31st Year Anniversary!!!

2012 Relay Information is IN!

Leukemia is the no. 1 child killing disease. Ten times as many adults as children are stricken with leukemia. Lymphoma rates have nearly doubled since the 1970's. Police officers always want to "catch a killer" and the Houston Police Department (HPD) Bicycle Relay Team's goal is to "arrest these killers" and accelerate The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's fight against blood cancers.

The Houston Police Bicycle Relay Team will begin their 1,900 mile bike heading west with a stop at the Grand Canyon before heading into San Diego.  This is an unparalleled volunteer effort to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

You can participate in this life saving effort through sponsorship of these hard working officers and civilians.

Including the donations from last year, the total contributions given through the Houston Police Bicycle Relay Team have exceeded $5.2 million. Because of generous giving like this, continuing research has resulted in survival rates for the most common form of childhood leukemia rising from 4% in 1960 to 90% in 2010! Further, leukemia researchers pioneered and developed most major cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, transfusion and radiation therapies, bone marrow and stem cell transplants- all made possible by donations given by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Leukemia research is looked  upon as the window to the cure of all cancer!

You can help by making a donation towards the fundraising goal of the HPD Bicycle Relay Team by clicking on their name below.

Just the facts about the HPD Bicycle Relay:

• The 2012 Bicycle Relay marks the 31st anniversary of this event.
• Approximately 30 men and women from Houston Police Department will ride as well as other civilians closely associated with leukemia, such as patient family members, doctors and survivors.
• The 2012 relay is slated to depart from the Police Academy or Discovery Green Park in Houston at 9:00 a.m.on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, and arrive in San Diego, California on Monday, July 2, 2012.
• Previous destinations include Alaska (2 times) Canada (9 times) California, The White House, Maine, and most other places in between.
• Each member of the relay team wore a special "dog tag" bearing the name of an honored patient/survivor to help encourage them throughout this trip.
• The HPD bicycle relay team has been commended by former President Bush in his "thousand points of light" program for their efforts and for helping to improve the overall quality of life.
• In the past 30 years, participants have raised over $5.2 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and have pedaled over 67,500 miles!

2012 HPD Team:

General Donations

Click here to make a donation in memory of Sergeant Jason Leal

The 2012 anniversary goal of the Houston Police Bicycle Relay Team is to raise over $200,000!

Why we do it...

It all started for me in June 2010 when I jumped in the shower to start my day with a 6 A.M. roll call. While in the shower I noticed a lump had developed under my right arm pit from one day to the next. There was no pain or discomfort, and I trusted the Internet to have all the answers. I learned that this was common for individuals who are fighting a body infection; I had just begun my annual summer sinus infection a couple of days before. I waited a week or two trying over the counter medications, but the continued residual effects of the infection persisted and I finally made an appointment to see my personal family physician. After my visit, it was determined that the cause of my discomfort was my annual sinus infection, but my doctor was not comfortable with the lump under my arm pit. He prescribed antibiotics and referred me to a general surgeon to have it examined. That visit went well and the general surgeon wanted to remove it for safety reasons and testing, resulting in a scheduled surgical date for the following week. By Friday night, I thought I was having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic that was given to me, which was causing a rash and difficulty breathing when I exerted myself. I immediately stopped the medication and stuck it out through the weekend, visiting my doctor first thing Monday morning. After a brief visit, I was sent to a local emergency room for more extensive testing.

Preliminary results from the emergency room showed I had a large buildup of fluid around my right lung, an unexplained large mass on the right side of my chest and remaining uncertain lump under my right arm pit. I was admitted to the hospital and after several days of testing, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Doctors explained that my form of Lymphoma was a very aggressive form of cancer that had already spread into my bone marrow, but had not reached my spinal fluid or brain. As a result of this aggressive form of cancer, my chemotherapy treatment would also be administratively performed in the same fashion. The large amounts of chemotherapy treatment took a tremendous toll on my body and has resulted in several months of missed work and the stereotypical signs of a person going through cancer treatment (i.e. hair loss, weight loss and body discomfort).

It is at this time in my life I understand that I must stand strong against this evil that has invaded my body and surround myself with strong willed family and friends who will provide the spiritual and moral support I need. I am very aware that if I had gone through the same treatment just ten years ago, the results may have taken a very different turn in many different ways.

It is my hope that we all continue to be advocates for cancer research by supporting organizations such as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Houston Police Bicycle Relay Team.

Sgt. Jason C. Leal

Sergeant Jason Leal lost his battle to Lymphoblastic Lymphoma on

 Friday, January 6, 2012.  To make a donation in his memory, please click here.