9 Year Old Boy Cycling for Cancer Stops on Coast

A nine year old boy cycling from California to Florida to raise awareness for the National Children’s Cancer Society landed in south Mississippi Wednesday.

CJ Burford and his family were joined by cyclists from the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club, the first to join him since he started his journey. Thursday, the group invites other cyclists to join CJ as he rides from the Walmart in Pass Christian, up Highway 90 to Murky Waters in Ocean Springs. So far, CJ had ridden over 1,000 miles and has raised $17,000 for sick children.

Burford says, “I heard the song by Steven Curtis Chapman called Whatever You Do. It’s basically saying Colossians 3:23, which is whatever you do, do it for the Lord of God and not man, so I asked my mom, ‘Does that mean to ride my bike for Jesus?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, you know God gave you healthy lungs and healthy legs. You should ride your bike for Jesus, CJ.’ But she thought I meant the driveway, but I didn’t mean the driveway.”

If you’d like to contribute, visit CJ’s nonprofit website at www.lovefar.org.