OBSERVER Photo by Mary Heyl Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas recognized all three members of the 3 Country Ride team for their fundraising efforts for breast cancer research and presented each with a city of Dunkirk pin in front of City Hall on Tuesday. Pictured from left to right are Bob Hood, executive director and principal rider; Ron Calabrese, event coordinator who alternates between riding and driving; Rosas; and Laura Ghosn, Hood’s wife who serves as marketing director and driver.

Over 40,000 women in the United States die from breast cancer each year, and some 300,000 will be diagnosed with the disease this year, according to Bob Hood, executive director and principal rider for 3 Country Ride. Since March 20, the San Diego-based team has been cycling from Tijuana, Mexico; this week, they passed through Dunkirk on their way to St. Stephens, New Brunswick, Canada, where their journey will end on June 10.

The purpose of the 4,100-mile bike ride is to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research, a cause that is close to Hood’s heart and that of nearly everyone he has encountered along the journey, including the Rosas family. Earlier this week, Hood’s team reached out to Hector Rosas, festivals/special events coordinator for the city, asking to introduce themselves to the mayor. On Tuesday morning on the steps of Dunkirk’s City Hall, Hector Rosas and Mayor Wilfred Rosas welcomed the three-member team to the city and encouraged them in their cause.

“Breast cancer is something that touches everyone,” Mayor Rosas stated. “In Chautauqua County, 120 women will deal with breast cancer annually, and of those, 22 will die…Personally, breast cancer has touched my family. My sister and my mother have had breast cancer, and I have a personal friend who is dealing with it now. It certainly hits home for me, so I’m honored to be here with Bob.”

Mayor Rosas thanked Hood for his efforts and presented him and his team members with city pins. Hood explained that his journey is inspired by two important women in his life: his mother-in-law, who is a two-time breast cancer survivor, and a close friend, who is a recent survivor.

“It was my cause to set out to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation whose key goal is to find a cure for this disease so that in the future, when it’s diagnosed, it’s a simple process to just cure it,” Hood said. “No more mastectomies, hair loss, chemotherapy. It will just be cured. That’s the goal of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.”

Hood went on to explain that the foundation is the highest-rated breast cancer organization in the U.S. and funds 300 researchers across 14 countries and six continents. Ninety percent of all funds donated to the BCRF go directly to breast cancer research.

Rosas recognized team member Ron Calabrese, event coordinator, who alternates between driving and cycling, along with Laura Ghosn, driver and marketing advisor of the team. Ghosn, who is Hood’s wife, explained that the planning process for the bicycle trip was approximately a year and a half in the making.

“Just to see this come to fruition has been really, really amazing,” she said. “We’re really grateful for all of the donations we’ve gotten so far and to the many, many people we have talked to who have been touched by breast cancer.”

Following the mayor’s recognition of the team, Hood spoke with the OBSERVER about his cross-continental journey and the next leg of the trip

“We ride six days a week,” he explained, “and Sunday is a catch-up day. That’s when we do social media and prepare for interviews…I have to say that this has been hard — the riding is hard — but arranging all of these stops is just as much, if not more effort.”

Hood is the owner and CEO of technology company Spotlink in San Diego, a primary sponsor of the journey. “Luckily, I have a really great staff, so they’re taking care of things while I’m gone,” Hood explained of the 12-week trip. “We get up at about 6:30 every day and we go until about 11 every night. Fortunately, we’ve never hit snow!”

Hood explained to the OBSERVER that this is his first cross-continent cycling trip — the longest journey he has ever attempted. “I did a couple of 75-mile bike rides about 30 years ago, but nothing like this, by far,” he said. Next stops include Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, Waterloo, Syracuse, Utica and Amsterdam. Then, the team will ride through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, where they will cross the border into St. Stephens in New Brunswick, Canada. “We appreciate this really warm welcome in Dunkirk,” he said. “I have to say, it’s one of the best ones we’ve gotten so far.”

After the team has reached its destination, Calabrese will drive the van back to San Diego, and Hood and Ghosn will fly home.

To learn more about 3 Country Riders or to donate to the BCRF, visit www.3countryride.org and follow 3CountryRide on Facebook and Instagram.