Still Trekking for a Cause
A local man undertook a journey from Cincinnati to Santa Monica to benefit the American Cancer Society. Keep reading to learn about his adventure, mission and how you can help.

When his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer of the bone in October 2010, Brandon Perry wanted to do something. In November 2010, it occurred to him that he should be doing something big to help those, including his grandfather, who were struggling with cancer. This came in the form of the more than 2,000-mile odyssey, which he called Trek for the Cause, from Cincinnati to Santa Monica.

Perry started the journey on April 3 on foot from Fountain Square and arrived in Santa Monica on June 9. The trip, undertaken part of the way on foot and part of the way on a bike that was donated to Perry, was meaningful for a few reasons. Primarily, Perry did it to support his grandfather, whose prognosis wasn't supposed to last past June 2011.

"One of the driving components of my trek was my grandpa," Perry says. "He wasn't supposed to be home when I got back, but it's been a year now and he's still fighting."

One of the most powerful effects of his trek was to light a fire under the people he met to get involved with efforts for the American Cancer Society, Perry says. "I knew by doing the trek that I was going to catch a lot of attention," he says. "The people I met were really amazed by it and wanted to know how they could get involved in what I was doing. Someone actually gave me a bike to finish my journey."

Perry continues to stay involved in the fight against cancer through an organization he started to inspire youths to get active in events that combat the disease, called Can't Stop Won't Stop, and athletic events that benefit patients and survivors.

"Can't Stop Won't Stop is inspired by a kind of 'never give up' attitude," Perry says. "Each month we choose a different society or foundation to give proceeds to."

In addition to benefiting these worthy causes, Perry says his organization and ones like it help people who don't participate in a lot of physical activity to raise their heart rates for an important reason. "It's about getting people who wouldn't usually be active to get out and do it for the cause," he says. "That's an important facet of what I'm doing."

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