This is how it all got started:
Gerry Zimmermann
It was the winter of 1997 when my 2 1/2 year old daughter Hannah was jumping on my belly and something felt strange. I realized then that there was a large lump in my abdomen, which was soon confirmed to be an enlarged spleen due to an extremely high white blood cell count. Leukemia was mentioned, but of course I thought that could never happen to me. I had more tests, and soon found myself calling the Doctor Christmas Eve for the results of my bone marrow aspiration. It was true. I had Chronic Mylocytic Leukemia. I was 36 at the time, and my son Dylan was just 6 months old. We had caught it early (thank you, Hannah!), but a very risky procedure, a bone marrow transplant, was the only cure. My other option was interferon treatments, but the Doctor said I wouldn't last more than 10 years doing that. I didn't know what to do. We just tried to get through Christmas and stay focused.
I called friends and family to see if I should take the 70% chance of making it through a bone marrow transplant or relishing in the few years I had left to be with my wife and children. My feeling was that I owed it to my family to give it all I had, so we began a two year ordeal that was a challenge not only for me, but for my wife, my parents, my siblings, cousins, and friends.
It took a few months, but they found a perfect match for my marrow in the National Bone Marrow Bank and I was set to spend the summer of 1998 in a small room at Dana Farber Cancer Institute while they killed every white blood cell I had and gave me the new donor marrow. I was so grateful to everyone who helped me make it through such a very difficult time, and I thought constantly about other people going through the same ordeal. How could I help?
Bikes That Heal is my way of giving back. It is difficult to go through for the patient, but even more difficult for the spouse and children. I always thought about my wife soon being alone with the kids, and how she would get by. I know that many families today are dealing with these same thoughts. Maybe Bikes That Heal, by generating money for research, can help prevent that from happening to other families. Bikes That Heal has taken so much commitment from my wife Helen, Craig Shankles, my brother Bill and my cousin Lauren. I can't thank them enough for the dedication and heart that they have put into getting this foundation up and running. Together we can all make a difference, one dollar at a time!
Craig W. Shankles
Mr. Shankles received his bachelor's degree in fine arts from SUNY New Paltz in 1978. He has owned several successful business in his career. In 1979 he was brought on board to help turn around a local failing movie theatre. In 1 year he was to turn the operation into a profitable venture simply by changing its venue to one that addressed the local college demographics. In 1980 he and his wife opened a Printing and Graphics business, which they still owns and operate to this day. In 1990 he opened a second Printing operation in Tucson Arizona. That operation was recognized by the city of Tucson in it's "Best of Rewards" in 1993 as being one of the top 5 business printers out of 200 that existed in the Greater Tucson area. He sold this profitable operation in 1995 and focused more on his New Paltz operation and to become more involved with local community needs. In the years that followed he's has been very active in the New Paltz Chamber. He has been a primary force and voice in "Clean Sweep" an annual community clean up drive that brings out approximately 400 people each spring to clean the streets of New Paltz. He sits on the Chamber's planning committee for it's annual Gala Dinner which celebrates the New Paltz business community. He sits on the Chamber's committee for it's largest fund raiser "A Taste of New Paltz" which is a one day event that celebrates life in New Paltz. This event draws approximately 6000 people. In 2005 he took over as chair for the fifth "Business Expo" for the Chamber held at the Fair grounds and succeeded in making it the best attended Expo to date. He served as a board member on The Arts Society of Kingston for 2 years and was then elected to President for an additional 2 years. He presently is a board member on the New Paltz Community Foundation. A non profit organization who's mission is to enhance the quality of life in the New Paltz region by helping raise monies for worth while projects within the community. Mr. Shankles presently sits on the board of the SUNY New Paltz Gala celebration which holds an annual dinner to honor the outstanding achievements and contributions of important local people. Proceeds of this event go into an endowed fund and are used for scholarships. Mr Shankles was an honored "Man of the Year" in 2006 by the Ulster County Girl Scouts for his community services. Mr Shankles is spear heading a group to raise monies to revitalize a 100 + year old park in the middle of it's community. This project will run over 5 years and will require large sums of money. The out come of this project is not just to add additional recreational opportunities for our residents and visitors but is to create a Park that will be recognized as a world class design, with good stewardship and stand as an example to others, as to what can be done with a good understanding of ones community and it's needs..
Danny Brennan
Is the owner of the Bicycle Depot in New Paltz New York. I became involved with Bikes That Heal last year my contributions so far include gathering and repairing bicycles, I also promote a century ride every year with the proceeds going to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am also interested in board position with bikes that heal with an aim to help the organization grow. You don't have to look far to find someone who has been affected by this disease, hopefully we can help raise money for a cure!
