Cyclist celebrates his 65th birthday by cycling across the country to benefit three charities
Most people view their retirement years as a time to put up their feet, relax and take things a little more slowly.

Barrington resident Bob Lee, who turns 65 on April 29, has a different plan.

Lee will celebrate the milestone by pedaling 6,500 miles across the country for three worthy causes: the Les Turner ALS Foundation, National Hospice Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

The journey, called "A Ride for 3 Reasons" started in Jacksonville, Florida in late March. Lee will ride up the East Coast to Maine, fly to Washington state and ride back to Maine. The entire trip will take between five and six months.

"I guess I am on a mission," Lee said. "I have an opportunity to refocus my life, to go from success to significance."

Semi-retired from the window covering industry, Lee felt the best way to show his gratitude for his personal and professional good fortune would be to give back to his community.

Inspired by several books, most notably Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie," as well as his own personal experiences, Lee set out to raise funds for ALS and Hospice.

The result was 2001's "A Ride With a Reason," a 65-day, 3,250-mile cross-country ride which raised more than $86,000.

"It was the best thing I've done in my life," he said. "Taking my career and hobbies and putting them together meant a lot to me."

It wasn't long after that he began thinking of another ride. But in 2003 he had his own battle to fight when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He was lucky that it was caught early and stopped in its tracks, giving him the opportunity to continue his passion, which is raising money and helping others while celebrating a healthy lifestyle.

He also believes in one of Lance Armstrong's mantras: cancer survivors have an obligation to continue the fight. The bike is the tool he uses to help him persist with his cause.

Small in stature and extremely humble, but with an energy level that belies his age, Lee presses on not necessarily for the attention or the adventure, but rather because he feels it is a calling for him at this point in his life.

He often gets emotional talking about friends he has lost, like Rich Crane, his "attitude coach" who died from ALS in 2002. Lee will ride with a locket given to him on loan by Rich's wife, Lisa, which contains a tiny amount of his ashes.

Lee also gets inspiration from friends like Jon Blaise, who completed Ironman Kona in 2005 after being diagnosed with ALS, and Andrew Fleeson, who has had ALS for close to two decades (the normal lifespan is two to five years).

With the full support of his wife, Anne, his two children and six grandchildren, Lee will again fly solo this summer, carrying around 40 pounds of gear in bags all over his bike. He has a map, but no itinerary.

Instead, he plans to average about 50 miles a day, but that might come from riding 10 miles one day and 90 the next. If the opportunity presents itself to spend a day talking to people, he'll do that instead.

For Lee, it's not about just pounding out the miles and getting home, it's about reaching out and doing something to make other's lives better.

"It's all about the people-that's what the ride is all about," he said, "and when I wonder if I'm nuts and the days are long I have a talk with my attitude coach."

Lee's fundraising goal is to raise at least $300,000, or $100,000 to each of his three charities. He is well on his way, as at press time he had already received donations from more than 1,000 donors.

With generous sponsorships and his own personal funds, Lee has covered all of his operating expenses. Therefore, 100 percent of the donations he receives will go toward his charities in a restricted designation so that it is earmarked specifically for research.

For more information, to make a donation, or to follow his progress, go to www.3reasons.org

Mike Knapp is a freelance writer based in Aurora. Reach him at mikek0525@hotmail.com.