Neighbor Alexandra Kalmanofsky Rides Bike To Conquer Cancer
Neighbor Alexandra Kalmanofsky, who has been battling the disease for 16 years, says that once you have had cancer, it remains a part of your life.
Because of this belief, in 2008 she began an annual walk for cancer survivors at Burning Man to celebrate that “we are alive, we are fighting, and we continue to do so,” Alexandra tells us. “We also honor and remember those among us who fought valiantly but are no longer here to walk with us. It’s a walk of joy and life and tears to remember the good things about who we are.”
Since starting the walk at Burning Man, Alexandra has participated in other fundraising events, including the Susan G. Komen Walk for a Cure and a 100-mile Bike for Cancer Care.
This weekend, Alexandra and her team will embark on a two-day, 150-mile cycling journey to raise money for immunotherapy research, treatment, and education programs in New York City and around the world. The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a global event that has raised $325 million worldwide in seven years, and this year is the inaugural Ride in New York.
Her team, dubbed The Burning Survivors, includes herself, her husband John Jones, and her friend Jodie Kahn, who is currently dealing with stage IV cancer.
Alexandra says having a support system is an important part of the recovery process and feels that Park Slope has been a supportive community. “It’s about connecting with the community. Nobody should have to go through cancer alone, and community is that family.”
The Burning Survivors recently hosted a fundraising event at The Gate on 5th Avenue — where John, a Park Slope resident of 25 years, used to work the door — which helped the team meet their fundraising goal. Together the three of them have raised over $8,000 for the Cancer Research Institute.
“The generosity of the community really put us over the top,” Alexandra says.
She and her team have been training in the neighborhood for several months. “There are so many bike riders in the neighborhood, so there’s a lot of support, and everyone’s giving us tips,” says Alexandra.
Still, she admits they’re a bit nervous about this weekend’s ride.
“We don’t know how much we will be able to ride — however much we can ride we will,” she says, though one thing is for sure. “We will start together and finish together.”
And no matter how far they get, Alexandra is already happy about how far they’ve come.
“The point was to raise money and include the community, so I think we’ve already succeeded,” she says.
To find out more about the Ride to Conquer Cancer, check out the event website. And if you’re able to donate to The Burning Survivors, visit their fundraising page.
