Denny Lai's Journey Begins

Denny Lai, a Fishtown resident, starts biking from Indiana to Pittsburgh to raise $1 million for cancer research.

Honoring Grandmother

Lai honors his late grandmother Baoling, an anesthesiologist who practiced in rural Western China during the 1960s.

Grandmother's Influence

Baoling's mantra was 'Patients come first, and if there doesn't seem to be a way, I'll find a way.'

“Patients come first, and if there doesn't seem to be a way, I'll find a way”

Grandmother's Cancer Diagnosis

Lai recalls his grandmother's breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, which scared him as she was his first cancer patient.

Grandmother's Recovery

Baoling went into remission and lived until 2019, after which Lai began training for the Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride.

Ride Details

The 3,000-mile Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride starts Sept. 10 in Oregon and ends Oct. 7 in New Jersey.

Lai's Training

Lai has logged more than 1,600 miles in Philadelphia while training for his leg of the ride.

Training Challenges

Lai faced extreme heat during training, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees and 87% humidity.

City Connection

Lai says he has grown closer to Philadelphia, knowing every pothole in Fishtown and Spring Garden.

Community Impact

Lai's neighbors have since dusted off their bikes and shared stories about cancer impacts.

Ride Progress

Lai has raised more than $5,000 and starts his leg of the journey with his nine-member team, Tour de Cure, on Thursday in Indiana.

Ride Completion

Lai finishes the ride in Pittsburgh on Saturday, having raised $1 million for cancer research.