Core Team

Team Sarcoma 2006 Bike Tour in Denmark

The Team Sarcoma 2006 Bike Tour in Denmark was wonderful. There were 49 of us that participated the entire seven days. Several people also joined our group for a day or two along the way. The group consisted of sarcoma patients, survivors, caregivers, friends, or family members who have lost a loved one to sarcoma. Our youngest participant had just turned 2-years old and, it'll be sufficient to say, that our oldest participants are in their mid-to-late 60s.

We were truly an international gathering, coming from Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Germany and several states within the US, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington State. We represented a wide range of professions, occupations, and backgrounds. Ten different sarcomas were represented in our group -- Ewing's soft tissue sarcoma, Ewing's bone sarcoma, osteosarcoma, angiosarcoma, liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, unidentified sarcoma. Askin's tumor, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Team Sarcoma in Denmark (click on photo to enlarge)

One evening after dinner, each person told their own personal sarcoma story and on another evening we had a "Luminary Service" on the beach in Marielyst. Both of these evenings were quite special, emotional and, for some, healing. Because everyone knew some of each other's sarcoma story, as we walked along and read each bag, the names and the words meant so much more to each of us. Cassandra, with the help of others, arranged the luminary lights in the form of a heart. This is a scene few of us will forget.

Our Luminary Heart (photo by Joe Linn)

People helped one another out when problems arose and there were many friendships made that will last a lifetime.

There were two groups of riders - the "pros" and the "others" - and a group of “walkers”. Denmark is not as flat as many people would have you believe as each day we biked up and down many, many hills. No matter what anyone has told you, Denmark is not flat like the Netherlands. This is a myth promulgated by the Danish Tourist Authority. However, Denmark is very beautiful, bike-friendly, and the people are amazingly hospitable.

The Danish Countryside on Fyn

For the "pros" the longest ride was 60 miles (96 KM) and there were several 40-mile (64 KM) days as well. The "others" put in a few 40 mile (64 KM) and 25 mile (40 KM) days as well. Everyone gave one another inspiration and hope – we cried, laughed, biked, walked, ate and drank together. Many displayed courage. Finally biking into the Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen on the seventh and final day of the tour gave everyone a feeling of accomplishment. All in all, it was a memorable event.

Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen (photo by Ole Steen Nielsen)

The final banquet in Tivoli Gardens that evening brought an end to this wonderful adventure. We helped raise public awareness of sarcoma and funds for much needed sarcoma research.

A note about those who joined us along the way

Among those who joined us for a day or two were Dr. Ole Steen Nielsen and his wife Karen. He is the head of the Department of Oncology at Aarhus University Hospital and the most recent past president of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society. Dr. Anette Duensing and her husband Dr. Stefan Duensing also joined us for a day and a half. She is a Research Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh's Cancer Institute Hillman Cancer Center engaged in GIST research. Stefan is also involved in cancer research. Loïc, Elsebeth, Emma, Laura and Nina Folmer, a Danish family, joined us for dinner and the entire next day. Emma is a Ewing's sarcoma survivor. Francisco, Elena and Daniel Casanova, a family from Spain, joined us for two and a half days. Daniel is a rhabdomyosarcoma survivor. The mother and sister of Henriette Schøning, one of the Danish sarcoma survivors in our group, joined us during the days we were on Fyn. Dr. Kate Long, who is a researcher at Copenhagen University, and her husband Anders joined us for a day of cycling on Møn. The husband and brother of Lotte Laursen, another Danish sarcoma survivor in our group, led our peloton into Copenhagen. The wife of Juergen Gerreser, a angiosarcoma survivor from Germany in our group, joined us at our banquet in Tivoli as did the wife and son of Henrik Lund from Fyntour, who made all of the local arrangements for the tour, drove the sag wagon, repaired the bikes, etc. Finally, Johnannes Nebel, a 12-year mesenchymal chondrosarcoma survivor, who lives in Denmark joined us at the banquet.

Each of the families and individuals on the bike tour has sent us several of their photos that they especially liked. We have made two slide sows using these photos.

Click here to view the slide show of Team Sarcoma 2006's escapades during July 1-4, 2006. This is a very large file, over 12 MB. Based on your connection speed, it may take a few minutes to be displayed.

Click here to view the slide show of Team Sarcoma 2006's escapades during July 5-7, 2006. This is a very large file, over 10 MB. Based on your connection speed, it may take a few minutes to be displayed.