In March 2024, shortly after I retired and planned to travel, I began a different journey. I was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As a lifelong non-smoker, the news was shocking. An MRI for back pain revealed the cancer had spread to my spine, pelvis, liver, lymph nodes in my neck, and fractured several ribs.
Today, I am grateful to say I am among the small fraction of NSCLC patients who have No Evidence of Disease (NED). Thanks to a rare biomarker—an EGFR mutation called Exon 19 deletion—I’ve been able to receive a targeted therapy, Tagrisso, developed by AstraZeneca.
I consider myself fortunate, yet many lung cancer patients still lack access to or knowledge of critical biomarker testing that could extend their lives. My battle isn’t over. The cancer will eventually mutate, so more challenges lie ahead. More breakthrough research is key.
Just before I was diagnosed, I committed myself to another mission: establishing Kansas Trails Inc. with the help of trail advocates and the Sunflower Foundation. Our work is simple but powerful—to help communities across Kansas find, build, and sustain trails. Trails are more than paths through the prairie; they are lifelines for small towns, strengthening connections and boosting local economies.
I’m bringing these two missions together in the Ride for Resilience (R4R). R4R is a bike ride across Kansas trails that encourages resilience—in lung cancer treatments that extend lives and research that opens new possibilities, in the riders who bike the state’s trails, and in the rural communities those trails run through and connect.
From September 15 to October 15, 2025, I’ll ride 700 miles in 30 days, across 60 trails and 50 towns in Kansas. It’s a ride about endurance, hope, and community. Along the way, I hope to meet cancer survivors, fighters, and trail lovers, sharing stories that inspire resilience in both people and places.
I will be posting highlights each day on social media as well as in the "Tales From the Trail" section at the end of this story. We're also generating some media coverage, so you'll find the links to that below.
My goal is to raise $75,000, shared evenly between GO2 for Lung Cancer and Kansas Trails Inc. Even better: I have two donors (who wish to remain anonymous) who will match every dollar up to $20,000. That means your gift will have twice the impact.
I am deeply grateful for the support of family and friends, the Advent Cancer Institute, and my incredible care team who make my journeys possible. I invite you to join me by donating to the fundraiser. Every dollar counts. Your support means the world.
Together, we can create lasting change. Inspired by the Athenian Oath, I want to leave our communities “not less, but better and more beautiful than we found them.” If I can help one person with lung cancer or brighten one Kansas town, it will be the greatest gift I can offer.
Mike Scanlon
MEDIA COVERAGE
9/26/2025: Fox4kc.com - Overland Park man rides 700 miles to raise money for cancer research READ ARTICLE
9/22/2025: Johnson County Post - This former JoCo city official retired last year. Now he’s biking 700 miles of Kansas trails. Scanlon, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, is using this 60-trail ride to raise money for Kansas Trails Inc. and GO2 for Lung Cancer. READ ARTICLE
9/19/2025: KSAL Radio's Morning News Extra to share his story about his stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis 18 months ago to his current status of No Evidence of Disease (NED), thanks to new targeted treatments. He also discusses his bike ride across Kansas trails to raise money for lung cancer research and Kansas trails. LISTEN HERE
9/17/2025: Miami County Republic Cover Story - "Ride for Resilience Will Raise Funds for Lung Cancer Research and Kansas Trails" READ ARTICLE
TALES FROM THE TRAIL
I hope you enjoy these daily videos that I take along each trail. They describe the trail, provide some biking tips, and include interviews with public officials and cancer survivors. You can watch the videos on my YouTube channel.