A man, his bike and a cause worth riding cross-country for
IBMC graduate, Dustin Clutterbuck, to ride cross-country to raise money for cancer research
When Fort Collins-based cyclist Dustin Clutterbuck lost his friend to lung cancer last December, he knew he had to start the dream they always talked about: riding their bicycles across the country.
He won’t have a chase car. He will rely on his long-haul Novara Safari touring bike loaded with all his supplies – tipping the scales at almost 100 pounds – and a map leading him to Daytona Beach, Fla. And he’ll have a cause; he is riding to bring awareness to cancer research and seeks to raise $10,000 for the American Cancer Society, a national voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer.
“We continuously talked about the idea of riding across the USA,” Clutterbuck said. “I was bouncing around the idea in my head, but when he passed away, I knew it was a dream I had to accomplish.”
Clutterbuck met Les De Moss during the last stage of his battle with lung cancer, where he helped De Moss and his family do home improvements and yard clean-up after their basement was flooded. Their love of cycling helped create a special bond and made the loss that much harder for Clutterbuck.
Wearing De Moss’ cycling jersey in tribute, Clutterbuck and his cycling partner, Andrew Hubi, will kick off their cross-country tour at 7:30 a.m. September 1 at the IBMC College Fort Collins campus, 3842 S. Mason Street, where Clutterbuck graduated from the Therapeutic Massage program and now works as a Licensed Massage Therapist at its Massage Clinic. IBMC College has also donated to his cause and has become one of his main supporters for this momentous ride.
Hubi is riding for his own cause, hoping to surprise his aunt, who has ALS — most commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and help raise money for her and ALS research.
“If I can complete this challenge, I can conquer all challenges that come my way,” Clutterbuck said. “We learn the best when we take our experiences outside our comfort zones.”
His time at IBMC pushed him past his comfort zone for the better – he was close to becoming homeless when he signed up for classes – and he hopes this journey will inspire future students to push past their limits and fears.
“This tour is important because it’s about connecting with people all over the country, promoting community service and cancer awareness,” Clutterbuck said. “With all the negativity in the world, this is a cause our community can be proud of and focus on.”
The community will be able to follow Clutterbuck’s and Hubi’s journey online through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: twitter.com/bicyclepirate, facebook.com/fightcancerbiketour, www.instagram.com/thebicyclepirate.
The public can also donate to Clutterbuck’s cause online through his GoFundMe page. Clutterbuck has raised $1,170 or his $10,000 goal through GoFundMe.
To learn more about IBMC College’s accelerated career-training programs at its Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley, Colorado Springs or Cheyenne campuses, visit ibmc.edu or call 1-800-NEW-CAREER.
