Completing 3,000-Mile Journey on a Bike is Nothing for Group of Metro Cancer Survivors

Drennan Fischer may have traveled 3,000 miles in a little more than five days, but for her, the journey started much earlier.

Shortly before the birth of her second child, Scarlett, Fischer was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Des Moines native spent the next year in chemotherapy and went through several surgeries.

During her ordeal, she became a patient of Dr. Richard Deming, a radiation oncologist at Mercy Cancer Center. While in his care, she learned of Deming's astonishing accomplishments, including leading 35 cancer survivors to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and 14 more up the slope of Mount Everest.

When she learned that he planned to lead another team in the 3,000-mile Race Across America in June 2012, Fischer wanted to get onboard.

"I sent him an email about it," Fischer said. "I told him, 'I want to do this, but I still have one more surgery, and it takes six weeks to recover.' He said to get through recovery, and then we'll see."

Fischer began training with her seven teammates last January. She was first considered as an alternate, but as the race day drew closer, she found herself ready to compete.

The team began their journey last week, traveling 400 miles in a day, with members of the team cycling around the clock. Fischer's husband, Eric Bakker, joined her on a bicycle in Indiana.

They made their heroic return Tuesday night at in West Des Moines, where more than 100 people turned out to show their support.

Various team members discussed the rigorous, often painful nature of the journey. One cyclist, who had to have his saliva glands removed because of his cancer, said going through the desert was very uncomfortable.

"It felt like you had a washcloth in your mouth the whole time," he told the crowd.

Teresa Adams-Tomka, another member of the team, said her favorite moment of the race happened when the eldest member of their team managed to consistently outpace a rival team because of his advanced downhill abilities.

"He was fearless," Adams-Tomka said of her teammate. "Once we got to the top, they couldn't keep up. They were chasing a 66-year-old all the way down. It was a very friendly competition."

Fischer said it feels surreal to have the whole experience be over.

"There was so much training and work," she said. "It was like having a second job. Now that it's over, you just have to get back into your old lifestyle."

Fischer intends to remain physically active.

"They say that being physically healthy helps to keep the cancer away," Fischer said. "You're not bulletproof. I'll be around to take care of these two little kids."