Business Owner Fighting Cancer Supported By Del Ray Community

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Community members have rallied around a Del Ray business owner fighting cancer.

Christian Myers, who co-founded Vélocity Bicycle Cooperative with John Patterson in 2010, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and is undergoing treatment. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with family with treatment and recovery.

Hundreds showed up for the Help Christian Kick Cancer! fundraiser at Pork Barrel BBQ Tuesday evening. The Del Ray Business Association wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday the fundraiser and GoFundMe raised $20,000.

"Del Ray once again proved why it is one of the best places to live," said fundraiser organizer Lindsay Nelson in a statement shared by DRBA. "We’re surrounded by people who genuinely care for their neighbors and those in our community. Combine that love of local community with the DC bike community; some of the most genuine, selfless, and loyal people I’ve ever had the pleasure of calling friends, and you get the outpouring of love we all saw at last night’s fundraiser."

The GoFundMe page details the many ways Myers has given back to the community. Vélocity Bicycle Cooperative is a volunteer-run co-op offering bike repairs, recycling, bike giveaways for needy kids, youth programming and more. In partnership with the Alexandria Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Alexandria Fire Department, the co-op collects hundreds of unwanted bikes, fixes them and distributes them to low-income families or those staying in shelters or transitional housing. Myers manages the bike shop and youth education program.

"Christian does so much for our community -- let's rally around him and help him kick cancer!" states the page.

Image via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner