Niagara University students going cross-country to fight cancer

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Niagara University’s Christopher Zukas and Vince Schiano walk across campus last week. The two Niagara students are raising money for cancer research by participating in a cross-country bicycle ride beginning in May.

February 20, 2012

By Timothy Chipp Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Mon Feb 20, 2012, 07:24 PM EST

NIAGARA FALLS — Two Niagara University students are about to make a cross-country trip to help the fight against cancer. Only they’re going to do it on bicycles.

Chris Zukas and Vince Schiano have slightly different reasons for getting involved. But both know cancer is a disease which needs to be eradicated as quickly as possible. So they joined up with the 4K for Cancer cross-country bicycle trip put together by the Ulman Cancer Fund For Young Adults.

“This is one of the most efficient not-for-profits I know of,” Schiano said. “When I did my research, I found out it’s honest, it’s really transparent. It’s a real credible charity.”

This is the 11th year for the 2,500-mile journeys, which has taken participants from Baltimore to San Francisco, Seattle or Portland. Schiano will be going to San Francisco this year, while Zukas will visit Portland.

They’ll both depart Baltimore’s inner harbor in May and spend 70 days traveling various distances along the path. Schiano will cycle through the Great Plains, climb 12,183 feet on Trail Ridge Road in Colorado and visit Zion National Park before finishing with a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Zukas’ group will visit the Tetons in Wyoming, Salt Lake City and Yellowstone National Park.

The two will spend the 4th of July together in Boulder, Colo. however, when their groups meet up.

“On the days where we’re going shorter distances, there’s going to be places set up where we will volunteer in the communities,” Zukas said. “The mission of the whole trip is to touch the lives of those hit by cancer. These stops are meant for us to raise more money.”

To make the trip possible, they each need to raise $4,500. The Ulman fund provides all of the gear they use, but it doesn’t become their own until they reach the monetary number.

In order to join the trips, however, they both needed to pass an interview. Schiano, communications director for the university’s student government association, joined first, having heard about the ride from a fraternity connection at another school. He said he had family pass away from cancer and he makes a habit of doing everything he can to fight back through volunteer efforts with the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life and philanthropic work for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, which provides care for children suffering from cancer.

Zukas, the student government president, heard what Schiano was doing and decided to try it as well.

“I talked about it quite a bit when I went home to North Carolina this winter break,” Zukas said. “Cancer is a special cause to me, because I lost my father to it when I was in high school. It has impacted my life profoundly.”

They were both accepted and began raising money any way they could. But they also began training, because neither one, they admitted, was in physical shape to handle the cross-country journey.

“We’re both taking different approaches to this,” Schiano said. “I’m doing the insanity workout, which is an hour long. I’m also doing some two-a-days.”

Zukas, meanwhile, is not focusing entirely on bicycle work. He’s an avid swimmer, having been involved with the university’s swim program for years. So he’s hoping his athletic background will help him in his training once the bicycles arrive on campus in the spring.

“I’m trying to simulate what the daily workout would be,” he said. “Right now, it’s a bit difficult. But once spring breaks and we get the bicycles, we’ll be able to workout for real.”

To donate to Zukas, go online to www.4kforcancer.org/profiles/christopher-zukas. Schiano’s donation site is available at www.4kforcancer.org/profiles/vince-schiano.

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