Community Corner
Bridgewater Firefighter Rides 225 Miles For Cancer Surviving Dad
Steven Hernandez biked from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado over three days in an effort to raise funds for cancer research.

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Steven Hernandez has dedicated his life to helping others. As a rescue squad and now firefighter volunteer, it comes as no surprise that he wanted to bike 225 miles over the Rocky Mountains to raise money for cancer research.
"I'm dedicating this ride to my dad who had cancer and also firefighters because cancer is the leading cause of death for them," said Hernandez.
Last week he biked from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado over three days as one of the legs in Bristol Myers Squibb's 2022 Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer Ride. Hernandez was among the more than 126 Bristol Myers Squibb employees who set out to ride nearly 3,000 miles from Cannon Beach, Oregon to Long Branch, New Jersey to raise funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
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"Honestly we had the roughest leg of the whole U.S. since we were pretty much going over the Rockies," said Hernandez. "Our elevation gain was 12,000 just on bikes."
Hernandez trained for weeks, starting with a 2-hour bike ride going to a 6-hour bike ride on a Saturday, and then another 3-hour bike ride on Sunday.
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This ride was very close to Hernandez's heart as a first responder. He has volunteered with the Finderne Rescue Squad for 8 years and then moved to the other side of Bridgewater where he has been volunteering with the Country Hills Fire Department for the past two years.
He noted that most people don't realize that when stuff in their home burns it enters the air and releases toxins. Firefighters responding to those fires are exposed as the pores in their bodies open up.
"The vapors go into their body and cause them to have cancer," said Hernandez.
Along with riding for his fellow firefighters, Hernandez rode for his dad who is a cancer survivor.
"My dad is my everything and luckily after treatment, he has been great for the past 3 years. I look forward to sharing many more experiences with and continue to fight for those people that maybe in similar situations now with what I do every day at work," said Hernandez.
The entire journey was hard yet life-changing and unforgettable.
"It was really rewarding. I was crying at the end," said Hernandez who recalled watching Mustangs and sheep run across the rode during his ride.
"A lot happened in a short period of time that we all bonded together," said Hernandez of his biking team. "It is one of those lifelong experiences that I will pass on."
Hernandez's goal for this ride is to raise $5,000. The entire Coast2Coast Ride will finish in Long Branch, NJ on Oct. 3. He currently has more than $3,400 raised. To learn more about Hernandez's ride or to donate click here.
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