Buffalo Grove woman hosts cross-country cyclists

It was a Memorial Day to remember for Barb Hasenberg of Buffalo Grove, who provided a party and housing for the night for four cross country college bicyclists raising money to fight breast cancer.

"After following a few signs, we came around a turn and were greeted by 20-plus people all taking our picture and cheering for us" the riders, who grew up together in Pennsylvania, said on their blog. "It was the biggest audience we've seen since we left" their starting point in Ashland, Pa., they said. "It was amazing, and was a welcoming change from road-raging people yelling at us to get off the road."

John Anczarski, 19, Ty Bereskie, 20, Travis Brown, 20, and Nicholas Gober, 21, posed for many photos, then joined Hasenberg for a barbecue for 60 friends and neighbors in her backyard.

For Hasenberg, 50, under treatment for Stage IV breast cancer and with two sons about their age, it was an emotional experience. She had heard several months ago about their planned trip and contacted them to offer home hospitality.

"All four of them are out-of-the-box (thinkers). They're very big-hearted young men."

The cyclists watched the Blackhawks game that night and the next morning, got an unusual treat.

As their blog reports: "Shelley Frain and Marci Paddock offered to pay for an hourlong massage session at Zaza Salon and Day Spa (in Vernon Hills) for us, but the owner ultimately waived the charge."

Now, Hasenberg's goal is to win the youths more attention for their effort, which has already generated more than $4,000 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure campaign.

Her son Eric, 20, a sophomore at the University of Illinois, featured an interview with them on the campus radio station, of which he is a director, as they made their way to St. Louis.

And she's been e-mailing TV people in their destination city of Los Angeles, touting their good hearts, hard work and polite manner.

"I'm hoping I can pull off something really big out there for them," Hasenberg said. "That would be awesome if they could be on a TV talk show."

For information on their ride, go to thepinkpedal.wordpress.com.