Jason Hett sets riding goal of 300 miles for September

By MINDY KEPFIELD

Staff writer

Jason Hett is happy to do something he loves for a cause he cares about.

A longtime cyclist, Marion High’s athletic director plans to ride 300 miles during the month of September as part of the Great Cycle Challenge which raises money for pediatric cancer research.

Local donors have helped Hett raise $1,026.34. But with 141.5 miles logged, he still has far to go.

Waking up at 5:45 a.m. and biking 10 to 15 miles is a perfect start to his day, Hett said.

“I spend it in prayer to the Lord and in prayer for families affected by cancer,” he said. “It makes me feel blessed to get up and do the things I love to do.”

Hett said neither he nor of his family have dealt with childhood cancer, but his heart breaks for families that have.

“It’s an eye opener,” he said. “Two or three times a week, founders of the challenge send emails about young families and kids who have suffered cancer. It breaks my heart to hear about a 3- or 4-year-old going through cancer treatment. It is tough enough for an adult.”

He bikes around Marion County Lake some mornings and has other routes he logs throughout town.

Founded in 2015, the Great Cycle Challenge has grown as more than 230,000 riders have raised $24 million for pediatric cancer research.

This year the Children’s Cancer Research fund hopes the cycle challenge will raise more than $10 million.

Hett’s page is still accepting donations as he pedals toward his 300 mile goal.

“It’s a small way, a great way, to give back,” he said.

His page on the site is: greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/ JasonHett