🎙️ In this powerful episode of the Landmark Difference Makers Podcast, we sit down with Greg Roth, lifelong storyteller, filmmaker, and founder of We Ride Why—a multimedia project using cycling, music, and documentary film to heal, connect, and inspire communities impacted by cancer.
Greg’s work is deeply personal. He lost his mother to cancer when he was just 10 years old. For years, that loss remained largely unspoken—unprocessed. It wasn’t until he returned to cycling as an adult that something began to shift.
The Bike as Escape—and as Healing
As a child, Greg’s bike was his refuge. When his mother was sick, riding gave him freedom, space, and relief from what he couldn’t yet understand. Decades later, that same bike became the doorway back into healing.
After entering the Fred Hutch Obliteride—a cycling event that raises funds for cancer research—Greg found himself surrounded by thousands of people united by a shared experience of loss, survival, and love. What began as a personal tribute to his mother evolved into something far bigger.
From Ride to Film
Greg set out to document the experience, initially thinking it would be a short film about his ride. But as he listened to the stories of others—particularly three mothers affected by cancer—We Ride Why took shape as a feature-length documentary about community, connection, and what it means to not be alone.
The film weaves together:
- Greg’s story of losing his mother
- Jenny’s journey as a cancer survivor
- Ashley’s experience living with stage four cancer while raising a daughter the same age Greg was when he lost his mom
Together, these stories reveal cancer not just as a medical diagnosis, but as a human experience that ripples through families, friendships, and entire communities.
Community Is the Cure We Can Offer Now
One of the most striking moments Greg shares comes from a film premiere. He asked the audience to stand if they were a cancer survivor. Then if they knew someone with cancer. Then if they had lost someone to cancer. By the end, every single person in the room was standing.
The realization was unmistakable: cancer touches everyone—directly or indirectly.
While a medical cure is still being pursued, Greg believes community itself is a powerful form of healing. Through live screenings, Q&A sessions, and shared conversations, We Ride Why creates spaces where people can be vulnerable, connected, and supported.
Action Over Silence
Greg’s message is simple and profound: do something.
That might mean:
- Showing up for a friend after chemo
- Calling your parents
- Getting a medical screening
- Donating, volunteering, riding, listening
Big or small, action matters.
Landmark and Living Beyond the Individual
Greg credits Landmark’s programs—particularly the Self-Expression and Leadership Program (SELP)—with helping him shift from seeing life as “about me” to understanding life as me in relationship to my community. That distinction lives at the heart of We Ride Why and mirrors his own transformation.
A Legacy of Love
When asked how he wants to be remembered, Greg’s answer is clear:
“That I brought love to everything I did.”
We Ride Why is, above all else, a love letter—to his mother, to the families who shared their stories, and to the communities that come together when it matters most.
✨ Watch or experience We Ride Why by supporting the film and joining upcoming screenings and virtual events linked in the episode.
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