Erich Kircher needs your thoughts and prayers

53 0val · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

It was nice seeing Erich's family at the Treffen this Sunday, but it was also very sad. I really miss him. Sad

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johnshenry · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:30 am Post subject:

A video I made from footage and pics of the event, and yes, that little digital video camera....

Link

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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

Stock Steve · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject:

GOOD JOB JOHN!
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tazm · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject:

Congrats John

well done my friend ! I hope to ride my bike again in a few weeks!
The chemo therapy is finished now ! I still need 10 sessions radio therapy, So aug 15 is the date I'm looking for to start recovering from the treatments ! Now I'm happy they started the treatment after the HO weekend , In this condition I was not able to join the show, thats for sure !
Best regards,

Guido Wink

PS I hope you enjoyed the Belgian beers after the bike race Wink

Kais Collection · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:50 am Post subject:

Congrats John, what an accomplishment!
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johnshenry · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:01 am Post subject:

Must have been the DZNuts. Yeah. Google that. Shocked

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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

ZwitterND · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:31 am Post subject:

WTG John! My personal best on a bike dates back to my elementary school days which was about 3 miles round trip. I can't imagine 100 miles, maybe in 100 days... : Laughing

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Bill

scvw · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Hey John,

I wondered all afternoon if you made your 100 mile goal. Great job! Thanks for taking the time to chat with me on your break. I have to disagree with you though, I can see you making cycling a major part of your workout routine. Laughing

Seriously though, you did a great thing raising so much money for a very important cause. Applause

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johnshenry · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

Well, didn't get my finish line goal of 100 miles today....

I made it 100.5 miles! (33.5 times around a 3 mile loop). Wow, what day. And at least right now I am not THAT sore (let's see about tomorrow). I am very happy with my progress and accomplishment. I have never ridden a bike more than 1-2 miles before, I was on borrowed bikes, wearing borrowed shoes and a borrowed helmet... but I did buy my own shorts Wink

. The guys in my sisters bike club were pretty impressed. It was a great time, but I have no illusions about becoming a "cyclist". I can check the "Century" box. I'm done...

And I rode a mountain bike hybrid bike the first 54 miles, then switched to a Trek 1000 road bike. Big difference, especially on the inclines.

My brother in law made me the jersey you see in the pics. You'll either get it or you won't. Lots of people at the event did. I also got to meet Joey (scvws) today on a long break. Was nice to sit and chat VWs, and not have to listen to cycle-talk....! Joey even drove his '57 bus down. Erich would have liked that...

Anyway, to those who donated, I will send an e-mail this week with all the details, some links to pics and videos. And thanks again for your support. This WILL make a difference!!!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

genrich'sgirl · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:04 pm Post subject:

John, I admire you so much for all you are doing for cancer survivors and cancer research. I am happy that you are remembering Erich in such a great way. I hope that all goes well tomorrow for you, enjoy the margarita(s)! You have more than earned them! I can't wait to see the video montage too. I will be thinking of you and hoping that it is not too humid tomorrow. Looking forward to your next post / update.
Wendy & Karsten

johnshenry · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject:

Well I did 42 miles tonight between 7 and 11:30pm. I was on a hybrid mountain/road bike. I am pretty happy with that, that last lap was pretty grueling. I have never ridden a bike more than a mile at a time (probably) before. I raised over $3000 for cancer research, thanks to all who donated. I am wearing an "In memory of" tag on the back of my jersey with Erich's name on it.

I was also interviewed briefly by a local TV station, see CN2.com, and the piece about the 24 hour Booty ride. Not sure how long it will be up there for...

I also (if you can believe this!), have my little digital video camera on the handle bars and will put together a montage video and probably upload some pics.

I am going to try to do 58 miles tomorrow and make my goal of 100 miles. But it is going to be over 90 degrees and humid. I'll post tomorrow night after the event ends at 7pm, and dinner at a Mexican restaurant and good margarita or two!!!
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

johnshenry · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:01 am Post subject:

I leave one week from today for the Booty Ride event. Thought I would post here one more time to try to scrape up any donations I could. Again, my personal web page for the event is at:

http://hob24.convio.net/goto/johnhenry

While I haven't been on the roads here in New England on a bike (have been in my split though!) I have been training on the exercise bikes at my health club. I will continue to hit the machines every day until the day before I leave. I'll try to post some details and pics here after the event.

Thanks again for any help you can provide to this worthy cause.....
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

johnshenry · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:41 am Post subject:

Thanks Bill, I have been overwhelmed with the response so far, and really have only "announced" this fundraiser to the VW community (have some other friends and family ponds to "fish" still).

Erich's wife Wendy forwarded the link to her friends and family and many donated generous amounts, testament (no surprise) to their love of Erich and intention to keep his memory alive and do something positive for cancer research.

I am trying to think of a unique way that Erich can "ride along" with me. At least his picture on my bike or with me somehow.... hmm, maybe a Volkswagen part attached to my bike somewhere??? K manifold handle bars??? (I will be riding a borrowed bike, so I might be limited....).

