Teenager cycling to raise awareness for Hepatitis B
Teenager cycling to raise awareness for Hepatitis B
By Michelle Paynter - bio | email
HARDEEVILLE, SC (WTOC) - A Florida teenager is braving the heat and bicycling
his way up the east coast and making a stop in the Low Country.
It's all to raise awareness for Hepatitis B, a disease that attacks the liver.
17-year-old John Ellis was diagnosed with Hepatitis B two years ago.
Ellis left his hometown of Pensacola last Monday and will end up in Philadelphia
by June 23. He and his friend are averaging about 60 miles a day on their bikes.
They stopped for a breather outside of Hardeeville this morning.
Ellis said he hopes this tour will make a difference. "I don't just want to sit
around and fight for myself, Hepatitis B has effected a lot of people," he said.
Doctors told Ellis he will eventually need a liver transplant. Statistics show
one out of every 20 Americans is infected with Hepatitis B.
http://www.wtoc.com/global/story.asp?s=8453616