At 79, Phil Dettmer from Palo Alto, California is the oldest participant in the 2000 Big Ride and has some very personal reasons for riding. At the age of 19, Phil spent eight months in a tuberculosis center for treatment with little hope for survival. After watching other patients around him die from severe lung complications, he managed to recover. He also suffers from severe asthma and watched his mother die slowly and painfully in an oxygen tank due to smoking. I just have to keep going.
Lung disease is one of the nation's fastest growing health problems.
Most people know someone whose life has been touched by lung disease. The Lung Association is proud of its 200 cycling ambassadors. For our part, we're sharing RadioShack's resources to keep people connected and help to ensure the riders' safety along the route. Together we at the RadioShack Big Ride are connecting things, connecting people and connecting places to make a difference in the crusade against lung disease. The highest elevation of the ride is in Montana challenging cyclists to bike to 7,000 feet.