Trumbull Cyclist, Cancer Survivor Joins 10th Annual CT Challenge

By Abby Howe

Trumbull resident Paul deRegt will be riding in the CT Challenge this year with the Camp Rising Sun Team. It is his sixth year participating in the Challenge — the first year he drove a support vehicle as a volunteer and since then, being an avid cyclist, he began riding in the event, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

He originally became involved with the CT Challenge when he was with the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club and saw a man wearing a CT Challenge T-shirt and asked about it. Being a cancer survivor as well as the husband of a survivor, the idea of a survivorship bike event appealed to him immensely.

“I was so intrigued that I immediately signed up and asked how I could help,” said the 62-year-old deRegt.


His first year he volunteered to drive the Support and Gear wagon.

“I really enjoyed working with the folks at CT Challenge and I have stayed ever since,” he said. “It’s a fantastic organization run by such quality people.”

deRegt was looking for a team to ride with and was recommended to the Camp Rising Sun Team by a close friend who is a counselor there. It is a summer camp for kids who are cancer survivors. It provides a free week of fun for any child 5-17 who has had cancer. Staffed solely by volunteers and funded solely by donations, kids spend a week swimming, rock wall climbing, creating arts and crafts, and doing all the fun things a kid should do in a safe environment. 


As the years have gone on, deRegt has greatly enjoyed his time supporting the CT Challenge. He has been to the opening ceremonies every year and loves the atmosphere. For the last four years he has ridden 50 miles and this year he will be riding 25 miles.



“The feeling of being among these riders is hard to describe. Everyone is there for one purpose: to raise money for the unique survivorship programs offer by the Challenge,” he said. “As a physical therapist I treat cancer patients and as a survivor and as the husband of a survivor I know first-hand that cancer survivors need help and support for many years after treatment ends. The CT Challenge does a lot of its work at a very unique and important survivorship center in Southport. The Challenge and the Center for Survivorship are run by cancer survivors and provide a variety of needed resources for cancer patients after their treatment ends and the rest of their lives begin; they do this in a sensitive and very skilled and caring way.”

Registration for this weekend’s bike ride is still open for new riders and teams. Over 975 riders and more than 90 teams have already been registered. A 100-mile ride on Friday starts the proceedings in Lakeville, CT and ending in Westport at the Fairfield County Hunt Club.

Close to 100 survivors will be among those riding in The Challenge’s signature event on Saturday, which is preceded by opening ceremonies and a survivor tribute. 


The ride raised $1.6 million last year. To donate to a rider in this year’s CT Challenge Bike event, visit the website and click “sponsor participant.”