Members of Team-J’s Charity Bicycling Team are planning to bicycle in Ride Across America in support of two causes;
Hydrocephalus Awareness – www.hydroassoc.org
GIST Pediatric Cancer Awareness – www.liferaftgroup.org

Team J picture 2015TEAM-J’s local bicyclists, Benny Higgenbotham Jr. and Benny Higgenbotham III will ride nearly 3,000 miles from California to Columbus, Ohio. The starting point will be either San Diego or San Francisco, California, depending on the weather. The journey to bring more public Awareness to Hydrocephalus and GIST will begin in early June. Due to time constraints they will be joined by team members, Nino Turner and Doug Page for the last 300 miles of the trip and Jesiah Page for the finish in Columbus, Ohio.

Jesiah Page, age 13 of Sandusky, Ohio, is the team’s inspiration. He is a Hydrocephalus and GIST cancer patient. To date, he has endured 22 brain surgeries, 4 spinal surgeries and had a cancerous GIST tumor removed, resulting in the removal of a portion of his stomach as well. GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor) is a rare cancer in children and because of this, Jesiah is part of a NIH research study at Bethesda, MD. To find out more about GIST, click here.

Jesiah, an accomplished cyclist, is training to ride the last 30 miles of RAA into Columbus, Ohio. He also cycled 30 miles during the 2015 Cycle Ride Across Ohio. Jesiah’s close friend, C’Leo Smith, a Leukemia patient, passed away in 2014 at the age of 14. The 2014 Cycle Ride Across Ohio was done in his Memory and was titled “C’Leo’s Ride.”

TEAM-J was founded by Benny Higgenbotham Jr. in 2010 and has completed a number of self-funded cycle rides, swims, triathlons, track meets and other events for various charitable causes. Past cycle rides include five annual cycle rides across Ohio, and ride around Lake Erie in 2013:
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/News/2013/09/17/UPDATED-Lake-Erie-loop-brings-awareness.html?ci=content&lp=&p=1

TEAM-J Jr. member Ahnyx Russell, age 8, has competed at the 2015 AAU National Track & Field Championship, in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dashes.

TEAM-J has 15 members varying in age from 7 to 58 years old and is based in Sandusky, Ohio.

Because of the lengthy travel time required to bicycle across America (estimated to be 30-40 days), it is estimated to cost $4000 in expenses. Sponsors and those who wish to offset these expenses can contact the TEAM-J Director, Benny Higgenbotham Jr.

Like many other rare childhood diseases and medical conditions, Hydrocephalus and GIST are not well known by the general public. As such, research funding is limited, cures and treatments are coming but are slow to fruition. Having a family member (and his family) that deal with these challenges daily, brought about the awareness that many families and children need support. TEAM-J’s goal is to help those families.

In conclusion, thank you for your prayers and best wishes. For more information, please contact Benny Higgenbotham Jr.: bhiggenbotham@sbcglobal.net.