Thank you, Chapel Hill News, for honoring the achievements of the Cycle 20Ten team with a "Roses" salute (CHN Aug. 11).

We share your admiration of this amazing group of young men who sacrificed a summer to ride bicycles across the U.S. to raise awareness of and funds for cancer research. They raised close to $20,000 for cancer research at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

These young men braved physically taxing wind, rain and heat while camping their way across the country. Along the way they met cancer patients, family and friends of cancer patients, and experienced great kindness and support for their cause. They reached Anacortes, Washington, on August 18 and returned to Chapel Hill on August 20 with a large party of family and friends to welcome them home.

For these young men, it was the trip of a lifetime, and the research they fund has the potential to extend the lifetime of cancer patients. We cannot thank these riders and their families enough.

Thanks to team leaders Brian Burnham and David Hare who have made this trip twice on our behalf. Thanks to crew members Rourke Bauers, Matson Conrad, Ty Fenton, Mark Flournoy, Zach Jansen, Alex Johnson, Aidan Kelley, Jonah Keyserling, Charles LePrevost, Miles Rosen, Mike Ruston, Brian Stanton, and Sam Ward for their remarkable accomplishment.

Our patients and families draw strength and inspiration for their own cancer journeys from these remarkable young men.

Shelley Earp

Director

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center