MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper welcomed Philadelphia cyclist and Ride Hard Breathe Easy (RHBE) founder John Matthews on Aug. 15, marking the successful completion of an intense, five-day, 425-mile cycling journey dedicated to raising awareness and critical financial support for lung cancer patients and their families.
The annual Ride Hard Breathe Easy Classic kicked off on Aug. 11 at the Dartmouth Cancer Center in Hanover, New Hampshire. Over the next five days, Matthews and fellow cyclists traveled through New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, stopping in local communities to engage with supporters, hospital partners, volunteers, and advocates under the banner: “How many miles does it take to get people talking about lung cancer? 14,000 and counting.”
Matthews founded Ride Hard Breathe Easy in 2019—following a cross-country ride inspired by a promise he made to his mother, Kathleen, whom he lost to lung cancer in 2011. Since its inception, the organization has grown into a vital nonprofit network, raising more than $1.2 million and delivering direct financial assistance to over 2,500 patients and families nationwide.
“I started riding because I made my mom a promise,” Matthews said. “But every year, this ride becomes bigger than my family’s story. It is about every patient who needs help getting to treatment, paying a bill, buying groceries, or simply making it through the hardest days of a lung cancer diagnosis with a little less stress.”
Through an ongoing partnership with Ride Hard Breathe Easy, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper provides eligible patients with financial aid for non-medical expenses that are often uncovered by insurance. This includes assistance with transportation to treatment, utility and housing bills, groceries, and essential items like wigs. RHBE has contributed approximately $10,000 to Cooper’s Patients-in-Need Fund to directly alleviate these financial hurdles.
“The impact of Ride Hard Breathe Easy extends far beyond the miles traveled,” Lisa Morina, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer at The Cooper Foundation said. “Their commitment to supporting lung cancer patients helps address everyday challenges that can accompany a diagnosis and demonstrates the power of community-driven philanthropy.”
