Iohn Hall just finished a 12,000-mile bicycle ride around America, which began and ended in Lompoc. The ride took the better part of four months, with cancer as a constant companion.

Hall is a resident of Alaska, but most of his family lives in Lompoc. The ride ended a few days ago with a procession of bicycles and cars at Lompoc's Evergreen Cemetery. It's where John's mother is buried, after losing a battle with cancer. John's brother-in-law, Larry West, is also buried there.

The reason Hall decided to ride 12,000 miles around America goes beyond mere exercise. Last year, his wife Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease seemed to be stalking the Hall family.

So, the Halls hit the road, John on his bike and Jane riding in a support vehicle. Their purpose was twofold - to see this great land, at speeds far below the listed highway limits, and to raise awareness about cancer, and the need for regular medical checkups to spot the disease in its earliest, most-treatable stages.

And by the way, the Halls also managed to raise $120,000 in that four months, which is being divided between the Lance Armstrong Livestrong Foundation, and the Susan Butcher Family Center in Anchorage.

Armstrong survived what doctors said would be terminal cancer, to become the best bicycle racer, winning the world's toughest bike race - the Tour de France - seven years in a row.

Butcher died of a cancer-related illness two years ago, but not before winning the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska - often referred to as the world's harshest race - four times.

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As role models go, those are fairly powerful ones. And heroes Hall probably thought about quite a lot in his four months pedaling for a worthy cause.

As it turns out, John Hall is a bit of a hero himself. Too few of us are willing to get off our fannies, and do something difficult for a good cause. The irony is that Hall got on his fanny to do his good deed.

Think of it as the power of one - what one person can do to help those who need help the most. It takes effort and a plan, but you can do just about anything. Believe it, and it will happen.

August 6, 2008