After cancer claimed the lives of his mother, father, grandmother, and threatened his sister, Richard Drorbaugh decided to lead a personal crusade against the killer disease.

This personable young man, who has been named by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of 1995's Ten Outstanding Young Americans, decided to raise awareness and money for cancer research by biking around the world. With the help of the Founding Sponsor Massachusetts Jaycees, he began an adventure for a good cause.

He documented his trip in a day-by-day narrative, published as World Ride, Going The Extra Mile Against Cancer which tells the story of his emotional and physical journey. The three-member cycling team averaged 65 miles a day during the 344-day journey in spite of adverse weather and road conditions, injuries, and mechanical breakdowns in such diverse countries as Norway, Russia, France, Tunisia Bangladesh, Korea, Australia, Uruguay and Brazil. 100% of all contributions raised went to cancer research. Since finishing his book work has begun on completing a World Ride TV documentary.

Now a businessman with experience in sales and marketing, public relations and nonprofit management, Drorbaugh also recounts his experiences on school and college campuses across the nation, urging youth to adopt a cause they are interested in and "Go the Extra Mile" to bring it success.

According to the Boston Herald, the program "easily lends itself to subjects across the curriculum." It was recently featured on the Boston NBC-TV News "Education Report".

Richard inspires students to believe in themselves, and in the power of teamwork to accomplish their goals, using a multimedia presentation that combines World Ride documentary footage with TV news clips and challenging personal experiences growing up without his mother who died of breast cancer when he was 6 years old. Students' educational experience with the program is enhanced with "Go The Extra Mile" curriculum tie-in materials involving Health, History, Geography, Mathematics and English.

The program can be customized to be age appropriate and to powerfully support your schools' agenda, including tobacco, drug and alcohol prevention. It can also include an optional "Go The Extra Mile Challenge" to students. The "Challenge" is for students to create a fundraising activity for cancer research. They learn to unite together as a team to achieve a common goal while understanding the importance of community service and helping others.

To schedule the "Go The Extra Mile School Program", interested parties can reach Richard directly:

Go The Extra Mile gratefully acknowledges support from the following sponsors...

• America Tomorrow, Inc.
• Astra USA
• Genentech Biooncology
• Genetics Institute
• The Gillette Company