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By Tina Vasquez • Editorial AssistantLet’s be honest: A lot of unfavorable things are said about Americans—we’re money hungry, we’re selfish, we’retrivial, and more. And at times, it’s easy for us as Americans to convince ourselves that these things are true.It often takes encountering a man like Rodger Fox to put these kinds of allegations into perspective; tomake us realize that not only are good people out there in America, but that they’re also doingvery good things. It just takes some courage to see them and to be one.odger, a Member ofRGWRRA, cancer survivor,and all aroundinteresting guy, certainly is one.And he is responsible for a “littlething” he likes to call the Ride forthe Relay, an eleven-day, sevenstateride along the historic Route66 that begins in Chicago,Illinois, and ends in SantaMonica, California. All of theproceeds from the event—downto the every last penny donatedby the riders and sponsors—benefitsthe American CancerSociety.Both Rodger and his wife Sue are cancersurvivors; Rodger himself is going on twentythreeyears with a clean bill of health. “It’s mybelief that when you’ve been helped in yourlife, it’s natural to want to give back, to want tohelp,” Rodger says. “After putting this ridetogether, I’ve realized that people want to help,you just have to give them the opportunity to.”The MissionThe ride, now in its third year, is gaining inpopularity, support and, most importantly,gaining in participants and sponsorship, whichmeans more money for the American CancerSociety. “The first year of the ride it was basicallyjust me and my motorcycle—I was theonly participant,” Rodger says. “We focusedmore on getting sponsors than we did otherriders. That first ride I raised $4,400 by myselfjust through sponsorships. This year we’reexpecting between 50-100 participants—withabout 20 of those riders making the entire tripfrom Illinois to California with me. We’re hopingto make around $25,000 this year, and youbetter believe we’re going to try our hardest toget there.”For those interested in joining the ride thisyear—which begins on Saturday, September 6,2008—or in donating money, there are severallevels of sponsorship. Each rider must donate$33, regardless of the distance he or she rides.For those not interested in making the rideitself, silver sponsors can donate $66, goldsponsors can donate $132, andcorporate sponsors can donate$660 (Notice the Route 66 symbolismin Rodger’s efforts?).More information, including thetrip schedule and applicationforms, can be found at Rodger’ssite ridefortherelay.com.The KarmaGood deeds always count,but sometimes the way theycome about isn’t so intentional.Rodger, a long time volunteer,found himself sitting in his livingroom with his wife one day trying to thinkof a way to couple his love of motorcycles withhis desire to ride along the country’s historicRoute 66—and then it just came to him, hesays. “I obviously started the relay because Iwanted to give back, but at the same time Ilove riding motorcycles. I wanted to go toCalifornia and I needed an excuse to stay onRoute 66 because, if I didn’t, I’d never stay ontrack because of all my friends and family inall directions,” Rodger explains. And so, kindof by accident and mostly through the goodnessof his heart, something really amazingwas born.The Ride for the Relay is as much aboutraising money for the American CancerSociety as it is about bringing like-mindedAugust 2008 49