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Wichita cyclists to raise money for leukemia research, Nepal earthquake relief

By Gabriella Dunn

The Wichita Eagle
A Nepalese street vendor waits for customers in front of a broken wall, as makeshift tents for those whose houses were damaged by the earthquake stand in the background, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, May 9, 2015. The international response has been slow to an appeal for emergency funds to help the millions of people hit by last month's earthquake in Nepal, a U.N. official said Friday. Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N.'s chief official in Nepal, said the agency had received $22 million so far against an appeal last week for $415 million to support relief efforts for the first three months in the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
A Nepalese street vendor waits for customers in front of a broken wall, as makeshift tents for those whose houses were damaged by the earthquake stand in the background, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, May 9, 2015. The international response has been slow to an appeal for emergency funds to help the millions of people hit by last month's earthquake in Nepal, a U.N. official said Friday. Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N.'s chief official in Nepal, said the agency had received $22 million so far against an appeal last week for $415 million to support relief efforts for the first three months in the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) Niranjan Shrestha AP

Two Wichita veterans plan to bike 250 miles through Missouri in hopes of raising $10,000 for leukemia research and Nepal earthquake relief.

Eugene Crane, the father of a 7-year old boy named Preston with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia, and Chris Thomas, a health and development officer for the United States Agency for International Development, will bike the Katy Trail May 16 through May 19.

“We’re a couple of aging, overweight guys, so it’s going to be some work,” Crane said.

Half the money Crane and Thomas raise will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the other half will go toward earthquake relief in Nepal. Thomas said he hopes to find a local organization for the Nepal donation. As of Thursday, the two had raised $1,045.

“The best way you can help out in both leukemia research and foreign disasters is with money,” Thomas said.

Crane first pitched the bike ride to Thomas purely for fun, but Thomas said he jumped on board when they decided to fund raise.

“When this happened to Nepal I said, ‘I’m definitely in,’” he said. “Nepal is close to my heart.”

Thomas said he was most recently in Nepal for work in December.

“As much as I would like to be there, my small part can be donating money,” he said.

To contribute, go to www.crowdrise.com and search “250 Mile Ride for Leukemia and Nepal Relief.”

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 7:47 PM with the headline "Wichita cyclists to raise money for leukemia research, Nepal earthquake relief."

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