ON JULY 10, Bar Member David Bradley not only completed a 100-mile bicycle trek during the Prouty Century Bike Ride and Fitness Walk to benefit the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, but was its top fundraiser as well. Now in his sixties, Bradley raised over $20,000 in 2003 and more than $21,000 this year. During the past 18 years, he has raised more than $230,000.

Bradley prepares for the race months ahead of time with a special fitness routine. The tough workout is worth the effort for him because he rides for a cause. "I will always do this ride in memory of the late Jack Stebbins, my law partner, mentor and friend for 32 years," said Bradley, who rode for his nineteenth year in the Prouty. "Jack led by example and encouragement and he got me started in this endeavor. He was the top fundraiser in the early years (of the event) and asked me to carry on the tradition when he reached his mid-seventies." Bradley himself has been, for the sixteenth consecutive year, the top fundraiser.

According to a Keene Sentinel article, Bradley first became involved in fund-raising as a football quarterback at Keene High School in 1954. He made a record-setting pass that won the Shrine game that year, which gave him a great sense of satisfaction.

Bradley later became a quarterback at Dartmouth. After college, he entered the Navy for three years and then attended Harvard Law School. He joined the NH Bar in 1965 and began practicing in Hanover, the site of the Prouty event.

Every year Bradley sends out letters of solicitation in which he encourages people to sponsor his ride. Last year the event brought in over $270,000—and over $350,000 this year, a sizable increase. Bradley also tries to persuade others to join in the ride—or the considerably shorter 10K walk—and become part of the great tradition of charitable fund-raising. There was an increase in the number of riders and walkers this year of about 100, bringing the total number to 1,087. In addition, about 200 people volunteered to help in various other ways—such as serving food and drinks at the rest stops along the way.

Anyone interested in taking part in either the walk or the ride in 2005, will find further information on the Prouty Web site at www.theprouty.org.

This year Bradley rode with an unofficial team of four other men, all of whom are strong bikers. Accompanying him were his law partner and friend, Nick Harvey; former attorney general Peter Heed; Peter Hawks, who was riding to honor his classmate Jay Emery who is fighting cancer; and Mike Davenport. Hawks and Davenport are from Vermont. The team completed the course in under eight hours—which included an hour and a half for stops along the way to eat, drink and rest.

There are prizes and awards given at the event, but Bradley says, "As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Cancer Center, I am ineligible to receive any of the prizes that are awarded for fund-raising. My prize is the satisfaction and gratitude I experience from taking part in this event."

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