P.O. Box 2277
Portland, OR
97208
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RIDE FOR A CHILD Try googling "Grizzly, Oregon." Your search won’t find much. There is not much there. Some maps don’t even have it listed. I’ve been there, so I know it exists. To get there, find Madras and then head south on Highway 26 towards Prineville. About ten miles out of town hang a left onto Ramms Rd. Be watchful, for there are no exit signs and it is poorly marked. Follow this road to the end of the pavement—some five or six miles. You will pass a couple of farms. An old weathered sign at the end will point you in the direction of Grizzly. Instead of following the sign, turn left on the gravel road that leads towards Madras. About a quarter of mile down the gravel road you will see a few small buildings and a house. There is not much out here—a scattering of pine and juniper trees, some winter wheat, and a lot of open range for cattle. I would like you to stop at the house. Calling it a house is not adequate, because it truly is a home. It’s also a Candlelighters home because Faith lives there. She has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A barking dog and a squad of curious kids will greet you in the drive, and they will probably be wondering how you got lost all the way out here. Faith’s mother, Angie, will probably be in the kitchen scurrying to tidy up a bit. Boldly exit your vehicle, as the dog is all bark and no bite. The dog will wag his tail and the kids will engage you in friendly banter. Keep your eye on the young boy, Vincel, as he will likely slip a kitten from the new litter into your car when you are not looking. Have a bit of patience, as Jade will talk your ear off about their Make a Wish trip to Disneyland. The taller girl is Cynthia. She will wait until the others have had their say and then engage you in conversation about the swim team she has joined. Dad, Vince, will more than likely be tinkering outside on a machine. The little one, who you could not take your eyes off of since you first arrived, is Faith. She is the one with the winning, ear-to-ear smile. You’ll probably notice the three inches of new wavy blond hair that caps her head. I recently got to visit the family at Doernbecher Childrens Hospital while they were in town for Faith’s maintenance visit. It was the first time I had seen her with such a beautiful head of hair. After they left I thought about where they lived and how, as a young boy, I had much the same experiences as Vincel is having growing up on a farm. I also thought about another RFAC rider, Tom, who had rode his bike out to their home earlier this last year to visit with them. So when I got home I emailed Tom an update about this marvelous family. He emailed me back that day to thank me and to share that his brother had passed away from cancer at the age of 53. He explained to me that his involvement with RFAC has been a gift to him and that how we extend a hand to the siblings, as well as the sick child, is a great blessing. My heart goes out to Tom. He is a fine example of a man who gives to others that are less fortunate. I am sorry that he now faces the same situation as those we serve. Age does not diminish the sting. Some day soon I hope that Tom and I can ride our bikes out to the end of Ramms Road and down the gravel lane to the home. There will be a bunch of kids that all have new stories and all kinds of things to share. To Tom, I can lend an ear and also express my gratitude for what he has done for RFAC, where every day it is brought home to me that there is more to riding a bike than just going long and fast. We have recently selected honored children for this year’s RFAC program. These children are the faces for Candlelighters For Children With cancer for this year. Please join me in welcoming them to this year’s program. Chloe – 8 years old, ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia), Baker City Madilyn – 7 years old, AML (acute myeloid leukemia,) Springfield Kyle C. – 9 years old, Piliocytic Astrocytoma, Lake Oswego Rebekah – 6 years old, Ewing’s sarcoma, Banks Kyle E. – 8 years old, ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia), Vancouver Renna – 6 years old, Acinar Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas, Central Point Alex – 4 years old, ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia), Bend Austin – 10 years old, AML (acute myeloid leukemia), Hermiston Thanks, Randy Radcliffe (503.351.7239 or email randyradcliffe58@aol.com)
Faith and Tom In January, Cycle Oregon announced the route that 2,000 enthusiastic cyclistwill enjoy late this summer. The ride, nicknamed "The Wild Wheeled West," will roll through awe-inspiring country in the northeastern corner of Oregon. Riders will overnight in such towns as Elgin, Union, Baker City, Halfway, and Enterprise. For good measure Cycle Oregon has arranged a two-night stay at the Oregon treasure known as Wallowa Lake. Baker City is the largest town we will stay in, which is an indication of the wild and rural feel you can expect of this year’s ride. If you have never been to Hells Canyon then this is your year to experience this magical place up close and personal and from astride your bicycle. As fantastic as this ride will be, even more impressive are the dedicated people who ride for RFAC. At about 45 riders and growing, this group represents Candlelighters and the children that are picked as representative of all the children we serve in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Our selection process has begun, and by next newsletter we hope to present the good news about who will represent RFAC as honored kids this year. Last year we honored eight representative children. I wish I could report that all of them are well. I am sad to report that one of our honored kids has suffered a relapse. Lesly, a wonderfully gregarious little 7-year old, has been the focus of a lot of the thoughts and prayers of our riders, staff and friends as she faces her challenge day by day. Candlelighters and RFAC, whose cooperative mission is to provide support, education and advocacy to families whose lives are affected by childhood cancer, give our unflagging support and encouragement to Lesly and her family. I know some of you cannot dedicate a whole week to ride with RFAC on Cycle Oregon. There is another fantastic riding opportunity that takes only three days. Cycle Oregon, partnering with Oregon State Parks, offers The Weekend Ride on August 1-3, 2008. Based at Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon coast, The Weekend Ride features routes that vary from 15 miles to 68 miles to suit your style and choice. This is a great opportunity to introduce children to cycling adventures or to just spend some time with a special teenager, spouse or friend. Ride options will guide you along scenic back roads to Fort Clatsop and historic Astoria. You can visit the Astoria Column or ride your bike the four miles across the Astoria-Megler Bridge into Washington. The adventurous can continue on into the Long Beach Peninsula, or you can choose to just relax in camp or explore at leisure the grounds of historic Fort Stevens and a beautiful stretch of Oregon’s northern shore. Several RFAC riders will be there and we welcome you to join us on The Weekend Ride. As is our tradition, RFAC will enhance the camp experience by providing tents, snacks and refreshments, comfortable chairs and a convenient gathering place.The food is good, the entertainment enjoyable, and we will even pitch your tent. Visit www.cycleoregon.com to register for The Weekend Ride. Please call me if you want to participate with Candlelighters and RFAC.Thanks to all, Randy Radcliffe (503.351.7239 or email randyradcliffe58@aol.com) (April 2008 Newsletter) I came to Candlelighters a couple years ago when a close friend, Dick Hartung, asked me to get involved with them. At first I went to a few board meetings, and before long I found myself volunteering at dinners and then Serving on the development committee. Something clicked with me. I saw a need and knew I wanted to help, even though I have not had a child with cancer. But this is not about me. What it is about is that there is a tremendous need and so very few people to step up to satisfy it. Candlelighters needs – and appreciates - people. Candlelighters is a superb group of dedicated individuals who often do much more than might be reasonably asked of them. To all of them we give our genuine admiration and enduring gratitude. While one of the purposes of this newsletter is to thank all the people involved in Candlelighters, I realize that I have let a few of these fine people inadvertently fall through the cracks unrecognized. Two people come readily to mind. One person (who has been there from the very beginning) and who is still deeply appreciated for all she does is my mother, Rose Radcliffe, who graciously sewed together the banners that lined our booth at Cycle Oregon. Thank you, Mom. And I don’t know how I managed to let Jon Hopkins go unmentioned in the newsletter. You may remember Jon as one of last September’s RFAC riders. It wasn’t for indecision that he joined RFAC at the last minute on Cycle Oregon. You see, until the week preceding Cycle Oregon, Jon was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Earlier in the year he had undergone perilous surgery, radiation and chemotherapies. So it is nothing short of astounding that he rode more than 400 miles right on the heels of having been so sick—and all the more remarkable because he did it with a smile, a laugh and a sense of purpose. Alexa is a wonderful little four-year-old girl who happens to have cancer just like Jon. So it seemed to me befitting that Jon rode RAFC honoring Alexa with every turn of his pedals. Most of us cannot truly comprehend what it means to undergo major surgery, followed by radiation treatment and unending rounds of chemotherapy. Regrettably, Jon knows these things far too intimately. When he left on Cycle Oregon Jon had no idea that his experience would be an element of what would become an enduring friendship with Alexa and her family. One of the RFAC’s greatest hopes is that riders will become acquainted with and involved in the lives of our honored kids and their families. Of course this interaction may develop at all levels of closeness. I am privileged to witness the bonding between Jon and Alexa and her family, for theirs is a closeness borne of courage, joy and genuine interest. I am fortunate to know Alexa and her family. They are all heroes—as is Jon, whose heart, ambition and courage make him a hero by any measure. If I overlook thanking people for their participation with and contribution to Candlelighters, there is no neglect intended. Sometimes things simply fall through the cracks. I overlooked thanking my mother and Jon, both of whom are very special to me. You will find Alexa’s picture in an honored place in all three of our homes. We invite you to join us. Whether you choose to ride, volunteer or contribute in any appropriate way you can, we have a place for you in Candlelighters.
(March 2008 Newsletter) ^BACK TO TOP Ride-For-A-Child is a fundraiser for Candlelighters. Every September, RFAC riders participate by riding the Cycle Oregon route. Riders raise funds and awareness for Candlelighters, as well as give support to an honored child. Children we honor are representative of the Candlelighters families and are selected in order to put authentic faces on the wide variety of diagnoses and ages of children who battle cancer. If you can't join us as a rider, please consider honoring those children fighting cancer by making a donation to Ride for a Child. Click on the "Make a Donation" button and join us in spirit for Cycle Oregon.
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Thanks to all, Randy Radcliffe
& Craig Olsson