Medina County friend group to go on Pan Ohio Hope Ride to support cancer patients

A group of three friends from Medina County will cycle across the state on the Pan Ohio Hope Ride this week to support people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Matt Berthold from Montville Township said his friend Andy Jones has tried to convince him to join the ride for several years. Berthold was looking forward to finally riding with Jones last year until he unexpectedly died in March 2025 after the helicopter he was operating crashed into a power line and went into the Mogadore Reservoir. "Sadly, I didn't get to ride with him, but I think about him every time I ride," he said. "I stay involved because he drove me there. I fell in love with it and the cause." The Pan Ohio Hope Ride takes cyclists on a four-day trip from Cleveland to Cincinnati, which is about 300 miles, Berthold said. This year's charity ride will run from Thursday through Sunday. "I found out it was much bigger than a bike ride," Berthold said. "There's a really incredible community of people that enjoy cycling but are also there for a really good cause and are trying to make a difference." Berthold's friends Nate Penix, of Westfield Township, and Tom Petrey, of York Township, joined him on the ride last year and will do so again this year. Penix said he decided to join after his brother died from pancreatic cancer last year. "The ride's tough. There's days that are really, really hard, and you just try to push through it while you're on the ride," Penix said. "You think of what everybody is going through in treatment. Their fight is even tougher, so it really puts it into perspective and helps motivate you while you're doing it." Petrey has also been personally affected by cancer. His mom died from breast cancer, and his 10-year-old nephew is battling cancer. "That's a strong driving point," he said. "If I'm feeling my own ailments going through this ride, I think about him and my mom and the pain they go through. It helps me know that mine is temporary, and I can push forward to help for a good cause." Funding raised from the event goes to Hope Lodge, which provides temporary housing for cancer patients undergoing treatment and their caregivers, Berthold said. Each cyclist has to raise at least $1,328 to participate, and many cyclists raise even more. "For me, success would look like continuing to raise money," he said. "The bike ride, to me, is about raising money. If I could hit the $5,000 mark plus some, that would be a big success for me." For more information about the Pan Ohio Hope Ride, visit tinyurl.com/4tmwr9a5. Berthold said every mile is worth supporting the cause. "We're not necessarily professional cyclists, so it's pretty grueling at times. We're tired, we're sore, but then you think about the people who are facing something much harder," he said. "For me, that's a big deal because you don't get to take a break from cancer. I think raising awareness and raising money for this good cause is fantastic." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.