"Cycle for life" raises money for leukemia in memory of PIKE brother

A crowd of students pedals vigorously to the loud beat of workout music on stationary bicycles in the Whittemore Center.

"If you notice the T-shirts we're wearing, they say ‘BFL' which stands for ‘Brothers for Life,'" smiled junior and Pi Kappa Alpha brother Scott Giacalone, cycling on a stationary bicycle. "Its all for Taylor."

Pi Kappa Alpha lost a brother to leukemia last year. Taylor Thompson Trudeau, 22, graduated with the class of 2008 with a political science degree. Just a few months after, he lost his yearlong battle with leukemia on August 17, 2008 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas where he was being treated.

Described by a fellow Pike brother in a press release as "a beloved brother in Pike whose courage and perseverance is admired by everyone who knew him as he never gave up hope and never stopped fighting," Trudeau and his fight was the inspiration for the Cycle for Life fundraiser.

In Trudeau's memory and honor, students, friends, and alumni cycled for Pi Kappa Alpha's second annual Taylor Trudeau Cycle for Life event, which raises money for leukemia research and care.

Saturday, there were over 20 stationary bicycles in the Whitt's Studio I. The goal was to keep at least 10 of these stationary bicycles in constant motion for 12 consecutive hours. Participants could sign up to cycle for increments of 30-minutes at $10 per increment. All proceeds were to be donated to the MDMS Leukemia Research Center and any outside donations were appreciated.