Jeff Miller’s various communities have long known him as a bike lover, as well as a fanatic for travel, adventure and advocacy. He was the guy who biked across the country with only $1,000 to spare, spending months sleeping in free camping grounds, cooking all of his food and having the “time of his life.” He never could have expected a few years later to also be the guy with cancer.
On Oct. 25 and 26, as a cancer survivor and cycling advocate, Miller returned to his love of riding and excitement as D.C.’s Cycling Concierge, and as a volunteer for Washington’s BellRinger bike ride, alongside over 1,000 other riders who raised thousands of dollars for cancer research for Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Miller is one of many cancer survivors who participated in Saturday’s ride. He was diagnosed with stage four melanoma at age 27 and is celebrating this year’s BellRinger 28 years after his initial diagnosis.
“Of all the dozens of charity events and rides I have been able to do across the country, this is easily the best organized, the best resourced, the most fun one I’ve ever done,” Miller said. “You have so much love, so much support…and there’s volunteers like myself where if you’re having a flat or issues with your bike, we’ll happily stop and help.”
BellRinger presents the ride as an opportunity to fight cancer financially, scientifically and emotionally. To enter, riders pay a $100 registration fee and commit to fundraising at least $1,000. The ride has raised over $3 million since 2021, and 100 percent of the money raised goes towards funding three separate labs at the Center, according to a press release from BellRinger.
The Center focuses on a range of cutting-edge cancer research, including immunotherapy, cancer prevention research, genetic research, strategies to improve early detection methods and clinical trials amongst various cancer types. BellRinger funds a few labs, one being the Ayad Lab, where doctors and researchers focus on new technologies and medications for the treatment of primary brain cancers.
People of all cycling levels were welcomed to ride, both individually or as part of a team. The ride itself was specifically chosen to be as scenic and seamless as possible, according to Bridget Holmes, the executive director for BellRinger. Bikers could choose to follow either the 25, 50 or 100-mile route, depending on their skill level and comfortability.
All three routes began in Georgetown’s campus in D.C, and finished at Smokey Glen Farm in Gaithersburg, Maryland; participants experienced limited hills, many rest stops and support from the BellRinger team along the way.
“I thought talking about cancer every day was going to be tough,” Holmes said. “What I found is that it’s really hopeful, and inspiring what people are able to accomplish.”
Holmes’ first memory of cancer was at seven years old when her grandfather passed away from colon cancer. Since then, she has made her impact in fighting cancer, through volunteering at the American Cancer Society, participating in fundraising events like Relay For Life, and now taking on a leadership role in organizing the annual BellRinger bike ride.
“When the Bellringer position became open, I knew that was where I wanted to make an impact at the next phase in my career,” Holmes said.
This article was edited by Mackenzie Konjoyan, Tyler Davis and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Ariana Kavoossi and Ella Rousseau.
