May 20, 2009 Holy Cross graduate to bike cross country for cancer research Play video

(NECN: Katie Daly) - Joseph Lopez is a senior at Holy Cross. He will mark a milestone in his life when he graduates Friday. Immediately after that he'll start working on another.

Joseph is a member of 4K for Cancer.

Next week, he and 28 other college students will leave Baltimore, Maryland on a bicycle tour across the country.

On his 9 week, 4 thousand mile trek, Joseph will be raising thousands of dollars for cancer research while also raising awareness.

Unlike many people who participate in these events because their families have been touched by cancer. Joseph is riding with a sense of gratitude. His family for the most part is healthy. He hopes that if someday if the disease touches his family, there will be a cure because of efforts like his

Joseph has only been training a few weeks. Before that, the last time he rode a bike was in high school. But he isn't intimidated by the grueling course.

And it is likely to be a powerful experience, one that has already influenced him. Graduating from Holy Cross with a degree in chemistry, Joseph has decided to try to pursue a career in cancer research.