Ellicott City resident encourages 24 Hours of Booty to raise cancer funds

On Sept. 11, 2001, Ellicott City resident Rafael Matos was inside the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the western section of the building. In the coming days, Matos said, the experience left him with survivor's guilt, forever changing his outlook on life.Over the last 15 years, Matos, now a psychologist, said he has channeled his emotional journey into helping cancer patients through the nationally recognized Livestrong Foundation and Columbia's 24 Hours of Booty cycling fundraiser for cancer research.The event, which will celebrate its ninth year on Aug. 20 and 21, will bring cyclists together to ride to raise funds for both the Livestrong Foundation and Maryland-based Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.&quot;Life can change in a second, but there's a lot that we can take for granted,&quot; Matos said. &quot;We really need to take a second to absorb what's happening day-to-day.&quot;Spokesman Drew Tharp said the 2.1-mile, traffic-free loop will take cyclists along Columbia Gateway Drive in the Columbia Gateway Business Park, referred to as the &quot;booty loop,&quot; near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 175.More than 400 cyclists are expected at this year's event, with headquarters stationed at the Merkle and COPT field.Matos, 52, said he has participated in the cycling event for the last four years, riding more than 160 miles on his bike during the 24-hour event in 2015.After 9/11, Matos said helping families, survivors and patients affected by cancer has brought a new meaning to his life.&quot;I moved forward with a different focus in my life and make every minute count,&quot; Matos said. &quot;After that experience that I felt that day, I tell the cancer patients who are going through this fight right now to enjoy every minute because there's a lot to life that we should be very grateful for and many times we don't see it that way.&quot;The 24 Hours of Booty event serves as a connection to cancer patients, he said, where people of all ages share their experiences over meals, music and biking.In the registration process, each participant commits to raising a $200 minimum in donations. Riders can take breaks and enjoy a dinner Saturday evening and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Some riders have raised upward of $20,000 in the past, Matos said.Funds raised are split between the Livestrong Foundation and Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, he said.In addition to his participation in the cycling fundraiser, Matos said he has served as an original leader of the Livestrong Foundation since 2013, later becoming a senior leader in 2015, as he oversees programs and services to raise cancer awareness in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.Matos said the foundation is about going beyond cancer research and bringing attention to the experiences of cancer patients.&quot;As they go through chemotherapy and all kinds of other treatments, they need not only emotional support but also physical support and psychosocial interaction with other people,&quot; Matos said. &quot;That is very invaluable.&quot;The cyclist said his family's first encounter with cancer happened in 1981 when he was in high school and his grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer, eventually succumbing to the disease at age 57. Since services and support for cancer patients were minimal at the time, Matos said, he's made it is mission to promote today's opportunities to all who have been diagnosed.&quot;A lot of people don't see that it's a big challenge to know that you have this disease that's so debilitating and you have no idea if you're going to make it to the end,&quot; Matos said. &quot;I just saw the need to support the cancer patients as they're going through their cancer journey.&quot;Matos said he will participate in his fourth 24 Hours of Booty in hopes of continuing his 160-mile ride from 2 p.m. Aug. 20 to 2 p.m. Aug. 21. He has participated with the Columbia Booty Crew team the last two years.Participants can join the event as individuals or teams, or join a team, at 24hoursofbooty.org/register/columbia.Additional information, including pricing, course map, parking and event schedules, are also available at the website.

Ellicott City resident encourages 24 Hours of Booty to raise cancer funds

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