"Tacoma Bob" Riding To University Place Albertsons on Saturday

• WHEN: Saturday
• WHERE: , University Place
• WHAT ELSE: To donate to his cause, click here

Bob Stidwell has ridden bikes nearly all of his life - sometimes for fun, sometimes to just get from Point A to Point B.

Since the beginning of the month, the 80-year-old has pedaled for a reason that's much more personal: to help raise money that will help find a cure for the disease that took his wife's life.

In December, the Tacoma man's wife, Patricia, lost her battle with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer. Immediately following her death, Stidwell decided to do something to honor his wife and help others with multiple myeloma.

This month, after some five years of going bike-free, he dusted off his bike and began the first of a dozen cycles this summer to various Albertsons grocery stores each Saturday to raise money.

On Saturday, he will ride to in University Place.

Why Albertsons? Well, call it an employee perk. The former classroom teacher with 32 years in the Tacoma School District, Bob has worked part-time since his retirement in 1992 as a courtesy clerk at Albertsons. He enjoys interacting with the public through his job and figured this would serve him well as an advocate for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

“At 80 years of age," Stidwell says, "I am fortunate to be in good health and able and motivated to fulfill my dreams. I am determined to do everything I can to raise critical research funds to find successful treatments and ultimately an end to this disease.”

For Stidwell, it's a meaningful way to have fun and raise money. Some of the stores are as far as 30 miles away from his home, so on some days, Stidwell will make a 60 mile round trip. He's already ridden to Gig Harbor and Pearl Street Albertsons.

University Place will be his shortest trip at 11 miles round-trip.

He says he is grateful to his employer for their support, and to add a little excitement, he is having a contest to see which of the stores will raise the most money. As of this month with only two store visits under his belt, he has already raised over $1,500 and plans to continue until he raises more than $10,000.

Click here to find out more information or to donate to Tacoma Bob's cause.

(This report includes information from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation)