Avid cyclist Gene Nacey is willing to go a long way for a good cause.
The Leechburg resident will travel to Italy Thursday with three others to compete in the 100th running of The Giretto d’Italia, which along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espaa make up the Triple Crown of cycling. “This year Lance Armstrong is competing in the race for the first time, so it’s huge,” said Nacey, a professional cycling instructor. “We wanted a higher calling and when I heard Lance would be riding, that seemed to be a perfect fit. The main reason he came back was to promote LIVESTRONG and they’ve approved our participation as an official (charity) event.” Nacey’s foursome includes two local cycling enthusiasts: his daughter, Nina Wilczek, of New Kensington, and Lower Burrell entrepreneur Josh Carson. Wilczek has raised nearly $3,000 — some on bids as low as a penny per mile. “It’s more fun to do it per mile. It allows people to see that every little bit counts and it all really does add up,” Wilczek said. “One of the things that’s most inspiring is how generous people are. They’re doing it not just for family members, but to help complete strangers.” Nacey is riding in honor of cancer survivor Gina Bordonaro of New Kensington, while Wilczek is doing the same for Wayne DeCroo of Lower Burrell. “We want to go over there with $10,000 raised,” Nacey said. “That’s our main objective.”
In a cruel twist of irony, New England cyclist Raquel Schmidt was planning to race with the pack, but was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer.