Christopher Edgerton, a Florida resident, will ride all 21 stages [1] of the Tour de France route this summer to support rare blood cancer research.

The journey represents a personal challenge to maintain physical activity and secure funding for medical research following a diagnosis of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia. Because this specific cancer is rare, public awareness and targeted research funding are critical for developing better treatment options.

Edgerton plans to complete the full route in France during the summer of 2026 [1]. His ride is scheduled to take place one week before the official professional race begins in early July.

By cycling the same path as the professional athletes, Edgerton aims to draw attention to the difficulties of living with a rare blood cancer. He is using the high-profile nature of the Tour de France to amplify his call for research funding and public awareness regarding his condition.

Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the lymph nodes, and bone marrow. The diagnosis has not deterred Edgerton from his goal of completing the grueling distance, a feat that requires significant endurance and physical resilience.

He is originally from Florida, U.S., where he has managed his health while preparing for the trip. The ride serves as both a personal milestone and a fundraising effort to help other patients facing the same diagnosis.

“Christopher Edgerton will ride all 21 stages of the Tour de France route”

This initiative highlights the growing trend of 'patient-advocacy' athletics, where individuals use extreme physical challenges to fill funding gaps for orphan diseases. Because rare cancers like Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia often receive less federal and private research funding than common malignancies, individual grassroots campaigns are essential for driving visibility and financial support toward specialized treatments.