After soaring through the Arizona desert; climbing Colorado’s mountains; and riding the vast, hilly terrain of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa in a variety of temperatures and conditions, two-time leukemia survivor Michael Siegel, AIA, finished his 3,500-mile cross-country ride for cancer research in Washington, D.C. He triumphantly bicycled into the nation’s capital with six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and 19 other riders from the national Bristol Myers Squibb Tour of Hope team October 9. The two-time cancer survivor made the eight-day journey with a “sense of urgency” and competition that guided him to his victorious and inspiring finish.

The group of cancer survivors, researchers, doctors, and nurses exuberantly coasted onto a stage on the Ellipse, three blocks from AIA national component headquarters. The team was greeted by a crowd of about 8,000 people, including AIA national component staff and members of the VOA Architects staff, where Siegel is senior vice president at the firm’s Chicago office. Local VOA architects are working on the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Armstrong, who beat an aggressive form of testicular cancer that had spread to both his lungs and brain, welcomed each of the riders on the stage, lauding the nonprofessional cyclists for their Herculean efforts. Armstrong joined Siegel and his fellow riders for the final leg of the tour and at various points along the grueling trek.

The group left Los Angeles September 30, traveling relay-style in four groups of five to Washington. As he arrived at the Ellipse, Siegel said he has been overwhelmed by the experience. He said a sense of urgency buoyed the team through the peaks and valleys of the journey. Siegel also had the support of his family, friends, coworkers, and colleagues across the country, many of whom shared their stories and own messages of hope on his Web site and made a promise to support cancer research. The tour culminated with the addition of 1,000 riders in Washington, all of whom had raised at least $500 to participate.

AIA national salutes
One of Siegel’s final stops in Washington was at AIA national component headquarters on Columbus Day, where the staff feted his achievements. “With words of warm welcome, admiration, appreciation, and good wishes,” AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce, FAIA, presented a check for $2,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation with funds raised by national component staff. “We’re proud of you because you’re an architect and what you represent.”

At the October 11 event, Siegel, who has been cancer free for four years, spoke of the “emotional rallies” of local riders and supporters who came out at all times of the day and night to cheer them on and buoy their spirits as they road across America. “None of us anticipated how hard the road would be. It was hard physically, hard emotionally.” Still, his commitment to the importance of raising awareness for clinical trials and the value of calling attention to them as a national health-care priority were a key to his success, as was his realization that his treatments have improved so much in the 10 years since he was diagnosed with cancer that he is “living healthy enough to ride your bike from LA to D.C. with Lance.” He is still taking part in the clinical trial and continues to take the study drug, which has since been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

AIA architects “living strong”
At a stop in Chicago, Siegel, who lives in its suburb of Wilmette, cycled in to cheers from family and friends who had made paper fans with his picture on them. Siegel told the crowd about his diagnosis of leukemia and experience participating in a clinical trial. “I owe my life to cancer research,” he said.

The AIA family has been heartened by the inspirational stories of the many architects whose personal experience and compassion have led them to scale mountains of their own. For example, Pam Whitehead, AIA, is a cancer survivor and a member of the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Peloton Project. She has been raising money and awareness for the LAF for three years, bringing in more than $20,000 for both of the past two years. This year, she was selected to receive the Triumph Award for her efforts, the Peloton Project’s highest honor. She will receive this award during the annual Ride for the Roses weekend in Texas, where Armstrong will make a special presentation at a dinner on October 15. She is also one of just 51 yellow-jersey members (those who have raised over $20,000) out of a Peloton Project membership of more than 6,000 people. Further giving back to her local community, Whitehead will be working with one of Sacramento’s cancer centers to establish a new cancer survivorship program with the $5,000 community grant being given by the LAF. “I am thrilled to be able to have this impact on the cancer community,” she said.

Another AIA member also took to his bicycle, but in a solo cross-country journey from San Diego to Charleston, S.C., to raise money for cancer research. Kevin Singh, AIA, an architect at Karlsberger, Columbus, Ohio, is nearing his goal of raising $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. Click here to read more about his efforts.

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