends. The 2002 Spokane Meeting, however, had a special significance to many. Among those attending was Rev. Craig Walker, pastor of the Desert Congregational Church of Twentynine Palms, California, who rode his bicycle to the meeting—a distance of 1230 miles (and with vertical climbs totaling 49,470 feet!).

A cancer survivor, Craig Walker’s Victory Ride netted over $20,000 to date to help build a church for the Desert Palms Congregational Church of Twentynine Palms, California.

Just one year ago, Rev. Walker had finished three months of radiation treatment for cancer and was too weak to attend the Annual Meeting. He touched many lives in Spokane as approximately 65 percent of the attendees in Spokane were either cancer survivors or had family members with cancer.

As a bicycle enthusiast (I have been reduced to a rookie by comparison) I found Walker’s daily logs a real human interest story. In addition to his outstanding quest to survive cancer, the Victory Ride has also been an important fund-raiser to support the building of the Desert Congregational Church in Twentynine Palms. To date Craig has raised over $20,000 through his Victory Ride.

With flyers in hand and local newspaper coverage, Walker set out for Spokane, following the morning worship June 9, 2002. Church member Vince Dunlap, who also serves as the building contractor for the new church, drove the chase car providing support and supplies. FYI the chase car’s mileage at the end of the trip was 5500 miles. That’s some support.

Throughout the trip Walker had no flat tires or major set backs, excluding Day 4. Leather in the new bike shorts rubbed serious blisters where the upper leg is attached to the buttocks. This is also known as a sore pastoral behind. As this could have ended the trip, the decision was made to purchase a recumbent bike. In Ohio, we call them "barc-o-bikes" as they resemble the popular recliners. The name of his new bike was "Cycle Genius." That certainly got some attention on the road. Most viewers did not know whether that referred to him or to the bike. I think both.

Due to significant newspaper coverage, Walker was cheered along the way. This coverage was quite useful when he was pulled over by a Nevada State Trooper. The officer wanted to know what he was doing (a bicycle terrorist, perhaps?). Upon hearing that he was riding to Spokane, the officer changed his attitude and wished him a safe trip. (Ed. note: Nevada is not a "bike-friendly" state. The berm consists of a gravel rumble strip to alert drivers who might be drifting off, and Nevada allows "triples" or semi’s hauling three trailers. Most Nevada troopers would just as soon haul bicyclists to the state line.) Through most of California and Nevada headwinds and hot weather were the norm during the day. Nights consisted of inexpensive motel rooms with trains running through, I mean "by" the motels.

In Ohio, we call them "barc-o-bikes" as they resemble the popular recliners.

It’s hard to describe the barrenness.

It’s hard to describe the barrenness of the first half of Walker’s trip. For non-cyclists, picture yourself in a car crossing the desert. On a bicycle add the heat of 112 degrees, the headwinds limiting the pace to 6-7 mph and mountains looming in the distance. The cycle repeats itself daily: rise before daylight, conquer doubt, assert faith, and reach the goal.

Having left insects, snakes, birds (dead and alive) and the grueling heat, Day 12 brings Walker into Oregon. He hits a nasty NE headwind and has time to observe that the locals were all skinny. (They just don’t have much air in them). Sighted in Oregon were buffalo, big horned sheep and rodeo cowboys. To avoid impending rain, Walker zoomed into Idaho down a mountain with four miles of 6 percent grade

Idaho is filled with beautiful rivers, mountains, lakes and very persistent Baptists. As Day 15 was a day of rest (and a Sunday), Walker attended a local Baptist Church. After telling about his victory ride and giving the closing prayer, he was asked to be the minister of the Cambridge Baptist Church. Though they could not pay the minister much, he was offered sides of beef as a perk. Walker did not disclose that he is a vegetarian. He was treated to lunch by the congregation and asked again to be their minister. On Day 17 and still in Idaho, he pedaled into the little village of Whitebird. While resting in the shade, he noticed he was sitting on the lawn of the Baptist Church. His thoughts turned to having some fatal attraction to Baptists and he wondered whether he was a Baptist trapped in a Congregational body. See what riding alone for 1230 miles will do to you.

Not a dream but a goal nearly achieved.

Day 18 and Spokane is not a dream but a goal nearly achieved. Thank goodness the meeting was in Spokane, not in Maine, he thought. Only two more days and the victory ride will be a memory. Arriving in Lewiston, Idaho, Vince treated Walker to a hearty lunch. If that wasn’t enough, Chaplain Walker stuffed two biscuits in his helmet and walked out the door. With Vince in total disbelief, Walker reminded him that the biscuits would be a welcome treat to their usual supper of cheese and crackers. What pastoral foresight.

Entering the State of Washington Walker looks out over the Lewiston and Clearwater Rivers and can clearly see the route taken by Lewis and Clark. Rain is again impending. Walker cannot believe that he has not met with any rain in the 1200 miles of riding. The night was spent in Colfax with a Victorian house tour in the afternoon given by a Baptist minister’s wife. It seems there are Baptists on every corner up there. Having battled headwinds most of the way, Walker is finally blessed with a tailwind. The sign for the Spokane city limits is in sight! Rather than fight the rush hour traffic, Vince and Walker’s arrival was scheduled for Saturday, the official opening day of the Annual Meeting.

A standing ovation greeted Craig Walker when he arrived at the 48th NACCC Annual Meeting in Spokane.

Saturday, June 29, 2002: It’s 1:50 p.m. Pacific Mountain Time when Walker sets out for the Spokane Convention Center. "Wow! What a welcoming crowd," he thinks, only to discover that 26,000 participants are on the streets of Spokane for the annual Hoops Tournament. The reception at the Doubletree was not exactly overwhelming. This, however, did not detract from the goal Walker had just achieved. Two days later Walker made a grand entrance into the General Meeting of the NACCC and was treated to a standing ovation, although he almost mowed over a participant from Iowa. "A bicycle, what will they do next?" her friend exclaimed. "Your thoughts, your cheers, your prayers made this an unforgettable journey," quoted Walker.

Ellen Polhemus-Stiffler, a member of First Congregational Church, Mansfield, Ohio, serves on the NACCC Nominating Committee.