Poetry in Motion
UD Senior Rides for a Cause
Ashley Woods
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: Feature
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While most seniors are still reeling from graduation, Mark Landreneau will be well on his way to a new adventure.
The UD Philosophy major was recently selected for the Illini 4000, a team of student cyclists attempting to raise over $100,000 for cancer research. On May 25th, Landreneau will bike from New York, New York to San Diego, California-a 4,000 mile ride-to raise money for the American Cancer Society and Camp Kesem.
"I had always wanted to do something like this," offers Landreneau. "I was actually planning on doing a tour of Europe."
"Once I found out people were doing something like this for charity," he adds, "I found it much more appealing."
When asked what drew him to the Illini 4000 in particular, Landreneau offers a personal anecdote.
"I remember . . . when I was in the 6th grade, my friend's mom died of mouth cancer."
"[A child's] ability to deal with something like that…" he continues, trailing off. "For a child to have to worry about death . . . is certainly something I'm affected by."
As he rides, Landreneau will have many opportunities to reach out to children affected by cancer. The Illini 4000 team is raising money for Camp Kesem, a summer camp for children whose parents are afflicted with cancer. In addition, cyclists will assist Jump, Draw, and Shout!- a program that pairs children undergoing cancer treatment with secondary students nationwide through a correspondence program-by stopping at several points along the way to set up a pen pal system which combines correspondence, drawings, and photography as a means of exchange.
In order to make the team, Landreneau had to submit some of his own writing, including a response detailing the relationship between the ride, its purpose, and his major.
"Philosophy is concerned with the most basic facts of human life," he explains. "To anyone-especially children faced with the prospect of excruciating death-it's the sort of experience that forms the soil from which philosophy grows."
The UD Philosophy major was recently selected for the Illini 4000, a team of student cyclists attempting to raise over $100,000 for cancer research. On May 25th, Landreneau will bike from New York, New York to San Diego, California-a 4,000 mile ride-to raise money for the American Cancer Society and Camp Kesem.
"I had always wanted to do something like this," offers Landreneau. "I was actually planning on doing a tour of Europe."
"Once I found out people were doing something like this for charity," he adds, "I found it much more appealing."
When asked what drew him to the Illini 4000 in particular, Landreneau offers a personal anecdote.
"I remember . . . when I was in the 6th grade, my friend's mom died of mouth cancer."
"[A child's] ability to deal with something like that…" he continues, trailing off. "For a child to have to worry about death . . . is certainly something I'm affected by."
As he rides, Landreneau will have many opportunities to reach out to children affected by cancer. The Illini 4000 team is raising money for Camp Kesem, a summer camp for children whose parents are afflicted with cancer. In addition, cyclists will assist Jump, Draw, and Shout!- a program that pairs children undergoing cancer treatment with secondary students nationwide through a correspondence program-by stopping at several points along the way to set up a pen pal system which combines correspondence, drawings, and photography as a means of exchange.
In order to make the team, Landreneau had to submit some of his own writing, including a response detailing the relationship between the ride, its purpose, and his major.
"Philosophy is concerned with the most basic facts of human life," he explains. "To anyone-especially children faced with the prospect of excruciating death-it's the sort of experience that forms the soil from which philosophy grows."
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