A Santa Clarita cancer survivor who has surpassed doctors’ expectations of survival has set out to bike ride 200 miles this weekend to raise money for cancer research for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Starting Friday, Jamie Alamillo, a Santa Clarita resident and cancer survivor, is set to ride 200 miles in 36 hours by bicycle throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to raise money for cancer research and to compete for the Gold Coast “Man or Woman of the Year” award.
“In the Fall of 2013, I started having extreme back pain,” Alamillo said on his website. “One night I suddenly lost all feeling in my legs. My wife and I rushed to the ER. After six hours of surgery, I was diagnosed with stage three Multiple Myeloma IgA, had three spinal cord compressions, and (learned it) had broke my back at T7 and l4.”
After 10 rounds of radiation, 32 rounds of chemo, and physical therapy he began treatment for Multiple Myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
Alamillo was told by doctors he had a 1 percent chance of ever walking again, and had a life expectancy of three to seven years.
In November of 2020, Alamillo surpassed the seven-year mark.
“I feel great,” he said.
Not only has he surpassed doctors’ expectancy to live, but Alamillo has also gained his strength to not only walk but to ride a bicycle.
See Related: Cancer Survivor From Santa Clarita Plans 440-Mile Bike Ride To Lake Tahoe
Earlier in the year, Alamillo formed Team TOGETHER, made up of friends, loved ones and other cancer survivors to raise money for LLS.
“This team is driven to find cures for blood cancer,” Alamillo said. My team is working to raise as much as possible… every dollar we raise counts as one vote for me.”
The candidate whose team tallies the most votes earns the prestigious title of Gold Coast “Man or Woman of the Year,” Alamillo said.
Starting Friday, Alamillo and his friends, including Santa Clarita resident and business owner Fred Arnold, are set to ride 200 miles over a 36 hour time period.
Starting at 12 a.m. Friday morning and every four hours after that until Saturday at 4 p.m., Alamillo and Arnold are going to ride a 22-mile loop around the paseos in Santa Clarita.
Once the 22-mile lap at 4 p.m. Saturday is completed, the team would have ridden approximately 200 miles.
The nine-legged rides is one of many ways Alamillo is raising money for his team and towards hopefully winning the Man or Woman of the Year.
In support of his friend, Arnold is set to match donations collected between Friday morning and Saturday at 4 p.m. up to $2,500.
“This disease is incurable, that is why I am so passionate about fundraising for it,” Alamillo said.
While Alamillo has surpassed doctors’ expectations and is in remission, he still needs to take a chemo pill and make visits to his oncologist.
To read Alamillo’s full story, and to make a donation toward his goal, click here.
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