Tom Schultz
- National: 16th
- State: 2nd in IL
- My Team: 2nd
I'm Riding For
Pat & Tim G & Tim C, and in honor of Scott
Three of my longtime friends, who left us too early, will be along with me this year - in my thoughts and with my music playing loudly. And riding in honor of Scott, who battled cancer in 2022.
My Story
I am back.
This September, I am taking part again - my ninth year - in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!
Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.
I am once again (5th year) on Team Kahleesi. Kahleesi is now 6 and was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma when she was only 9 months old. She is currently in remission. We all want to keep her there as there are no more chemotherapy options to fight her cancer.
Who am I riding for this year? In the past few years, riding along with me were three longtime friends, all born in 1953 like me, who passed away too early. We lost Pat M. in 2020, Tim C. in 2021, and then Tim G. in 2023. And they will be with me again in 2025.
I will also be riding in honor of another kid again this year, our son Scott. Scott started battling Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in June 2022. He remains cancer free.
With the support of many over the past GCC eight years, we have been able to raise over $50k. THANK YOU!
My GCC goals for this year – continue raising awareness, funds, and prayers, while hoping this body allows me to ride a few miles.
Your support will change lives.
This is not just an event - it is a movement to end childhood cancer.
Onward!
My Legacy
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300 mi Ridden$1,174 Raised2017
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203 mi Ridden$1,515 Raised2018
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223 mi Ridden$2,328 Raised2019
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206 mi Ridden$5,163 Raised2020
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202 mi Ridden$7,500 Raised2021
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201 mi Ridden$9,076 Raised2022
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124 mi Ridden$11,844 Raised2023
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144 mi Ridden$12,215 Raised2024
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72 mi Ridden$15,210 Raised2025
My Challenge
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Big Laugh? Big Smile!
30 Sep 2025If you told me back in 2017 that I would participate in a challenge for 9 years to log close to 1700 miles on a bike while raising over $66,000, I would have laughed hard.
As the month of September concludes, we are nearing the end of the 2025 Great Cycle Challenge. And thanks to you, instead of laughing, I have a big smile!
As I complete my ninth year in taking part in this challenge, I reflect on how we have raised awareness, prayers, and funds to fight kids’ cancer while allowing me to “get on my bike and ride.” I am blessed to have so many wonderful and amazing friends, family, and supporters! Yes, $66k in nine years.
Current totals for the overall 2025 challenge – 17,135 people joined the movement, raising over $6.8m to fight kids’ cancer and pedaling over 1.6 million miles.
For me in 2025, keep the number “72” in mind.
I turned 72 yesterday.
With a miles goal of 72, I achieved that.
With a sponsor goal of 72, I am so proud and honored to share that 74 joined me this year.
Together we raised $15,210.
For the ranking of donations across the nation, our numbers show: 16th across all the participants, 8th in the 66–75-year-old age group and 2nd in the state of IL. Looking at the 11 years of the GCC and all the participants joining the cause, we rank 30th in terms of total donations.
I hope you understand how much I appreciate your support of this cause and me. So no matter how our paths have crossed - family or friends, knowing me when I was born or I knew you when you were born, Emilys to Viators to Mary's to Cary, through our kids and new kids and little kids, MOT or Allstate or IHM, golf or bike or swim or travel, over "sodas" or in a hospital - thank you for thinking of me.
Will I do this again next year? We can sort that out later.
Onward!
Posted 4 hours ago -
13.9 mi ride - Not in a rocking chair - Monday, September 29, 2025
Logged this ride 1 day ago - View on Strava -
And the beat goes on........
21 Sep 2025We are finishing up the third week of the Great Cycle Challenge for 2025. This is that time where friends and family are probably tired of my GCC posts. As the kids with cancer and their families never give up, I will keep at it until the month is up.
The 17k participants involved in the total challenge this year have donations of $6.4 million, with over 1.1 million miles pedaled across the USA.
And me? Besides my overall goals to raise awareness and prayers….
• Funds – Raised $15,210, exceeding the goal of $12,216
• Sponsors – Currently at 74, above the “age” target of 72
• Miles – Odometer shows 72.3, above that 72 number
So check/check/check thanks to all of you.
The picture attached? Our niece Caite made this flag for us in 2023. It is proudly displayed near our front door.
