CHAPEL HILL – What are you doing Saturday morning? How does a bike ride sound? But not just any bike ride – a bike ride that raises money for children with cancer.

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“These are blood cancer and blood disorder pediatric patients that are in need of assistance,” Ethan Aliff says.

The Pedal for Peds bike ride is calling on cyclists of the Carolinas to lift their kickstands… and ride to raise funds for cancer research.

We sat down with Aliff, the young, UNC Cancer Hospital patient who inspired the event.

“I started bringing my bike into the hospital during treatments.

And word got around; it even made it to Kevin Penn at Duke Hospital.

“There was an article published about him riding his bicycle while going through treatments,” Penn says. “Out of coincidence, I happened to be at the hospital at the same time, diagnosed with the same disease as Ethan. My friends dropped that article on my bed, and said ‘You’re being kind of lazy.’ They shamed me into following suit. Ethan’s been a long time inspiration for me.”

Penn isn’t the only one Ethan inspired to take action; a doctor at UNC started Pedal for Peds in honor of Ethan’s optimism.

“You can get better. Just have a positive attitude, and keep fighting.

Pedal for Peds begins Saturday at 8:00 a.m. at McDougle Middle School. All proceeds fund research for the UNC Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology.

For more information, click here.