Newark Man Paying It Forward After Biking for a Cause Saved His Life

NEWARK — Hans Arnesen signed up for the bicycle ride because he wanted to contribute to the life-saving efforts of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which raises money for research and treatment through the Pan-Mass Challenge.

In the process, the 62-year-old Forest Hill resident saved his own life. While training last year, he crashed his bicycle in West Orange, prompting a visit to University Hospital during which doctors found what turned out to be cancer.

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“When they told me at the trauma center that I had a mass on my kidney, I felt, well, all things work together for good,” Arnesen said. “Had I not had my accident, this thing would have been growing inside of me until it really messed me up.”

Arnesen had 12 weeks of recovery from multiple rib fractures he sustained during the crash, after which he went to a urologist, who determined the mass was cancerous. It was the earliest stage of renal cancer, and he considers the surgery that followed lifesaving.

“Six months of recovery essentially between the accident and the surgery, and now I’m back on the bike raising money for cancer research,” Arnesen said. “This whole thing now has gotten a little more personal.”

Arnesen will be among thousands of riders bicycling from Sturbridge to Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4. He will be riding 187 miles over the two days.

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About 6,000 riders participate in the ride annually, Arnesen said. People donate their time and registration fee. Arnesen, who works in construction management, said the owner of the company he works for has been sponsoring a team for many years and asked him to ride.

“I like a challenge, and I also like to participate, so I said, ‘Of course I will,’ ” Arnesen said.

The cause is meaningful to him not just because of his own experience, but also because cancer has touched people in his life. His father had prostate cancer and his mother and sister both had breast cancer. His son also had a rare form of cancer when he was in his early 20s, Arnesen said.

“There’s not a single one of us who hasn’t been touched either directly ourselves or a close family member with cancer or a friend, and what’s amazing to me is the cutting-edge research that’s happening,” he said.

All the rider-raised funds go directly to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund, according to the nonprofit . As of Friday, Arnesen had raised $8,690 and was well on the way to his goal of reaching $10,000 by the race. People can also donate following the race, he said.

“The event itself, it’s such a remarkably beautiful experience,” Arnesen said. “The whole community along the route comes out and supports and cheers and offers free water and aid. There’s this remarkable esprit de corps.”

To support cancer research and treatment through Arnesen’s ride, visit his page on the Pan-Mass Challenge website.

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