Keep thinking about these kids. And anyone struggling with health issues.
Posted 9 days ago -
22.0 mi ride - Algonquin: south and back - and forgot my phone at home - Monday, September 15, 2025
Logged this ride 15 days ago -
Week 2 update
14 Sep 2025It has been a busy week and month so far.
Overall, 16,981 people have joined the movement, raising over $6 million, while pedaling over 750K miles.
Last time, I stated my goals for this year - one more than 2024 –
72 miles, as I turn 72 soon
• Only at 50 but I will get there and then some
72 sponsors
• Currently at 73 – thank you
And one more dollar
• Currently at $15,174, well above the goal of $12,216
Current leaderboard info across all categories shows me/we are doing very well thanks to your help.
Every hill we climb and every mile we pedal will be to honor those lives we've lost and stand with those brave kids still fighting to survive. These kids won't give up, and neither will we.
Posted 16 days ago -
13.1 mi ride - Rain, rain went away- here comes the sun - Saturday, September 13, 2025
Logged this ride 17 days ago - View on Strava -
Hello “YES” People - GCC & Match Day
11 Sep 2025I am honored and humbled that you decided to say YES.
YES – to this cause, these kids, to the memory of Pat, Tim and Tim, in honoring Scott and to my many notes.
As many of you know, 9/10 was Match Day for the GCC challenge this year.
As a team, we started the morning with 30 sponsors with donations around $6500.
During the 24 hours on Wednesday, more than 40 people decided to say YES, donating around $4700.
On 9/11, we were told an additional $3800 has been added as part of the match.
Now with over seventy sponsors, you have helped us with a total of over $15,000.
In the spring, when the goal was established of getting one more dollar than we did in 2024, I really felt it would never come true. But you did it and then some. Amazing.
As our paths have crossed and we have become family – Schultz, Sughrua, Viators, Marys, IHM, Cary, TCGA golf, Motorola, Allstate and all other – THANK YOU!
Posted 19 days ago -
$10,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just hit $10,000 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 20 days ago -
$10,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just hit $10,000 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 20 days ago -
Kick Cancer's Butt Day
10 Sep 2025Today, Wednesday, September 10th is Kick Cancer's Butt Day.
This is the day where we stand together as one and take action to Kick Cancer's Butt.
Thanks to a generous group of donors, ALL online donations made on 9/10 will be matched (up to $1,500,000)!
But remember, this is for only 9/10!
Many of you have already joined our team.
Maybe you know someone else who would like to support this cause?
Send along a note to them to have them join us.
Posted 20 days ago
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
“Here's your matched donation from a group of wonderful Children's Cancer Research Fund supporters. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$3,793.94Received this donation 19 days ago
Tom
“Thanks for the group of supporters who made this Match Day possible and yield great results for all.”
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Anonymous
“Great effort for a great cause, way to go!! (And don’t let that 72 age thing bug ya, in dog years you’re a tad over 10)”
$517.50Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Dear "A" (DS), thank for your very generous donation in support of this cause, the kids and me. Year after year, you continue to add your name to my list of sponsors. Onward!”
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Anonymous
$517.50Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Dear "A", thank you so much for your support and generosity for me, the kids and this cause. I have a good guess who you are. Thanks again this year for your generous donation.”
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Mark Valentine
“Congratulations Tom, on another year of the challenge!”
$517.50Received this donation 117 days ago
Tom
“Chris and Mark, thanks so much for the very generous donation. Year after year, you show your support and generosity for me and the kids. While helping a great cause, we also remember our good friends Pat and Tim and Tim. Onward!”
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Mary Dempsey
“Keep up the great work, Tom!”
$517.50Received this donation 167 days ago
Tom
“Demps, thanks for your very generous donation to this cause and joining my list of sponsors again this year. We ride for those young ones who can't ride now but will in the future. It is friends like you who make this all possible. Your support of me for this challenge and all the support of us over all these years is so much appreciated.”
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Mike Mullen
“I'm so happy that you are still able to do this. Hope this helps you to hit your goal.”
$517.50Received this donation 19 days ago
Tom
“Mike, how great to see your very generous donation to this cause. And thanks for your support of me and joining my list of sponsors again this year. Yes, your help and many others, we made the goal. Hope all is well.”
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Viv & Alex
“Go Papa!”
