She endured chemotherapy treatments in Ft. Collins, Colo. for four years and was considered to be 90 percent cured when doctors discovered she also had cervical cancer, unrelated in both cause and treatment to her bone cancer.

Her friend and fundraising coordinator, Logan Marlatt explained that doctors across the U.S. have given her few options for treatment and very little hope as the treatments for bone and cervical cancer cannot be given simultaneously and can have an opposite and deadly effect.

“Doctors here don’t know how to treat her and are afraid of litigation, but at 27, she knew she was going to live, she just didn’t know how,” Marlatt said.

A friend referred Marsh to a clinic in the Netherlands and after mailing urine samples and other tests, she was told there was hope.

“So she stopped chemo back in March to rid her body of all the chemicals before she goes to Europe,” Marlatt explained. “She’s leaving in nine days and we’re doing all we can to help her with the expenses.”

Marlatt and Swift’s goal is to raise $150,000 over the course of the month to help Marsh with her travel, living and treatment expenses in Amsterdam.

Marlatt has been humbled by the generosity of friends and strangers. She said one person donated his frequent flyer miles to help pay for the plane ticket. A relative of her church’s pastor who lives in Amsterdam will let Marsh stay with his family. She has new friends in every stop they’ve made over the course of six days since they left Florence, Ore. and they hope to make many more.

With Swift on his bicycle and Marlatt driving a support vehicle equipped with spare parts, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and their canine companion, Boonen Swift, they plan to follow the Adventure Cycling Association’s TransAmerica Trail with a detour once they arrive in Kentucky through Tennessee, and into North Carolina. They plan to finish on the North Carolina coast where Swift has family and a sister who is planning a fundraising concert for Marsh.

“It’s very fun,” said Marlatt. “I love talking to people and helping Tausha. I’ve met some cancer survivors and have videoed their inspirational thoughts for Tausha. I plan to make a DVD of all these people across the country who are supporting her and send it to Amsterdam to help inspire her.”

With more than 850 miles under their belt, and more than $24,000 raised, they are ahead of schedule.

“It’s going very well,” Marlatt explained. “Bill rides and I talk to people, handing out business cards with our Web site and selling these great T-shirts.”

They average 142 miles per day and have only had to fix two flat tires so far.

They stayed Monday night in Jackson, Mont. and will make their way to Wyoming by the weekend where Marsh’s family is organizing a rodeo benefit.

“We’re doing all we can,” said Marlatt.

This was Marlatt’s first time in the northwestern states of Oregon, Idaho and Montana. “It’s really gorgeous,” she said. “I just keep looking out the window and can’t believe all this beautiful country.”

Swift agreed. “It’s great here. I was hoping to do a big ride this summer, but I didn’t know I’d be riding coast to coast,” he said with a grin. “But for Tausha I’d ride to Europe if they had a road across the ocean.”

To donate

For more information or to donate to the cause, go to www.whyiride.org where you can track Swift’s cross-country ride as well as learn more about Tausha Marsh and her brave battle against cancer.

Donations can be accepted in person at any Wells Fargo Bank, by credit card through the Web site, or by mailing a check to Tausha Marsh Cancer Fund P.O. Box 1816 Gunnison, CO 81230.

Reporter Stacie Duce can be reached at 363-3300 or sduce@ravallirepublic.com

---

Reader's Comments >>

Name:

Email: (optional)

Comments:

Image Verification: (Case sensitive)   

---