Keesler cyclist supports Red Cross Published May 27, 2009 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A Keesler medic helped raise $240,000 during the sixday, 512-mile American Red Cross "Tour du Rouge" bicycle ride from Houston to New Orleans May 3-8. Senior Airman Alan Petz, 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron nutritional medicine flight, was one of almost 60 cyclists and 20 support volunteers who participated in the fundraiser. "Each person had to raise $2,500," saidAirman Petz, who took up cycling last September. "I'd like to thank those who helped me reach my fundraising goal." "I was the only participant from this area, but there were also riders from New York, California and Canada," he said. The funds benefit several Red Cross chapters in Texas and Louisiana for hurricane preparedness and response. Airman Petz has signed up to ride with the Air Force Cycling Team in the annual RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) in July. More than 20,000 cyclists are expected for the seven-day trek sponsored by the Des Moines Register newspaper.