Young cyclist takes on a big cause

MOUNT LAUREL — At age 9 going on 10, Cameron Humphreys is at the perfect age for the sports he loves — swimming, baseball, soccer and bike riding.

Cameron likes to ride his bike big-time. We’re not talking a spin around the block. How about 65 miles to the shore?

Cameron and his dad, David, plan to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Bike-a-Thon to the shore July 14. He plans to ride all 65 miles, starting at the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and ending at the Buena Vista Camping Park in Atlantic County.

Last year, he rode 21 miles, the last leg of the trip, and raised $1,040 to fight cancer in the process, coming in 170 out of 4,000 participants in fundraising. This year, Cameron wants to participate in the whole ride.

He’s doing it in memory of his great-grandfather, “Pop-Pop Bill Williams,” who passed away last year from lung cancer.

When his dad asked him if he wanted to ride a leg of last year’s event, Cameron responded, “If Pop-Pop Bill can fight cancer, I can ride my bike 21 miles.”

Cameron is in shape to do it. He was one of only eight children in his grade at the Hillside School selected for the Presidential Fitness Award, he said.

Both Humphreys men are now in training for the big ride.

“The fact that he gets up to ride his bike for two hours (from 6 to 8 a.m.) is amazing. He was so motivated to do it. I had to get motivated, too,” David Humphreys said.

Dad is a former Army combat medic who now works in information technology security. He had given up bike riding until he saw how much Cameron wanted to ride.

“I would never had been riding my bike today if it wasn’t for him wanting to do it,” Humphreys said.

Now the whole family is into the sport, including Humphreys’ wife, Nolinne, who bought a bike with a back seat for baby Jasmine, 1. Kaylene, 6, just started riding a two-wheeler, so they’re all ready to ride.

Cameron said he enjoys going on outings with his family and other riders they sometimes join.

“I get to meet new people,” he said.

Cameron has goals as he gets older. “I want to try to stay in biking. I also want to be an engineer.”

The American Cancer Society has signed up almost 2,500 people for the 41st annual Bike-a-Thon. Starting points are at the Ben Franklin Bridge as well as in Shamong, Cherry Hill and Hammonton. Registration is $180, or $200 on the day of the event. The society this year will also host a 10-mile Family Fun Run that will loop from the Buena Vista park back to the campground for the last leg of the bike-a-thon so other family members can participate while waiting for a rider in the regular event to finish. For a $10 donation, fun run participants will receive a T-shirt.

Cameron is accepting donations for his and his dad’s team. To donate, visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/poppopbill.

Peg Quann: 609-817-8057; email: pquann@phillyBurbs.com; Twitter: @pegquann

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