The 11th Annual 24 Hours of Booty presented by Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte will take place July 27-28, 2012.

24 Hours of Booty, Inc. – which runs the Official 24-Hour Cycling Event of LIVESTRONG and the premier national 24-hour road cycling charity event in the country – is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity located in Charlotte that provides  extraordinary cycling events that are safe, fun, and open to all levels of cycling ability. Its mission is to conduct 24-hour cycling events that increase public awareness, funds, and support for LIVESTRONG and local cancer organizations.  Local organizations include The Keep Pounding Fund at Carolinas Medical Center and the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas in Charlotte, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults in Columbia, Md., and Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

In 24 Hours of Booty’s 10-year history, more than 10,000 riders have raised more than $7 million. The 11th Annual 24 Hours of Booty presented by Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte will take place July 27-28, 2012. In addition to the Charlotte event, 24 Hours of Booty will also host its inaugural 24 Hours of Booty of Indianapolis at Butler University on Friday, June 29-Saturday, June 30, 2012; the Fourth Annual 24 Hours of Booty of Columbia, Md. at the Gateway Business Park “Booty Loop” on Saturday, Aug. 25-Sunday, Aug. 26 2012; and the Third Annual 24 Hours of Booty of Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 6-Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. The location for the Atlanta event is still being finalized.

But, before any of that, Basil Lyberg, the executive director of 24 Hours of Booty, Inc., took some time to sit down and answer some of our questions, and you might be surprised by what he has to say about biking, Cancer and his incredible experiences.

Basil Lyberg, Executive Director, 24 Hours of Booty, Inc

CSN: What do you want people to know about 24 Hours of Booty and/or it’s causes?

BL: I would want people to know that more than the ride itself, which brings so many parts of the cancer community together, is the impact 24 Hours of Booty has on our neighbors. Our riders have been able to fund some incredible programs through our partners. These programs have made the lives of people fighting cancer better. They have also funded programs that have flat-out saved people’s lives. That’s real and really gets to the core of 24 Hours of Booty.

CSN: What was your first impression of the 24 Hours of Booty?

BL: I remember reading about Spencer Lueders’ first ride and thought, “That dude is crazy!?!” But after reading the recap of people riding, camping and raising all this money for LIVESTRONG, it was inspiring. That inspiration led me to sign up for my first ride in 2007 with a group of friends that ranged from avid bicyclists to a friend who actually pulled a bike out of a Wal-Mart box.

CSN: What influenced you to work with 24 Hours of Booty?

BL: After my ride, I was so taken with the cause that I wanted to become more involved and help out at a deeper level. They had a great staff and it was always fun to come to the meetings. Around the same time I had an aunt who was battling cancer.  She lived across the country so I didn’t see her battle on a day to day basis, but I always hated that cancer took her from seeing her grand babies grow up. I still hate it.  When the opportunity to work with 24 Hours of Booty came up, it really brought so many pieces of my world, personally and professionally, together.

CSN: What has surprised you most about working with 24 Hours of Booty?

I don’t know about surprised as much amazed—we work with some amazing people. Our riders’ and volunteers’ passion to fight cancer really knows no bounds.  They plan events, team meetings, recruit riders, and volunteer for our local partners.  They give so much to fight this deadly disease.

CSN: What do you find most challenging about Cancer research and survivorship programs?

BL: Wow, this is a great question. I think the biggest challenge outside of reaching our program goals is to know how many people will be impacted by cancer, even just in the next 20 years.  We have had riders that have given and raised tens of thousands of dollars and but in blink of an eye go from being the person who helps award the grants to the one using the programs.  Cancer isn’t going to slow down and neither will we.

CSN: Who are some of the interesting people you’ve met while working on Cancer research and survivorship programs?

BL: Gosh, there are so many—some of the best people I have met in my life have been through 24 Hours of Booty. A group in particular that stands out are the leaders of our partner organizations. Dr. Kneisl, balances being a dad, serving as the director of the Blumenthal Cancer Center and working nights in the OR as an orthopedic surgeon. Brock Yetso, Executive Director of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, leads a nationally recognized organization but still makes time to drive a young adult cancer fighter to their doctor’s appointment.  Doug Ulman has positioned LIVESTRONG globally in the fight against cancer while taking the time to write a note to one of our riders who was in the midst of their own fight.  Their leadership and dedication is truly inspiring.

CSN: What do you think will change about 24 Hours of Booty or its causes in the next five years?

BL: The rate people are being diagnosed with cancer isn’t slowing down. I hate to think of where that number will be in five years. I believe 24 Hours of Booty will be part of the solution in this fight by providing a platform for people to reach their wellness goals while serving the critical needs of the cancer community.

CSN: What would you say to someone thinking about donating, volunteering, etc.?

BL: Start today. Whether it is a $10 donation or giving up a lunch hour to read to a kid at a school, we all have the capacity to give in some way to make our community better. The success of 24 Hours of Booty started with and continues from the grassroots efforts of people in the Charlotte region wanting to do more to impact our neighbors.

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