Mission Viejo : Pair to Raise Funds on Bicycling Tour

Two Saddleback College students whose fathers have both suffered bouts of cancer are planning a cross-country bicycling trip this month to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Ed Butler, 26, and Nick Ingoglia, 21, both of Mission Viejo, plan to leave May 28 on a monthlong cycling tour from Huntington Beach to New York City.

The two men so far have raised $4,000 for the cancer society and hope to collect another $3,000 before the trip, Ingoglia said.

The coast-to-coast bicycle journey will realize a longtime goal for the pair, who were forced to scrap similar plans two years ago because of school and work commitments, Ingoglia said.

“Also, we’ve wanted to do something for the American Cancer Society, since they’ve helped our families out so much,” he said.

Butler’s father died of prostate cancer, and Ingoglia’s father is now battling cancer, Ingoglia said.

The 3,200-mile trip is unprecedented for the two cyclists. Ingoglia said his longest bicycle trip to date is 115 miles, and Butler’s longest is a 700-mile trip around Lake Erie.

But Ingoglia said he does not anticipate any difficulties because he and Butler have been training between two and eight hours a day for the past four months.

Butler and Ingoglia, who will be accompanied by a van that will carry their food and luggage, figure the journey will take 25 days, if they average about 130 miles each day. They plan to take one day off for every five days of riding, arriving in New York on July 1, Ingoglia said.

“It will be a good experience for both of us,” Ingoglia said.

Charitable contributions may be addressed to Ingoglia at 26234 Via Roble, Mission Viejo, Calif. 92691. Checks should be made payable to the American Cancer Society.