Man inspired by stricken friend

Friends often go the extra mile for each other.

Rick Myerburg, of O'Hara, is about to go 1,755 miles for his friend.

Myerburg, 60, plans to travel that distance over 25 days in August and September on his 27-speed carbon fiber bicycle, riding through 10 states along the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, Minn. to New Orleans, La. He hopes to raise $100,000 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in the name of his friend, Mark Unatin, 61, of Upper St. Clair, who is stricken with myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.

It will be the longest ride he has ever attempted. But when Myerburg thinks of his friend and the radiation, chemotherapy and transplants he has endured to fight cancer, it doesn't seem so daunting.

"If Mark can go through this, I can climb a hill," Myerburg said.

Myerburg is one of about 16 people booked for the complete "Great Mississippi Ride" organized by New Hampshire-based America by Bicycle for Aug. 13 to Sept. 7. The riders will leave Minneapolis on Aug. 14, pedaling between 37 and 101 miles a day. Two rest days are worked into the schedule.

Myerburg and Unatin, both grandfathers, have known each other for more than 22 years, with their roots together going back to Allderdice High School. They became friends at the River Club, where they used to work out together when Unatin was able.

Unatin, an attorney, was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma in December 2001. He was in remission for about three years after a stem cell transplant in August 2002, but relapsed in April. He is now taking chemotherapy twice a week and radiation daily.

"The life span for somebody with multiple myeloma is about three to five years. I've had this disease for longer than that. I'm just happy to be here," Unatin said. "If I had this disease 10 years ago, I would have been dead by now."

Unatin said he owes his life to new discoveries in the fight against cancer. He's taking a chemotherapy that didn't exist a year ago.

"These things don't just happen," he said. "You can't take it for granted."

Myerburg, who owned the Adeles women's specialty store in Squirrel Hill for 20 years and now works for Cuccaro Plumbing in his retirement, said he's been bike riding seriously for about three years. He exercises regularly, and tries to ride two to three hours every day.

Myerburg said the biking has improved his health, and he's ready for the upcoming journey.

"I'm definitely better fit at 60 than I was at 50," he said.

Unatin said he doubts he could have handled the ride Myerburg is about to embark on, even when he was healthy. The longest he ever rode was 22 miles at Ohiopyle.

"I know that he's pushing himself to do 1,700 miles. Ricky does a lot of bike riding, but he's never done anything like this. He's pushing himself for my sake and the sake of this fundraiser," Unatin said. "It is a tremendous mental and physical effort for which I am very grateful."

Unatin said he's thinking of meeting his friend at the end of his ride in New Orleans. He plans to be in touch with him every day by e-mail.

"I hope that people realize the effort that he's making and try to match it with just a little contribution to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," Unatin said.