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Hope On the Road – 3800 Mile Journey
June 13, 2025Dan Winkelman's 3,800-Mile Motorcycle journey to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer.
Dan is riding more than 3,800 miles to raise critical funds for pancreatic cancer research and prove that a diagnosis isn’t the end of the road—it’s a call to action. Along the way, he’ll share “Daily Awareness Drops” to spotlight facts about the disease and the groundbreaking work at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin.
As a pancreatic cancer survivor and a man of faith, Dan believes this journey is bigger than him—a calling to inspire others facing the fight. This isn’t just a ride to Alaska—it’s a marathon of hope, resilience, and impact.
I think about what people are facing – the journey, the treatment; it’s daunting. You see the destination you want to get to, but yet, it’s still so far away, and you don’t know what lies ahead.
Dan and his team, which includes his son, Andy, and Iowa-based YouTuber “Fuzzy Biker,” among others, plan to set off on the journey this summer, with Dan and Andy, who will follow behind Dan in a vehicle with a camping trailer, departing from Milwaukee on or around June 20, 2025. The entire journey will cover about 3,800 miles, and supporters can track their mileage via GPS and their progress via frequent vlog posts. Dan and his team plan to camp along the way, and they’ll also spend the night at hotels now and then to shower and get a good night’s sleep before getting back on the bike.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Dan said of the effort, mimicking the words his own doctor, Dr. Evans, told him at the time of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis – words that continue to guide his mindset, both in regards to recovery and his upcoming motorcycle adventure.
While Dan hopes to raise critical funds for pancreatic cancer research, he also has additional reasons to ride. He plans to publicize statistics and facts about pancreatic cancer during “Daily Awareness Drops” along the way, drawing attention to a disease many know little, if anything, about until it affects someone they know. He also hopes to highlight the fact that, contrary to popular belief, a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. Real progress and strides are taking place every day, and Dan, himself, is living proof.
Dan also wants to inspire and encourage other people living with pancreatic cancer, demonstrating that, even in the face of a daunting diagnosis, it’s still possible to take on difficult, meaningful challenges – and see them through from conception to completion.
In addition to shining a spotlight on the difficulties faced by those with pancreatic cancer, Dan hopes his journey will highlight the tremendous work and research taking place at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin and raise awareness about the Seena Magowitz Foundation and the resources and opportunities it offers those living with pancreatic cancer. He also hopes to highlight the role Ortho Molecular Products played in his recovery, believing that acknowledging all the factors that contributed to his progress, both medical and otherwise, can help others navigate their own recovery efforts.
“Alaska is the motorcycle marathon for bike riders,” Dan said, of the upcoming effort, which he’ll tackle while riding his Honda Africa Twin – a bike he’s renamed “Alaska Twin” in honor of the ride.
“Everyone dreams of doing the Alaska – Canada Highway. We’re going to dream big, and we’re going to go big, because this is a big deal. Pancreatic cancer is a big deal, and we want to bring awareness to as many people as possible. The odds might be against me, but they were with pancreatic cancer, too.”
Everyone dreams of doing the Alaska – Canada Highway. We’re going to dream big, and we’re going to go big, because this is a big deal. Pancreatic cancer is a big deal, and we want to bring awareness to as many people as possible. The odds might be against me, but they were with pancreatic cancer, too.