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Barry Boise is a partner at the law firm Troutman Pepper, dedicated to serving the Life Science and Health Care Community. He serves Ride Hard Breathe Easy to help end stigma and suffering from lung cancer. He helped form RHBE after being inspired by his neighbor, John Matthews, who looked for ways to honor the memory of his mother, Kathleen Matthews, who died from lung cancer. Together, we want better outcomes through early detection, funding of research and advocacy.
Chelsea Crawford has been an active member of the RHBE community since 2016. She has spent her career at SAP, where she first met John and learned about the RHBE vision. Since then, Chelsea has served on the Communications Committee, Advisory Board, and has participated in the Annual Classic and Gala events. She is passionate about collaborating with the RHBE team and partners to find new ways to support the lung cancer community, especially women with the disease. Chelsea lives in Durham, NC and is excited to expand RHBE's reach in the region.
Isabella de la Houssaye is a mother of five, co-owner of Material Culture, a local Philadelphia auction house and purveyor of art ant antiques, an endurance athlete, yoga instructor, mountain climber, and is living with stage IV lung cancer. Isabella recently biked across the US to raise money for lung cancer through a campaign called BikeBreatheBelieve. Isabella graduated from Princeton in 1986 and Colombia Law School in 1990 and is a trustee of Princeton in Asia, Give Back Yoga Foundation, and an Advisor to the UPenn Museum and Students on Ice. She is married to David Crane.
Dr. Cherie P. Erkmen is a Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Temple University Health with clinical expertise in the treatment of lung cancer using robotic techniques. Her research focuses on healthcare disparities especially as they relate to lung cancer and screening. Like many, Cherie has experienced loss because of lung cancer experiences can unite with RHBE. Together we can overcome the fear of lung cancer and work towards prevention, early detection, and successful treatment.
John Matthews founded Ride Hard Breathe Easy in memory of his “Amazing Mom”, Kathleen Matthews. When Kathleen was very sick, John promised her he would “do something” for lung cancer patients, and that “something” became a commitment to raise $1 Million dollars for lung cancer. John passionately believes in helping the most vulnerable patients and caregivers, and through Ride Hard Breathe Easy, he sees how many hands make light work.
Beth Solomon is passionate and determined to make a difference for lung cancer patients, their caregivers, and the amount of attention and funding it receives. Having been impacted by lung cancer and seeing its devastation first hand only makes Beth want to fight harder to make a difference. Beth is proud to be part of the RHBE organization, whose mission is to end the stigma and suffering for lung cancer patients and their caregivers.
Dave Spearman despises lung cancer. During Dave's forty year career working in the cancer treatment field, he has seen over and over again the devastation that lung cancer can cause for patients and their families. Dave entered the cancer treatment field as a medical physicist. Over the past three decades he has served as President of RadAmerica II, LLC, a cancer treatment organization providing services in the Baltimore Washington area.
It started with a promise. Kathleen Matthews was nearing the end of her 9-month battle with lung cancer, when her son, John, promised Kathleen he “would do something”.
During Kathleen’s illness, the Matthews family learned about the challenges lung cancer patients and caregivers faced. Why does the #1 cancer killer in the world receive so little funding compared to other cancers? Why isn’t there testing readily available to detect it early? And why is it a disease that brings such a stigma?
In 2017, that “something” turned into a 2017 cross-country bike ride, named Ride Hard Breathe Easy (RHBE), to raise money and awareness for lung cancer. Two years later, John and a passionate group of volunteers turned this ride into a nonprofit organization, one that has helped hundreds of patients and caregivers dealing with the financial stress of a lung cancer diagnosis.
RHBE partners with Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Lung Center, Duke Cancer Institute, Einstein Medical Center, Lung Health Services, and Crozer Health to support their lung cancer patients. The impact has been significant. One of our partners said, “The relief you see is palpable. Our ability to help our patients literally makes them cry”. And one of the patients we helped said, “You all saved my life by providing me with a way to the hospital for my treatment.”
At Ride Hard Breathe Easy, we are honored to do our part, helping the most vulnerable people when they need it the most. Kathleen Matthews often referenced an old Irish saying that “Many Hands Make Light Work”. These words have become central to what we do, and help ensure that Mom’s wisdom, kindness, and love of life, continue to live every day through what we do at Ride Hard Breathe Easy.
Kathleen Mathews is diagnosed with lung cancer.
Kathleen Matthews passes away.
John Matthews says he will raise
$1M for lung cancer in his lifetime.
1st Annual RHBE Classic — 13 groups of SAGGERS help John across the country.
2nd Annual RHBE Classic
1st Annual Evening to Breathe Easy
Donation to FCCC and Temple.
New partners!
Lisa and Rachele ride on Peloton.
5th Annual RHBE Classic
More partners!
4th Annual Evening
Help our organization by donating today! All donations make a difference to patients and caregivers.
