In March of 2011, Kathleen Matthews was diagnosed with lung cancer. Nine months later she died of this disease, and while she was very sick, her son, John, promised her that he would do “something”.

That “something” became raising $1 million in his lifetime, and that promise started with a cross-country bike ride in 2017. Since then, Ride Hard Breathe Easy has grown to a non-profit that focuses on supporting lung cancer patients dealing with financial strain due to their diagnosis, and emphasizing the importance of early detection and screening. And now in 2025 Kathleen's grandson, Jack Owens, is taking to the road for his own cross-country ride in support of RHBE.

Kathleen Matthews had a saying, that “Many hands make light work”, and these words are the backbone of who we are and what we do. We are honored to partner with Crozer, Dartmouth, Duke, Fox Chase, Jefferson, Johns Hopkins, Penn, and Temple. Together, we have helped over 2,000 lung cancer patients, and we will help some more with your generosity. In addition, we are grateful to the committed group of volunteers, partners, and sponsors dedicated to helping lung cancer patients.

Our goal is to raise another $100,000 during this ride in 2025, and we look forward to your support!

#RideHardBreatheEasy

9th Annual RRRRRide Hard Breathe Easy Classic!

Cross-country bike ride in support of RHBE

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