“After my faith, Heather is my rock,” he says. “During chemo October through February, she was sleeping on a pretty uncomfortable cot that whole time, right by my side, on a laptop running multiple businesses. You just don’t get a better rock than that.” “I hope that I have earned all of the hard work that Sarah Cannon Cancer Center put in, Dr. Strickland, all the researchers that brought this drug to bear, and the nursing staff that literally was sitting up all night with me,” he says. “It is just unbelievable how much work went into this,” he says. “It’s a hard, hard thing to go through, but the team that got me through it worked so hard and so tirelessly and my guess is that I saw a fraction of that team.” “I hope that when this reaches the people that helped me, whether that be my community, the oncologist in my community, my oncologist, Dr. Strick- land, the company who made the drug, all these people worked as a team to get me where I am today, and so I hope that I can give them some gratitude and say thank you in this.” One hundred and fifty miles on his bike, stretched out over three days, which will put him riding literally up to the doctor’s office door, tired, but finally able to put his disease firmly behind him - it’s something that Dr. Ashburn knows will be difficult. But, he’s done hard things before. “It’s not going to be easy - I know it’s going to be a tough ride physically and emotionally,” he says. “But I just can’t imagine not doing something like this. It’s the very least I can do.” Dr. Joseph Ashburn began his 150-mile journey on October 10th at 8 a.m., departing from the Livingston County Trail System. After three days of cycling, he arrived in Nashville on Monday, October 12th, at 2:30 p.m. The ride turned out to be more than I could have ever hoped for. It brought more challenges than I anticipated, including a hurricane-driven storm front, leg-draining hills, and some concerning traffic. But looking back, I believe those challenges made the journey even more meaningful. In many ways, these three days on the bike mirrored my three-year battle with leukemia. There were moments of joy, moments of struggle, times when the road seemed easy, and times when I simply had to keep pushing forward. But every mile, every hill, and every challenge brought me closer to something I had dreamed about for three years. In the end, I rolled up to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, where I was greeted by a line of familiar faces I have grown to love. Researchers, caregivers, and clinic staff were all wait- ing to welcome me. These are the people who have walked alongside me through some of the darkest and most uncertain days of my life. To see them standing there, celebrating with me, was something I will never forget. As I checked in at the front desk, I noticed other patients in the waiting room looking curiously at the bicycle I had brought inside. The receptionist began explaining to everyone why I was there, telling them about my 150-mile ride and my victory over leukemia. It was an incredibly powerful moment. I could see it on their faces. In a room filled with people facing their own battles, I hoped my story might offer even a small glimpse of encouragement and hope. But the pinnacle of the day came when I was handed my final test results. There it was, in black and white. The cancer was gone. Yet, in some ways, I already knew. Maybe a piece of paper alone wouldn’t have been enough to make it feel real. But that piece of paper, combined with 150 miles of hills, wind, rain, exhaustion, determination, and overwhelming gratitude, made it undeniable. I had officially OUTRIDDEN CANCER! Three years ago, I was fighting just to get my life back. Today, I am living that life with more joy and gratitude than I could have ever imagined. God is good. Life is beautiful. And the ride isn’t over!” - Joseph Ashburn, M.D.