back in the day and was pretty good as he was sponsored by Sharp chain rings. The past 8 years he has struggled with cancer bad and has over come the odds. At one point he was given a short time, but it's 8 years later and he just raced his first race the other day. Seeing how he raced an 18 year old bike, we wanted him to be proud of something for his battles. Due to medical bills, issues, family etc., his 18 year old bike was a handme down parts bike from all his friends. So here is what I did.
I made some calls into my friends in the industry. First was Chris Moeller who donated a brand new chrome S&M speedwagon and some chrome XLT race bars. Next I needed forks, so Bill Ryan of Supercross donated me a set of his pro forks, a polished headset, and a saddle. My buddy over at Native bikes is making a custom hand tooled leather seat that says 'cancer sucks'.. My main homie at porkchopbmx.com donated pedals, chain, grips, Diacompe brakes and lever and a bunch of misc items. I had some Stay Strong grips here, a THE # plate, Profile polished euro bb, a Profile headset lock and other misc.. Steven at Bullseye donated the stem and tentioners, and my buddy Billy Handy JR from the Rockunderground in NY donated the $ for the brand new chrome Profile cranks, in which the bmxguru.com sold them to me at a heavy discounted price. The last thing I am working on is the wheel set and shipping it off to Robbie..
It is the 2nd time these big guys have stepped up in the industry and done a cancer bike with me, this one going to a guy who needs it, and wants to become back on top of the podium after his 8 year long battle with cancer.
Here is what Robbie just explained to my friend. RATED PG13.
Well it was eight years ago I felt a bulge in my armpit. Didn't think anything of it but it kept getting bigger. Turns out I had non Hodgkins lymphoma. First time seeing a Dr he told me I had no longer then six months to live so I should start making final plans....
I was devastated but after a couple weeks of thinking I went to my Dr and told him fuck off I'm not going out that easy. I fight my ass off for three years going through chemo every Saturday all while working a full time job Monday through Friday. I had to support my family I couldn't stop working. Then a 'lil longer then three years in I found it I was in remission but it only lasted two months and when it came back it was worse then ever before. I got told again I had less than six months and again I told my Dr to get the fuck outta here with that nonsense and kept fighting giving all I had just to survive for my family.
But a year later I was still alive and found out I was going to be a dad so I fought harder than I ever did in my life to be alive for my son. I kept working while going through chemo to be able to give my son the best life I could and to show him what determination can do if you never give up! Well here it is eight years later I'm cancer free my son is almost four and living life to the fullest enjoying every second I'm alive and able to spend time with my family. They are what got me through the fight they gave me a reason to fight after going through so much anger and pain! So glad I've got the chance to talk with everyone and share my story.
THANKS FOR LISTENING..
NICK ZIEGLER
MIDWEST BMX DONATION PROGRAM
MOLINE IL
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.