By Paul Silverfarb
Sentinel Editor
Julian Fraser, and a plethora of people who have, or are currently battling cancer, will be in the hearts and minds of Max Lippolis and the rest of Team Yellow Jersey – powered by Julian during this year’s annual CT Challenge bicycle event.
“I have had some people close to me that have unfortunately passed away due to cancer and I think everybody in our group personalized it to some degree,” said Lippolis. “Julian Fraser is sort of our inspiration for the team. He was a young college student who lost his life prematurely to cancer. Everybody on the team personalizes the event and it motivates us to push beyond our boundaries a little bit and reach a little farther. People with cancer struggle in front of them and I think it’s good that the riders are out of their comfort zone and push themselves during the ride.”
The CT Challenge will both start and finish at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport. So bright and early on July 28, Team Yellow Jersey – powered by Julian, as well as a plethora of other teams and individual riders from all over the region, will start out in Westport and will bike one of five courses.
There is a 10-mile, 25-mile, 50-mile, 75-mile and 100-mile course.
“Riding in this challenge has made me more aware of what cancer survivors face every day,” said Greenwich resident Dana Gaccione, one of the riders on Team Yellow Jersey – powered by Julian. “The Mission provides much needed support and I’m happy to support them with raising awareness and fundraising. The bonus is that the challenge is a lot of fun and love the team camaraderie, whether you’re biking 10 miles or 100 miles — we’re all there for the same reason.”
According to the CT Challenge website, the event is all about giving survivors a bridge back from cancer to the lives they had before the disease struck and to the future they aspire to after treatment is done. It’s all about honoring all who have battled the disease.
“The CT Challenge ride celebrates survivors, their supporters and the fight against cancer,” said Jeff Keith, CT Challenge/Mission Founder and CEO. “It is a take back for all that cancer would try to take away. The programs the Ride funds live under the name Mission and they are all about helping people get to the other side of cancer through exercise, nutrition and mind-body health. The CT Challenge is a day of hope and inspiration. It’s a day that reaffirms that cancer does not get the final say.
“Teams like Yellow Jersey Cycle powered by Julian are the backbone of all this,” added Keith. “They give the day its heart and, with their leadership fundraising, reaffirm our collective drive to continue to break new ground to help all who battle cancer.”
Leading up to the event, Team Yellow Jersey – powered by Julian has been working hard preparing for the CT Challenge. There’s usually an early morning during the weekend where they have been getting together in Old Greenwich for a group ride.
“We want people to train as often as possible to get in shape for the ride,” Lippolis said. “I do my own training because, although I am not racing any longer, I still like to ride and do so with a group of guys that do 150 or 200 miles a week. They are race-based rides. But the majority of the people on the team are recreational cyclers and we encourage them to get out and ride a couple of times a week.”
Lippolis met Julian only a few times, but vividly remembers his positivity while staring directly at cancer.
“It struck everybody that met him how mentally positive this kid was, despite having cancer,” Lippolis said. “He was just amazing and makes you realize how easy everything else should be in life when you can deal with that and stay positive. I think the entire Fraser family are just wonderful people and that they are people that you want to rally around. This group and this team is helping to do that.”
Joining Team Yellow Jersey – Powered by Julian will be a familiar face to the CT Challenge. Last year, Team USA Paralympian Lacey Henderson was the keynote speaker for the event. This year she’s trading in the microphone for a set of wheels.
“I am really excited and honored to be a part of the team,” said Henderson. “I was lucky enough to be the keynote speaker at the event last year and honestly had no idea that it was going to be this big and fun. I had so much fun last year that I wanted to come back this year, but I wanted to cycle. Everybody has been so welcoming and they took care of everything. I am a runner, so I didn’t know what bike to use and everybody has done a great job helping me through this. I am so excited, not to just be a part of the event again, but to be a part of the event at a different capacity where I feel like I can contribute in a different way.”
During the Rio Paralympics in 2016, Henderson placed eighth overall in the long jump. In the 2015 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships, she took third overall in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the long jump. Her best finish was during the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials, where Henderson took home the bronze in the 100-meter dash.
“It’s awesome,” Lippolis said. “We are all really excited to have Lacey riding with us this year. It’s going to add a lot of extra motivation to the team. It’s great when you see someone like her want to help out. She’s a special athlete and we are really excited to have her join us. She’s inspiring.”
Normally being able to do something like this wouldn’t be possible for the track standout. But due to a shortened track season this year, as this year is considered an off-year for track and field, Henderson had more flexibility and jumped at the opportunity.
“I honestly felt like I was missing out a little bit last year because of all the fun everybody was having,” Henderson said. “The CT Challenge does such a good job, not only raising awareness and fundraising for cancer, but they make it a celebration of life and to be able to just use happiness, good vibes and fitness as a way to fight back.”
Henderson has been wrapping up her track season the past few weeks. While she admits that she hasn’t been on her bicycle as much as she wants, Henderson is hoping her running abilities will transfer over to biking in some capacity.
“I’ll be doing a lot of stationary bike stuff this upcoming week, just so I can get used to that different system,” Henderson said. “The fitness is there, but it’s just different muscles that you use, so I am push up some resistance on the bike and hopefully get my body primed to be healthy and finish well.”
Although Henderson is a world-class athlete, she’s still quite nervous about the upcoming experience.
“Biking is full of surprises,” Henderson said. “I am on track all the time and rarely see hills going either up or down. There’s definitely going to be a little adjusting on the road, but I am sure I will have some quad soreness and glut soreness. It’s going to be fun though. It’s just a good group I am riding with and I can feel like I earned that post-bike beer after I do the ride.”
As of press time, Team Yellow Jersey – powered by Julian has raised just over $20,000 but is looking to raise even more before the CT Challenge kicks off on July 27.
To donate to Team Yellow Jersey – powered by Julian, or to ride along with the team, visit Ctchallenge.donordrive.com/team/yellowjerseycycle18
