CROSS-COUNTRY RIDE FOR LIFE; AREA BICYCLISTS SET OUT ON SACRAMENTO-TO-D.C. TOUR TO HELP CANCER RESEARCH.

Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer

K.C. Olson will be traveling light this summer on his cross-country bicycle trek.

But in his heart he'll carry an abundance of hope for cancer patients - hope that the 16-year-old from Newbury Park and his teammates plan to share in the towns and cities they will visit during the next seven weeks.

``It's going to be great,'' said Olson, an honor student at Newbury Park High School. ``I don't know of any other kids who have had a chance to do something like this.''

Olson is the youngest of six riders on the cycling team. They will pedal from Sacramento to Washington, D.C., to raise cancer awareness and an anticipated $100 million for cancer research.

During the 3,000-mile bicycle ride and fund-raising event, Olson said he hopes to counter the misconception that cancer is a death sentence. Through his example, he also hopes to encourage other teens to enlist in the campaign against cancer.

``It's not going to be a chore or anything that I don't enjoy doing,'' said Olson during a send-off ceremony Sunday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The event is literally a dream come true for Dan Stanton, the Newbury Park man who conceived of the ride to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Stanton, who is also among the cyclists, said he had a dream about riding across country to raise money for cancer research. The dream even included the route and demographic make-up of the team. When he told his wife, Hannah, of his dream, she asked when he planned to set out.

``It was a gift,'' said Stanton, director of computer operations for Universal Studios. ``Once I saw that it was feasible, I thought it was something I had to do.''

Other team members include Dave Wilkins, 66, of Newbury Park; Giac Nguyen, 33, of San Jose; Kelly Mansfield, 37, of Ventura; and Kevin Delson, 32, of Woodland Hills.

The six cyclists and a support crew of eight will set out Tuesday in motor homes for Sacramento. Wednesday, they'll leave from the steps of the state Capitol for Washington.

Stanton said the group will average about 50 miles a day between California and Denver and then about 75 miles a day after that. They plan to ride five hours in the morning before stopping to rest and meet with cancer patients and local groups. In the late afternoon, they'll hit the road again for a few hours. They'll rest one day a week.

``I can't wait to see all the sights,'' said Olson, who will spend his 17th birthday on the road somewhere in Colorado. ``Pretty much every state has its own attitude toward life. It'll be interesting to see how other states are.''

Photographs and updates will be posted daily on the team's Web site, www.gatheringforlife.org.

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) (Ran in Simi and Conejo Editions only) Dan Stanton, left, discusses leading Dave Wilkins, Giac Nguyen, Kelly Mansfield, K.C. Olson and Kevin Delson on a benefit bike ride across the U.S.

(2-3--Color in Conejo Edition only) (Photo 3 ran in Conejo Edition only) K.C. Olson, 16, left, and Kevin Delson, 32, with son Jacob, above, are on the bike team riding from Sacramento to Washington, D.C.

Tina Gerson/Daily News