Survivor rides to raise funds for cancer awareness

HARLINGEN — Buddy Boren had not ridden a bike since he was 17, but that didn’t stop him from riding one for good cause.

After surviving a tough battle with skin cancer, the 64-year-old Dallas resident wants to be an inspiration to cancer patients, encouraging them to stay strong in the face of the disease.

Boren spreads his message by riding a bicycle across Texas and the United States. He embarked on his sixth ride Wednesday. Departing from Brownsville, he plans to arrive in Darrouzett, Texas in two weeks — taking him from the southernmost part of the state to the northernmost.

“I decided that I was going to go out and tell people I made it and people can make it too if they decide not to give up,” he said.

Fourteen years ago, Boren was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. The cancer began behind his nose and moved onto his to the back of his neck and shoulder.

“I had 30 tumors, it was a pretty bad deal,” he said.

Funds for various cancer charities are collected via Boren’s Web site www.tourderoute66.com.

Boren is still promoting his message on this ride, but he is also fundraising for another group of people close to his heart.

“I decided I also wanted to do it for the Wounded Warrior Project,” he said.

The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization that aids veterans injured in conflict.

“I just contacted the Wounded Warrior Project and asked them if they would like me to try and raise money for them,” he said.

Boren is a veteran of the Texas Army National Guard.

After he completes this ride, Boren will have traveled 22,000 miles.

Boren averages 60-65 miles a day on his Trek bicycle and never travels at night. He maps out starting and ending points and only carries the basic necessities when riding.

“I’ll stop in Raymondville, then travel from Raymondville to Kingsville and skip through like that,” he said.

Boren said when he gets tired on the ride and feels like giving up that his message keeps him going.

“That’s what this ride is all about. It’s about the people I’m riding for, not me. I’ve survived; I’ve made it. Anybody can ride a bicycle,” he said.