RALEIGH, N.C. — The V Foundation's fifth annual Victory Ride for cancer research is being held this Saturday, May 21 in Raleigh.
What You Need To Know
- Tom Vibert is a stage 4 colon cancer survivor
- The V Foundation's Victory Ride is a fundraiser for cancer research
- The Victory Ride takes place May 21 in Raleigh
The Victory Ride draws participants from all over the state, riding along 10-mile, 30-mile, 60-mile and 100-mile routes throughout Raleigh.
Tom Vibert is participating in this year's ride, which will mark his fifth Victory Ride and five years of being cancer free.
"I was actually 49 when diagnosed. Had I been getting checked a lot earlier, the mass that they took out of me in 2012 was a polyp in 2006," Vibert said.
In 2012, Vibert was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. It has a five-year survival rate of 14%.
"My first thought on the whole process was there is an intruder into my life that needed to go, and it kinda made me mad and the sooner we could get rid of it, the better. It actually took over four and a half years on treatments, but actually getting it, you realize you're not in control. You better get some good doctors around you because you don't know how to fight cancer, that was the big thing, but you can do stuff to be the best patient you can be," Vibert said.
That's why Vibert rides his bike.
"Right now, it's always something cancer tried to stop me from doing. I'd have to give up, and then I'd get back on it, start getting good at it, then you'd have to give up again cause cancer messes you up," Vibert said.
Before getting his first cancer treatment, Vibert went through genetic testing where he learned that he was an MSI high. The biomarker showed that his cancer was hereditary. After two and a half years of failed cancer treatments, Vibert was approached by Duke University to participate in a clinical trial for an immunotherapy drug that, at the time, was only approved for lung cancer and melanoma cancer patients.
"They said they were looking for more people like me, MSI high people, that was my biomarker. Getting my biomarker checked was absolutely the most important thing that I did because now they are looking for that biomarker for that clinical trial," Vibert said.
Vibert said being able to participate in the clinical trial ultimately saved his life.
"It just so happens now there is a lot of advancements with cancer research and paying dividends," Vibert said.
Now, he celebrates each year of beating cancer with a 100-mile race in the Victory Ride.
"I probably ride 250 miles or more a week at this time just to prepare to go long," Vibert said.
Vibert has been cycling for over 20 years, but now each ride has meaning.
"When you're in pain, you can sit in bed or you can own it and go for a walk. You lose control, you gotta do what you can do," Vibert said.
The Victory Ride also offers a 45 minute stationary spin class. All funds raised by riders will go directly to funding early detection and cancer treatment research.
