A Florida man diagnosed with a rare and incurable blood cancer is preparing to ride all 21 stages of the Tour de France, inspiring others with his resilience and determination.
One man isn’t letting a rare blood cancer diagnosis dampen his cycling dreams. His journey to Tour de France– A Florida man diagnosed with a rare and incurable blood cancer is not slowing down.
Instead, he is preparing to ride all 21 stages of the Tour de France. Chris Edgerton was diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia — a rare blood cancer — in 2017. Rather than stepping back, Edgerton stepped onto a bicycle. Now, his wheels are pointed toward France.
Edgerton first noticed something was off before his doctor did. As a former nurse, he reviewed his blood results two weeks before his appointment. The moment he got the formal diagnosis, his thoughts shifted quickly — not to himself, but to the people around him.
“I went to the doctor for a normal check up and just sort of she asked me if there was anything and I said I felt a bit tired doing some jobs that I didn’t think I should be,” Edgerton said. “This is a very rare diagnosis — just about 1,700 or so new patients are diagnosed with this in a year,” Dr. Ailawadhi said.
“Doctor Ailawadhi rang me a week or so later to talk to me — it was Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia — which even though it’s not curable at the moment, it is treatable,” Edgerton said. “So I sort of felt like I got a second chance at life. ”With that second chance, Edgerton chose cycling. His first major ride was a cross-country journey from Los Angeles to Boston in 2018.
Along the way, he has helped raise thousands of dollars for Dr. Ailawadhi’s cancer research at Mayo Clinic.
“The whole of our team has been inspired by Chris — by how he has been so resilient, so driven,” Dr. Ailawadhi said. “And I don’t know if I could, faced with such a situation, say ‘let me pick up a new hobby. ’”His cancer is under control through treatment at Mayo Clinic, Edgerton is now preparing for his biggest challenge yet.
On June 27 he will join 24 other amateur riders from around the world to complete all 21 stages of the Tour de France — one week ahead of the professional peloton. The route covers more than 2,000 miles and 175,000 feet of elevation. Edgerton said he went through six months of chemotherapy, but kept one thought in focus throughout.
“I think I’m quite positive — you don’t want to give into it,” Edgerton said. “None of us know how long we will live anyway, so why not make the best of it.
”Jaguars HC Liam Coen praises WR Brian Thomas Jr.'s strong minicampFlorida Legislature funds $972K in safety upgrades after Baymeadows crash that killed teacher, childHurricane season tips with Security First InsuranceJaguars Safety Antonio Johnson LOCKED in on the details 🔒👀Multi-vehicle crash closes all lanes on I-95 north at Butler Blvd. Kingsminster school to open August 2027 in Ponte VedraMan killed after being trapped between semi-cab truck, power lift system in Mixon TownShaking from earthquake off Cuba coast felt across Florida, including DuvalChick-fil-A at JTB & Philips Highway to be closed temporarily after fire damages kitchen
Please follow us on Google to support us Chris Edgerton Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Tour De France Resilience Determination Cancer Research Mayo Clinic
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
One-on-one with Arizona Football's Tre Smith at the Tucson Sugar Skulls gameNicknamed “Mr. Redline” for his high-motor, relentless style, Smith sets the tone for Arizona’s defensive front under head coach Brent Brennan.
Read more »
Peugeot Unveils Production e-208 GTi at Le Mans, Leading Electric Hot Hatch RevolutionPeugeot reveals the production version of its first all-electric GTi, the e-208 GTi, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The hot hatch EV features 280hp, a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds, and an estimated 217-mile range, competing against rivals like the Vauxhall Corsa GSE and VW ID.Polo GTi.
Read more »
Ferrari’s Winning Streak Faces Its Biggest Test Yet at Le MansCadillac, Toyota, BMW and others arrive believing they can challenge for overall victory.
Read more »
Peugeot Unveils First Electric GTi: e-208 GTi Production Version to Debut at Le Mans 2025Peugeot will reveal the production version of its first all-electric hot hatch, the e-208 GTi, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2025. The car features a 280hp motor, 5.7-second 0-62mph time, and up to 217 miles of range, entering a competitive EV hot hatch market alongside rivals from Vauxhall, VW, and Mini.
Read more »