Benefit ride to honor late laboratory leader
<p><strong>The Daily Inter Lake</strong> was represented at the July 10 Flathead Builders Association “Best in the West” annual Norrish Scholarship Golf Tournament, by Randy Geisler, Kristy J. Geisler (the Inter Lake's advertising director), and Flathead High School golf team members Evan Miles and Nick Weaver. There were 29 teams in the tournament with 116 golfers participating. (Patrick Booth photo/Mystic Creek Studio)</p>
What better way to honor the memory of an avid cyclist than a road ride?
After Kalispell Regional Medical Center Laboratory Director Steve Rademaker died from pancreatic cancer last December, that’s what his friends and colleagues asked themselves.
That’s why, on Aug. 29, cyclists will roll in the first Rad Ride for Cancer Support.
Rademaker was an avid cyclist and also competed in Ironman competitions.
The Rad Ride, referring to Rademaker’s name, radiation therapy and how much fun organizers hope the ride will be, will begin on the Rails to Trails path in Kalispell near Fun Beverage and head to Batavia Lane — a distance of 20 miles — and back. There will be 10-mile and 5-mile turnaround points as well.
Deb Wilson, the chief operating officer at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, knew Rademaker well and had admiration for the man and his work.
“He was gregarious, fun-loving and always lit up the room,” she said. “He always had a positive attitude and wanted to make sure everybody else was happy. I have great admiration for his spirit.”
Rademaker took his diagnosis the best way he could have, Wilson said. He never lost hope and continued to fight and stay active until the last days.
The Rad Ride for Cancer Support is $20 a person or $30 for a family of four with $10 for each additional member. All proceeds will be given to the planned Cancer Support Community at Kalispell Regional Healthcare.
The Community is a house where people undergoing cancer treatment or recovering from it can stay. One exists in Bozeman, but that is the only one in the state. The hospital hopes to open a Flathead Cancer Support Community sometime in 2015.
Rademaker’s family and wife, Susie, will be back for the event. Wilson said it promises to be a popular event.
“I’m actually buying a bike to do the ride,” she said. “We all agreed before he passed away that we wouldn’t let his spirit of living life to the full extent go.”
For more information, visit www.Facebook.com/RadRideforCancerSupport?fref=ts.
Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.