Breakaway From Cancer/Pacific Meso Center Dedicates Win to Wally and Charlotte Miller

Callville Bay, Nevada. Roger Worthington, racing for Breakaway from Cancer/Pacific Meso Center, won the three day Callville Bay Classic in the 45+ masters division this weekend and dedicated the victory to Wally and Charlotte Miller of Eugene, Oregon.

"Wally Miller inspired me," said Worthington. "A plumber for over 50 years, he married his high school sweetheart, built houses and earned a reputation for taking the initiative, cooperating with others, and keeping the faith. Right up to his last breath, Wally showed amazing grit and grace."

Mr. Miller had been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in December of 2010. Unfortunately, the diagnosis came too late for Mr. Miller to pursue reasonable treatment options. He passed away a few months later, still full of life, but out of breath, at the age of 70.

Worthington notes that it's the mission of the Pacific Meso Center to educate both patients and doctors on life-extending and lung-sparing surgical options, but any treatments must be predicated on a firm diagnosis. Mr. Miller began showing symptoms months before his diagnosis, but unfortunately, despite many doctors visits, a final diagnosis had eluded him.

Mr. Miller is survived by Charlotte, his beloved wife of 51 years, four children and ten grandchildren. Wally left a big footprint on this Earth. He earned a reputation among his employees and fellow contractors for demanding and rallying his crew to achieve the highest quality work. A quick wit with a self-deprecating sense of humor, even in his final days he managed to make his family and many visitors laugh.

"On his final day, as he lay in bed in the house he built," recalled Worthington, "Wally let his sinewy muscles go slack and he whispered softly, 'I'm outta here.' When I hit the summit of the climb in the time trial, my lungs gasping and my legs screaming to stop, I thought of Wally, turned to the pain, and told it to back off, that I was "outta here...'"

Worthington managed to eek out a 2 second gap over his nearest rival, which he sustained over the next two days for the overall stage race victory. Breakaway from Cancer is an initiative of Amgen, Inc, whose mission is to increase awareness of resources available to cancer patients, from prevention through survivorship. http://www.breakawayfromcancer.com/index.html