WHY WE RIDE
Team Big Black Dog was founded by Douglas Mars, a cancer survivor, father, husband, and friend. He formed our team of riders with love in his heart and a goal in his mind! We are a team of friends and family, growing from a single rider to a team of 20+ amazing people. Our team is involved with the ride for a child program and we are all focused on giving back and paying forward.
Thank you for supporting our team and the pedal family. Together we can beat this disease.
Thank you! Team Big Black Dog
#cancersucks
#letsfindacure
Who Are We?
Doug Mars, Chris Mars, Justin Mars, Sophie Mars, Anna Mars, Dick Entenmann, Carin Thumm, Billy Covert, John Wood, Sean Roarty, Matt Burke, Jack McCraine, Tim Cuneo, Geoff Kennedy, Jason Welker, John Malinack, Elizabeth Malinack, Lew Vandover, Craig Coffelt, Rodney Durben, Paulina Wolska, Keith Wesselschmidt.
Our Team Name
Our team name, Big Black Dog is inspired by our founder's family's late dog, Rex. Rex was a beacon of strength and love throughout dark times impacted by cancer. When Rex was around 12, he contracted cancer and passed away. He is the original big black dog. The Mars family is now the proud owner of another big black dog, Obi Sirius Black Mars
Welcome, New Members!!!
Keith Wesselschmidt, Sue Barnes, Angela Saferite
About Our Founder
The founder of team Big Black Dog is Doug Mars. Doug is 53 years old and a survivor of vocal chord cancer. After 28 rounds of radiation, Doug was pronounced NED, or No Evidence of Disease. Doug fought a long and hard battle with the support of his family and friends. His first solo ride was in 2016, and he rode 50 miles. He founded our friends and family team in 2017. Doug was inspired to 'pay it forward' and form a friends and family team and dedicate his time, energy, and support to others battling cancer. The team has participated in Ride for a Child, a sponsoring program, since 2018. To the left is a photo of Doug crossing the finish line in 2017, after riding 50 miles. In 2020, on Doug's five year cancer-versary, he rode 100 miles, completing his first century ride!
Why I Ride: Anna Mars
My godmother and cousin are both battling metastatic breast cancer. I hold my godmother in the highest esteem and I always look forward to visits with my cousin. They are both inspiring women, as brave and as strong as Amazon warriors. They are my Wonder Women. They refuse to allow cancer to stain their lives, always having the most positive outlooks on their journeys. I am in awe of their bravery, and their unwillingness to give in to the disease. Their strength mirrors that of my father and I am once again proud to say that my family is a family of warriors.
Very recently, I found out that a friend of mine was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma. The immediate panic set in, and I was in shock. I still am in shock. And yet he continues to have the most optimistic view of his future. He says that it's good to have a mind-space, and have good thoughts. A mutual friend reminded me that positivity is shown to help with overcoming illness compared to negativity. When I think of my friend's battle, I think of his ongoing bravery and that is so inspiring to me; his ability to smile amidst the darkness shines a light of hope into my life. I believe in him and I am confident that he can overcome this hurdle that is cancer. His purest form of hope is what gives the ability to smile when all I want to do is cry. I am proud, another time, to say that my friend is a fighter.
In The News!
Doug was featured on the KMOV News channel. The story featured Doug, Justin, Chris, and Rex, before the team grew to the big family it is today.
"One cancer survivor is now using his experience with his dog by his side, to help others battling the disease."
Read the full article here:
