Don Belisle has only lived in Georgia for about three years. After Masters Week, he’ll give himself a proper introduction to the whole state, traversing some 600 miles to raise money for cancer research.
“I just wanted to do something different as an individual to raise funds,” said Belisle, 67, who has been planning what he calls the Peach State Pedal since January. “Last year I did a silent auction and I try to just say, what can I do that’s a little different, more challenging? And so I came up with, now why don’t I ride across the state?”
Starting on April 11, Belisle will be riding from Columbus, Ga. to Thomaston, Perry, Dublin, Hazlehurst and Jesup, all the way to the coast in Brunswick, before heading north back to Augusta, ending the course in front of the Cancer Center downtown.
To gather monies, Belisle will combine a little of both the old and new, bringing a jar for cash donations along his travels, as well as putting the word out about his trip so potential supporters can contribute through his website, which is operated via Paceline, the nonprofit organization devoted to supporting cancer research.
“It’s going to be kind of a grassroots approach: I’m going to stop through all the little towns and talk about cancer, pass the jar, ask for donations,” he said. “We’ve all lost somebody to cancer, unfortunately, and just whatever people can give, they can give.”
After two total knee replacements rendered Belisle, who lives in Evans, unable to enjoy his former pastime, running, he turned to cycling. That was three years ago, around when he and his wife moved down south from Michigan, to settle in a warmer climate and to be closer to their sons, both of whom are veterans, and one of whom was stationed with the Air Force at Fort Gordon.
“When I first got here, not being able to run anymore, I wanted to do a hundred-mile ride,” he said. “So I started Googling century rides in Georgia and Paceline popped up.”
Zimmer Biomet, the company that manufactured Belisle’s knee replacements, contributed $1,000 this week to Paceline towards his Peach State Pedal fundraising goal of $6,000.
The Peach State Pedal will be Belisle’s third fundraising campaign for Paceline. He cycled for 100 miles nonstop for the first time two years ago, he said. To begin training for this year’s ride, he’s been bicycling 225 to 250 miles a week on average, with the longer rides being about 60 to 70 miles.
Belisle estimates the whole ride will take about 10 days, including rest days, with an average of 60 miles per day, barring inclement weather along the way, or occasions where a town may prove interesting enough to stay for a little longer.
“I can see the countryside, have an enjoyable ride, meet new people, go to different places and talk about cancer and maybe raise some money along the way just as something a little different than just asking for money,” Belisle said. “I’m kind of doing something in return where it’s going to be tiring. It could be painful at times, but what I go through is nothing anywhere near what cancer patients are going through on a day-to-day basis.”
For more information on Paceline, or the Peach State Pedal, or to contribute, visit his Paceline page at https://paceline.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=2235 or his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/donate/764775568195575/145550678439658.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
