Pedaler for prostate cancer visits Ovando

A heavy-duty recumbent tricycle pedaled out of Ovando on Monday, Aug. 14. It was not to take a quick trip, as pedaler Greg Veal plans to make an 18-day, 820-mile trip to Bismarck, North Dakota, from Missoula.

This is the second leg of his Lewis and Clark Trail bike ride to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer. He successfully made a trip from the West Coast to Missoula in 2022.

Veal said he was an avid cyclist and jogger as a young man, but both of his knees required surgery in his 20s. Bicycling and jogging were both put on hold.

Veal, a former information technology consultant in Akron, Ohio, discovered his own prostate cancer in 2002, followed by surgery. He now considers himself a cancer survivor.

Daily walks became part of his recovery from cancer surgery. The walks soon turned into one mile jogs, and then he looked for ways to get cycling again.

The recumbent tricycle has made cycling possible again. Although Veal said the recumbent trike is worse on his knees, it allows him to cycle again after the prostate surgery. Electric pedal assist keeps his knees healthy and allows him to put in the miles for long distance fundraising rides.

"Greg contacted me asking if he could support OneInSix a few years ago," said Laura Hunsicker, OneinSix Foundation Director. "I am grateful for his enthusiasm for the cause and support. He is truly helping the cause."

Veal has done an annual charity ride for http://www.oneinsix.org foundation since 2015. His first ride was from Akron, Ohio, to his hometown in Key West, Florida. He arrived in Key West, Florida, on his 69th birthday and raised $11,000.

"I thought it was a big deal at the time, now it's just what I do," Veal said. "I needed to find purpose in my cycling and as a prostate cancer survivor the OneInSix Foundation is in my hometown and provides free screening and education locally for prostate cancer."

He celebrated his 77th birthday Aug. 15 riding into Helena, Montana. A bluetooth enabled app "Ridewithgps" connects Veal by audio with his GPS for mapping en route. Although fully self-supported, Veal is staying at bed and breakfasts while he follows the Adventure Cycling route.

"There's a lot of reasons for doing what I do," Veal said. "Obviously the charities, but overcoming obstacles to help others and meet people along the way is what most of the stories are about."