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The 74-year-old former athletic director at Sacred Heart University could pedal 100, 1,000 or 1 million miles, and it would not diminish the pain he feels from the death of his son, Chris, last year from cancer.
Cook is finding solace, however, from the decision by the CT Challenge directors to establish a scholarship at SHU in memory of his son. Lee Crouch, director of development and community relations for the CT Challenge, said the scholarship will be given to a Sacred Heart student who is a cancer survivor.
“It’s kind of mind-boggling that all this happened,’’ said Cook, who retired in 2013 after 21 years as the athletic director at Sacred Heart.
Cook’s son was 48-years-old when he died April 14, 2014, after a lengthy bout with tonsil cancer. More than 45,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, and it will cause more than 8,000 deaths. The disease is especially prevalent in men over the age of 40.
Cook rode in the event for the first time last year with members of his family. Afterwards, the CT Challenge worked out a partnership with Sacred Heart to establish a scholarship in Chris Cook’s name. The CT Challenge created partnerships with Norwalk Hospital and the Leever Cancer Center of Waterbury Hospital last year.
“We thought why don’t we give a grant back to Sacred Heart and apply the same model,’’ Crouch said. “It’s a great example of a wonderful partnership with a member who supports us in a lot of other ways. Last year, Sacred Heart funded a community bike program for center members. It’s also important that we give back.”
Cook remembers the emotions he felt at last year’s ride, when he used his son’s bike and helmet.
“It was beyond emotional,’’ said Cook, whose son took advantage of CT Challenge programs as he fought cancer. “He and I were very close. He just wasn’t my son. He was my best friend. We dealt with one another like two adults. The cancer was horrific. This was someone who never smoked or had a drink stronger than Snapple.”
Stamford’s Bobby Valentine, the former Major League baseball player and manager who succeeded Cook as the SHU athletic director, helped raise funds for last year’s ride when he served as its honorary co-chairman.
“Bobby and I go back 30 years,’’ Cook said. “When he got involved, it just started to snowball.”
Last year, the SHU team raised more than $20,000 for the CT Challenge’s cancer survivorship programs. It was one of the top 10 teams for the event, a two-day cycling festival in which riders can pedal for as little as 10 miles and up to 100. Team SHU has a $25,000 fundraising goal this year.
Sacred Heart will receive 75 percent of the money its team raises for the scholarship. Readers can click here to make a donation to the SHU team through the CT Challenge website. Readers can click here to make a donation for Cook.
“When we told Don about the scholarship, he was a little bit speechless,’’ Crouch said. “Don is one of the best people on the planet. When we saw what he was doing with the team last year, we realized it’s a special thing. We’re thrilled we’re going to be able to give back. For us, it’s a special partnership.”
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