Dirty Kanza partners with foundation to fight childhood cancer

With online registration for the 2012 Edition of Dirty Kanza 200 fast approaching (registration opens Saturday, Jan. 14th), Dirty Kanza Promotions is announcing an exciting opportunity for race participants to join the fight against childhood cancer. For 2012, Dirty Kanza 200 will join forces with the Pablove Foundation’s Shutterbugs program, in memory of Adrian Lewis Solano.

Born and raised in Emporia, KS, Adrian was a healthy, happy 12 year-old in the 7th grade. He loved his bike, friends, video games, family and, of course, his dog. One day Adrian woke up one morning with a bad headache. That headache changed his life. Adrian was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Nongerminoma Germ Cell, which was the same cancer Lance Armstrong had. Adrian underwent four months of chemotherapy and two months of radiation, after which the cancer was gone, with a 90% survival rate. Unfortunately, only one month into remission, the cancer returned with a vengeance. Adrian fought the next six months like a champ, but the cancer had no mercy. It took Adrian on February 18, 2011.

Pablove Shutterbugs is the signature program of The Pablove Foundation, In an educational setting, the 8-week program allows children living with cancer to express and develop their creative voices through the art of photography. Each child receives hands-on experience through a mix of one-on-one weekly instruction and group classes. The students also receive their own camera equipment, which is theirs to keep upon completion of the program. The Pablove Shutterbugs program currently reaches children in Los Angeles and New York City, and will expand to other cities throughout the United States. Among its many activities, the program will provide photography workshops and summer camps for kids in 2012 and beyond.

How you can help:

Dirty Kanza 200 is not a bicycle race for the faint of heart. Not only does it require exceptional endurance and mental toughness, it also requires a solid, well prepared support crew. Well, it did, until now! For 2012, we are proud to introduce the very first Dirty Kanza 200 racer support program: Pablove Grub! Pablove Grub is a racer-paid support service. If you do not have a crew to cart around your supplies at Dirty Kanza 200, you can sign up for Pablove Grub instead. Registration for Pablove Grub will be available as part of the Dirty Kanza 200 registration process.

First pedaled in 2006, Dirty Kanza 200 has become what many consider to be North America’s premier ultra-endurance gravel road bicycling challenge. Over 400 bicyclists from across the nation will converge on Emporia, Kansas for this epic gravel road race through some of the Kansas Flint Hills’ most scenic countryside. Organized by Dirty Kanza Promotions, the mission of DK200 is to effectively utilize the ruggedness and remoteness of the Flint Hills region to properly challenge the self-sufficiency of event participants, while at the same time provide an appropriate level of support, to ensure an enjoyable, life-enriching cycling experience.