YSU freshman runs for cancer

By John Bassetti

Off to France

19-year old Kaleb Kaschalk, inspired by his grandfather, will compete in the Ironman France triathlon.

YOUNGSTOWN – Those reading Kaleb Kaschalk’s story could do one of two things: Nothing or nate.

If the reader decides to do nothing, fine; if the reader decides to do nate — as in donate money — then read on.

Kaschalk, a 19-year-old YSU freshman, says he’s not asking for money for himself, but for a cause: Cancer research.

In a recent e-mail, Kaschalk explained that he has entered a triathlon in Europe in June, based on circumstances evolving from the death of his grandfather, who passed away from cancer in April 2006.

The inspiration derived from Frank Kaschalk’s suffering, as well as the regret Kaleb endured for not visiting his grandfather, motivated the young man to act.

Kaleb Kaschalk wrote that his grandfather was about 5-foot-10, 200 pounds when he was healthy, but during his radiation treatment, he dropped 10 pounds a week.

“At the time, I was swimming in my junior year,” Kaleb said of his sports activity at St. Edward High School in Lakewood.

“I was in excellent shape and wanted nothing other than to be able to physically fight for my grandfather, to physically take the pain that was killing him. I could not bring myself to visit as his body declined. I could not emotionally handle seeing the once-healthy man that I loved in such a terrible condition.

“Because I could not build up the courage to visit him, I never got a chance to tell him that I loved him and how much I appreciated him as a grandfather.”

Kaleb’s e-mail concludes by promising to never let fear hold him back from his dreams.

Kaschalk said his grandfather didn’t raise him, but he was active in his life and worked at LTV Steel in Cleveland to help him and his sisters attend private schools.

“He had a great passion for sports and sparked my interest in competition.”

The tone of Kaschalk’s story is certainly gut-wrenching, but at least he’s following up.

“I wanted to do something,” said Kaleb, walking between classes on campus last week. “I can’t help him, but I want to help others or future people who might be diagnosed.”

Channeling what was once fear into motivation, Kaschalk said he took out a $5,000 loan to pay for Ironman France.

“This is self-funded – not paid for by my parents or anyone,” Kaleb said of the $2400 flight and hotel costs, $500 entrance fee and $500 bicycle, along with food and associated expenses.

Since it is his own money, Kaschalk will make a mini-vacation out of the trip.

“I’ve never been out of the country, so it’s part of a treat to myself.,” Kaleb said of plans to visit Paris before reaching Nice.

To prepare for the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race and 26.2-mile run, Kaschalk has been doing laps at Beeghly Natatorium, training on an exercise bicycle in his dormitory and running along Market Street into Boardman or up and down the steps at Stambaugh Stadium.

“The swim in the Mediterranean should be the easiest for me,” said Kaleb, who qualified for the state meet his senior year at St. Edward.

He ran in the 2007 Cleveland Marathon, but has some concerns about the cycling segment.

“That’s uncharted territory for me,” Kaschalk said. “I’ve never competed in a biking event and it’s in the French Riviera which is very, very hilly. That will be tough. It’s actually one of the stages of the Tour de France.”

The potential for equipment failure is as unsettling to Kaleb as is the danger of being in a pack of riders.

“I’m more nervous relying on a machine, especially going fast downhill on narrow roads with sharp turns. A lot of times when there are crashes, there’s a chain reaction.

“As weird as it sounds, it’ll be comforting knowing that there‘s only a marathon before the finish.”

Kaschalk said he chose Ironman France because triathlons in the U.S. were sold out.

“The ones in Japan and Australia were still open, but I was attracted to France because of the geography as well as the chance to visit Paris.”

Kaschalk pointed out the irony of the Ironman.

“You only have to be 16 to drink, 18 to drive and gamble but 19 to do the Ironman in France,” Kaleb said.

Kaschalk has been informed that he’ll be the youngest of the 2,700 participants at 19 years, two months and five days on race day, June 22.

“I’m doing everything alone,” Kaschalk said, although Caitlin Glenn of Lisbon, a physical therapy major at YSU, is his personal trainer.

Most of the triathletes will be French and Spanish, along with Brits, Italians and Mexicans.

It’s unfortunate that Kaschalk’s money won’t go as far as it used to.

That’s because the dollar is worth less than the euro, meaning that Kaschalk will get about 0.63 euros for every U.S. dollar.

It’s the lowest the U.S. dollar has been since the euro’s inception in 1999.

For that reason, he’s staying in the cheapest hotels.

The money Kaschalk is attempting to raise for cancer research depends on how many people he reaches.

As of now, he’s raised $2,500 toward a goal of $10,000.

“I’ve raised some by being on TV [in Cleveland] as well as some from family and friends.

“In talking to people about my mission, I’m surprised how many people are personally affected by cancer. I’m told that one of two men and one of three women will have cancer in their lifetime. It’s staggering. Unfortunately, it’s fairly common.”

Kaschalk’s website to visit is firstgiving.com or his number is (440) 503-2937.

Any donation by credit card goes directly to the V Foundation for cancer research.

It’s named after Jim Valvano, the North Carolina State basketball coach who was diagnosed with metastatic bone cancer before his death in 1993.

Do nothing or donate.

bassetti@vindy.com