ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A retired Albany, N.Y., physician says he is bicycling across the country to help raise money for the medical bills of his former nurse, who has lung cancer.
Dr. David Krischer says he had long planned to take a U.S. bicycle trip once he retired, but now his trip has a cause -- since his longtime nurse, Anita Mullaney, is in the final stages of lung cancer. Krischer will raise about $35 per donor if he completes his planned 3,500 miles, the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union reports.
He set off July 6 from Rockport, Mass., and plans to travel to Astoria, Ore.. From there, he may proceed down the Pacific Coast to his native Los Angeles.
Krischer says he has pedaled about 2,000 miles and has gone as far as Minnesota.
Krischer and Mullaney worked together at Community Care Physicians in Delmar, N.Y., a suburb of Albany, until a day three years ago, when Mullaney's husband called and said she was diagnosed with lung cancer and that she was never coming back to work.
Krischer, age 59, says he retired last year and he took six months to train for the bike ride.
"As I was going on the road, I thought maybe I can do something for Anita and her family," Krischer told the Time Union.
Krischer, who is keeping expenses down by pitching a tent each night, say's Mullaney's cancer is all the more surprising since she never smoked.
The newspaper said the Anita Mullaney Benefit Fund mailing address is Box 254, Ravena, N.Y. 12143, and pledges are also being accepted at Key Bank branches.