Suggestions ??????????

Anyway, lots of time still to plan, and train. The event is the last weekend in July. I intend to "adjust" my goal now.

All of my chemo is behind me hopefully, I have a CT scan scheduled for Thurs morning this week and hopefully will show an "all clear" for now. I feel great, have been back on the racquetball courts twice a week for a month now and struggling to loose some of that winter..... uh, hibernation fat....

My personal event page is at

http://hob24.convio.net/goto/johnhenry
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

ZwitterND · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:21 am Post subject:

Congratulations on meeting your goal John ! Good luck !
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Bill

johnshenry · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject:

Hello all.
After running this idea past Erich’s wife Wendy, and Everett, I have decided to tap this thread to solicit funds for a cancer research fundraiser I will take part in this coming July.

One week to the day after Erich’s passing, I was very suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, it was a day I will never forget. Although quickly I learned that my cancer was very treatable, it was a bombshell to say the least. I had just driven vintage VWs with Erich in the Solvang event 2 months prior, had lost a relative to cancer the week after that, and had lost my own father Christmas eve 2007 to cancer. It was not easy news to take.

In the weeks and months since, I have undergone surgery to remove a tumor, two rounds of chemotherapy, CT scans and xRays and endless hours in front of the computer learning about my cancer and corresponding with people with similar diagnosis. Along the way, I met a very special, and inspiring patient, and research biologist who you can read about on my event page at the link below.

My future is optimistic, and my chances for recurrence very slim given the therapy that I have opted for. If it does recur, it is still very treatable. But along the cancer path, I have learned what it feels like to be a cancer patient, I have seen its impact on family and friends, and I have experienced firsthand the current state of treatment. I have also been the recipient of overwhelming compassion and support from friends and family during this time. And in Erich’s case, as witnessed here, seen the outpouring of compassion for him and his family. And I have decided to try to turn all of that into something positive.

My first goal is to trumpet the message of being an advocate of your own health. My cancer was in no way hereditary…. but it was detectable with simple self exams. Please learn what cancers you may be at risk for, and take the steps to diagnose them as early as possible if they should strike. Apathy in this area has taken many lives, some needlessly.

Secondly, I want to encourage people to support cancer research. Great strides have been made in cancer treatment in recent decades, but the norm of therapy (chemotherapy and radiation) is still borderline barbaric. Surprisingly to many, it is not terribly scientific. The silver bullet will come when the cancer cells can be targeted specifically and killed with surgical precision. I met a fellow cancer survivor on the internet who had nearly the same diagnosis as me 2 years prior. After corresponding on a cancer survivors forum on which he was a moderator, I found that not only did he live about 35 miles from me, but was a cancer biologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. You can read about him on my event page.

I will take part in a 24 hour bike ride in Charlotte NC in July called the “Booty Ride”. It is an established cancer research fundraiser that has grown every year. And I am not a biker. My sister, who lives near Charlotte and her husband have taken part in this event in prior years and invited me to do so. I will train this spring and summer, and hope to make 100 miles in the event. I am also very optimistic about the money I can raise, and will tap into the groundswell of friend and family who supported me these last few months. But I will ride in Erich’s memory as well and wanted to post here in his thread, inviting anyone who might be inclined to contribute to this worthy cause. For me, it is an honor to remember Erich in this way. Feel free to enter “For Erich” if you like when making a donation.

My personal event page is at
http://hob24.convio.net/goto/johnhenry

You can read all about the event, the research it funds, history, etc, at that site.

Thank you.
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

my65rhd · Samba Member Joined: March 11, 2003 Posts: 1212

Great pics Martin....I sure hope you are doing okay man. I know I miss Erich a lot. Him and my brother Jeff are doing the VW swaps now..Take care buddy....Kyle

mkbug · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject: And the love of his life...

Erich and Wendy

mkbug · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:27 pm Post subject: To lighten the mood!

Thought I'd lighten the mood a little. This is my brother. Ain't he cute!

mkbug · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject: Thank you

I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you who sent thoughts,
prayers and notes of support over Erich's passing. Recently, I received
a copy of the tribute that was published in the Vintage VW Club
newsletter and Rich Kimball's column in Hot VW. They were beautiful and
make me proud to have Erich as my brother.

Erich touched many many people and to read about the feelings others
had for him here on The Samda is wonderful.

Thank you all,
Martin

lawn ninja · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:25 pm Post subject:

I didn't know Erich but I just wanted to point something out to all of you in case you haven't seen it. In the March 2009 issue of Hot VW's there is a picture of Erich, Wendy and their son posing at the back of the 48 splitty. It's a nice shot and very prominent in the article. The picture is in the upper right corner of page 67. It is the second page of the opening spread in the "Solvang" article. I know Everett mentioned that he could add that topic if there were pics and I'm sure R.K. would be more than happy to give that one up for a good cause.


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