24-year-old Colon Cancer Survivor In-line Skates
from New York to Colorado

CoolSport is proud to introduce Molly McMaster, a 24-year old athlete and colon-cancer survivor. (The following summary is an edited excerpt from the rolling-to-recovery website)

On May 20th, 2000 Molly McMaster began a 2000 mile trek, from her parent's driveway in Glens Falls, New York and will conclude around the end of July, or early August, 2000 at the JBS SportsCenter in Greeley, Colorado.

After being diagnosed with colon cancer on February 19th, 1999, her twenty-third birthday, Molly really wanted to make a difference. But Rolling To Recovery started as a joke. "I think I'll in-line skate to Colorado to raise money for cancer," Molly told her parents with a big grin. Over the next few days she started to think about how much fun that could be and how she might really be able to help other cancer patients. "Besides," Molly states, "who can afford the airfare these days?" Molly's cancer treatments, having concluded last October, were successful. The cancer that nearly took her life is gone. "We don't like the word 'remission'," states Trudie, Molly's mother and trek companion. "Remission" implies that it could come back. In Molly's mind, the cancer is "gone!"

The money Molly raises will be separated and donated to three organizations:

1)The American Cancer Society,

2)The Cancer Center at the Glens Falls Hospital, and

3)The Sunflower Fund.

Please support Molly in this cause. The money you donate could help you, or someone you love, one day.

Molly's amazing story, and all the details of her efforts and fundraising can be found at www.rollingtorecovery.com

Below are some photos of Molly standing by her support vehicle, a Holiday-Rambler motor home, on loan from the manufacturer for the duration of Molly's trip. CoolSport donated an Orange Cool Vest Classic to Molly, for the second half of her Journey from Chicago to Colorado. (She is wearing her Cool Vest Classic in the photos below) Heat stress is a real concern for Molly, and causes her to take frequent breaks on hot days. She typically covers 30 miles or more each day of her journey. The month of July will take Molly through Iowa, Nebraska and part of Colorado...during one of the hottest months of the year!

Congratulations, Molly!



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Molly standing next to the Holiday Rambler mobile home
donated by the manufacturer
for the duration of Molly's journey.


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Molly posing with her new Cool Vest Classic.
She is holding one of the phase change cooling
packs in her left hand.

UPDATE:

Since Molly's successful completion of her "Rolling-to-Recovery" colon cancer awareness campaign, Ms. McMaster has continued to do her part to champion this cause. In November of 2001, Molly was a guest on the Today Show with Katie Couric, to talk about her struggles with colon cancer and her efforts to raise awareness. Her visit on the Today Show was made more poignant, as the interview segment was shared with a very special friend of Molly's; Amanda Sherwood Roberts, a colon cancer sufferer who was in late stage IV of her disease at the time of the interview. Her interview with Katie Couric was conducted via closed-circuit video.

Amanda, a 27 year old wife and mother, passed away on January 1st, 2002 from recurrent (metastisized) Stage IV colon cancer. Before Amanda's passing, she had successfully nominated Molly McMaster to bear the Olympic Torch as it passed through Molly's home town. (see photos below).

Molly with Katie Couric of the "Today Show", along with Amanda Roberts' cousin Hannah

Molly McMaster, running with the Olympic Torch on December 30th, 2001!

Molly posing with a portrait of her friend, Amanda Sherwood Roberts; a colon-cancer

sufferer who passed away on January 1st, 2002.