Over the course of the last eight years, I have trained for and ridden my bicycle in seven charity rides leading me through virtually every Atlantic state from New Jersey to Maine. Now I’m over 1,200 miles into training for the challenge of my life. On Sept. 4, I’m setting out alone from Madawaska to ride U.S. Route 1 to Key West. The trip is to benefit the good work of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which has provided enormous help to my son, Dave. He’s been locked in a life and death struggle with leukemia for the last five years. Currently, he’s trying to recover from his second bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Institute in New York City.

But after more than 13,000 miles on the road, I am delighted to say that vehicle drivers in Maine have afforded my bicycle and me a great deal of courtesy and respect. After being forced off the road, screamed at and having had objects thrown in my path elsewhere, the drivers of Maine have good-naturedly made a point of sharing the road with me. Their concern for my safety has warmed my heart and made the aches and pains of training almost a pleasure.

I salute them all. Thank you so much.

Lee Goldman, Lewiston

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