$517.50Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Viv & Alex, thanks for the donation from both of you to help these kids. It is so great to have you join my list again this year in support of me, the kids and this cause. And thanks for the picture of us on my page. Time for us to do another bike ride together. Make sure Mom and Dad know you did this. Papa”
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Marc Weisenburger
“Way to go Tom. You are inspiring, keep peddling in the right direction for those kids.”
$310.50Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Marc, thank you for your generous donation in supporting me, this cause, and the kids again this year. Happy to be back in the lineup with you. Friends like you make all this possible. Thanks Pudge!”
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Thomas Frost
“Roll on. . . Tip & Boyoung”
$310.50Received this donation 144 days ago
Tom
“Boyoung & Tip, thanks so much for the very generous donation. Year after year, you show your support and generosity for the kids and this cause. In fact, as this is my year 9, you have donated 9 times. And I am very appreciative of your support of me for this, and the ongoing support of all of us through so many items. Onward!”
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Jan Milbourne
“Tom, It’s wonderful that you are once again riding to support this great cause. It means so much to my family and I that you ride in Pat’s memory. He’ll be by your side! Jan”
$274.28Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Jan, thanks for the generous donation. I am honored to have you on my list again in support of this cause and the kids and families impacted by cancer. Never a doubt about keeping Pat's memory all around us. And thanks for doing this on Match Day!”
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John & Kristin Muntean
“Such a great cause, Tom. Thanks for all you do to help so many.”
$274.28Received this donation 25 days ago
Tom
“Kristin & John, how wonderful to see your generous donation. And great to have your names on my list of sponsors again this year. We all do whatever we can to help others. I really appreciate your support of me, the kids, and this cause.”
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John Penrod
$274.28Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Amy & John, thank you so much for your support and generosity for me, the kids and this cause. How great to have your names on my list again this year. And thanks for joining us for Match Day.”
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Karen Gillespie
“Thank you again for your commitment to this great cause!”
$274.28Received this donation 27 days ago
Tom
“Karen, it was fun to come back from a ride this morning and see the notification of your donation. Thanks so much for your generous donation in support of this cause, the kids and me. I am honored to have the Gillespie family on my list of sponsors again this year. Tim will be with me along the way again.”
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Ann Simms
“Cheers to you for all you do to support the fight against kid's cancer! I'm honored to be part of your ride and your team! Enjoy the journey.”
$258.75Received this donation 175 days ago
Tom
“Ann, thanks so much for very generous donation. Year after year, you show your support and generosity for me, the kids and this cause. I am so honored to still be teaming with you through all these years.”
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David Ogdon
$258.75Received this donation 25 days ago
Tom
“Dave, thank you for supporting me, this cause, and the kids with your very, very generous donation. I am so honored to have your name on my sponsor list. Onward!”
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Mike
“Well done, Tom!!”
$258.75Received this donation 179 days ago
Tom
“Kell, thanks for your generous donation and joining my lineup again this year. You have supported this for many years. It is helping out a great cause, as we also remember our good friends. Also, thanks for your ongoing support in all areas. Onward!”
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Randy & Kim Syme
“To many more trips around the sun for the kids! Cheers Tom”
$258.75Received this donation 181 days ago
Tom
“Kim & Randy, how wonderful that you joined me again on this challenge. Thanks for your very generous donation. Yes- keep those “trips” coming!”
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Thomas Werner
“Have a great ride, and thanks for all you do”
$258.75Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Tom, thank you so much for your generous donation and your support for me, the kids and this cause. How great to have your name on my list this year. And you were the first one to donate on this Match Day in 2025. Onward!”
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Bill Haave
$207Received this donation 20 days ago
Tom
“Sue & Wilbur, thank you so much for your generosity and ongoing support year after year. Happy to have friends like you that make this all possible. I really appreciate your support of me, the kids and this cause. And thanks for doing this on Match Day.”
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Lauren Amich
“Congratulations on another year of riding and raising awareness for such a wonderful cause! Wishing you smooth rides ahead — I know our dad will be cheering you on!”
$207Received this donation 154 days ago
Tom
“Lauren & Simon, how exciting to have you back on my list of sponsors again this year. And what a generous donation to this cause. It is amazing what we all can do to help these kids and their families and work on kicking cancer's butt. And of course, Lauren's dad will be riding along with me.”