My name is Rob Gross. In August 2021, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). Since then, a short time has seemed like an eternity that I fought for my life with chemotherapy. With the help of my support team, we fought hard to reach remission, and I don't want to take it for granted. I have won this first battle, but the war continues for many folks with Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma. I ask you to join the fight and support my journey by making donations that directly benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

As a beneficiary of some of the many services and benefits the LLS provides. I am very grateful that they were there for me. It's my unfortunate honor, but I now proudly carry the shield as a cancer survivor and warrior. The LLS mission must be supported to be there for other future fighters, caregivers, and survivors of leukemia or lymphoma.

To raise awareness of the cause, I will be riding my bike a minimum of 207 miles in three weeks. Why 207 miles in three weeks? 207 represents 1 mile for every hour spent in the hospital (192 hours or eight days) and chemo treatments (15 hours, five additional cycles @ three hours each). The period of three weeks represents the time between the cycles of chemo I received. I will begin on July 23rd and end on August 13th, also significant days in my fight. On July 22, 2021, I went to the ER for pain in my abdomen. In the early hours of the 23rd, scans revealed: "the mass" that has changed my life. Many tests commenced during the following weeks that resulted in a lymphoma diagnosis on August 11th. A few days later, on Friday, August 13th, I was admitted to the hospital.

As of March 23rd, 2022, I have officially been in remission and working towards reclaiming my life. I have been a cycling enthusiast for several years and have ridden for many different causes. Now things have become personal, and I want to do what I can to help others on a similar path. The picture above was taken after two cycles of chemo and a few days before I went for my third. I was riding for kids' cancer, a ride I ironically signed up for months before my diagnosis and a commitment I was determined to keep. It also was the last time I had ridden due to fatigue since I began again this spring. I have been out logging miles getting ready, and excited to start this ride to raise donations and awareness. If you see me out, please give me a wave, or even better, feel free to join me for a few miles. I will add journal entries to track the progress of the ride.

Thank you for reading my brief story, and I hope you can help me celebrate my Cancerversary by making a difference. If you cannot donate, please help spread the word about the LLS as they continue to research cures and assist patients and caregivers with the many services they provide to the people who never asked to be their customers.