SAN ANTONIO – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while most people are aware of breast cancer, many fail to make a detection plan to catch the disease in its early stages.
A motorcycle may not be the first thing you think of in the effort to raise breast cancer awareness, but a Kawasaki ZX-14 has a fast way of getting your attention.
Ruben Rodriguez and his wife spent more than $25,000 to create a breast cancer bike. Now that it's become a reality, he's been taking it to various breast cancer awareness events across the state.
Last week, Rodriguez was in Houston and he said the reaction from cancer survivors was priceless.
"People have cried to me, people have offered me money and people hug me, it's crazy. I like to see the ladies' faces, it's pretty crazy," said Rodriguez.
His bike took about a year to build; the swing arm alone took six months to manufacture. But what the builder is most proud of is the $4,500 paint job, because of the message that it sends.
Chris Caballero, owner of Precision Cycle Works and builder of the bike, said each symbol and saying was carefully airbrushed on.
The pink bike features the breast cancer awareness ribbons and uplifting sayings.
Last year, Rodriguez raised $5,000 for breast cancer research. He hopes the bike will help raise more awareness and support for the cause.
"Now I just want to take it to as many walks, as many breast cancer events that I can get to," said Rodriguez.
He will be at a breast cancer awareness event this weekend in South Padre.