Bicycle enthusiast is "Rollin for the Colon"

BATON ROUGE, La (NBC33) -- Carl Bradtmiller is a bicycle enthusiast.  He is an avid cycler and also works as a bicycle mechanic.  He sees bikes as a fun, healthy way to stay fit, and an egalitarian activity that anyone can do.  But this month, he's on hiatus from his job and is riding his bike across the Southern United States in order to help one of his dearest friends currently living with Colon Cancer.

This past Summer, Bradtmiller's friend of five years, Jake Rucker was diagnosed with Colon Cancer.  After a routine check up, doctor's found three metastasized tumors in the 30 year old's liver.  Rucker moved from his home in Austin, TX to Gainesville, Florida to undergo chemotherapy and get the medical treatment he needs to fight the disease. 

Heartbroken but fighting to stay positive, Bradtmiller decided to use his love of riding to try and save his friends life.  He is riding his bike almost 1000 miles from Austin to Gainesville in hopes of visiting his buddy for Christmas, and also raising the $17,000 Jake needs to live for one year.  At every pit stop along the way to Florida, the bike mechanic will offer free bicycle repair services to residents of that particular area.  Friday and Saturday he was in Baton Rouge repairing bikes at the Perkins Road Parlor.

For more information on Jake and his fight with Colon Cancer, log onto:  http://www.jakebuddah.com [1]  and

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rollin-for-the-Colon/169129533115394 [2]

For information on Carl Bradtmiller and his ride across the South, visit: 

 http://www.facebook.com/AggieCycling/posts/104730882931974

In Baton Rouge, Bradtmiller was sponsored by Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets (BRASS).  To find out more about the organization, go to:  http://brsafestreets.org [3]