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EILEEN CIPRIANI Times Leader correspondent

In 2003, Brian McQuestion, an active athlete, began experiencing pain in his foot. He “taped it up” and continued playing soccer and biking, believing he simply had a plantar wart. McQuestion eventually sought treatment from a podiatrist and a biopsy revealed he had Ewing’s sarcoma, a pediatric bone cancer.

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Brian McQuestion, a cancer survivor, has become a tireless fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and other events to fund cancer research.

Steve husted/ for the times leader

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“It is not what you expect to hear as a 25-year-old, that you have cancer,” he says.

Then a New York resident, he had surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the city, followed by eight months of chemotherapy.

After five years free of cancer, McQuestion is considered a survivor.

Now 31 and living in Scranton, he is the manager of national account business relationships for Pride Mobility in Exeter.

As a cancer survivor, McQuestion wanted to do something for others. He became involved with the Lance Armstrong Foundation and has been one of the top fundraisers for the past three years.

“It is critical for me as a survivor to give back,” he says.

McQuestion met Patty Vergnetti, the regional corporate relations director of the American Cancer Society, at the Ball of Hope. After the event, McQuestion volunteered to help with the event the following year. “His passion for fighting cancer is just amazing,” says Vergnetti.

The Ball of Hope is one of the American Cancer Society’s premier events, which includes a live auction as a fundraiser. McQuestion chaired the auction for this year’s event. “His leadership has been transformational,” says Vergnetti.

McQuestion developed a passion for cycling while trying to stay active during his chemotherapy treatments. Last summer, he combined cycling with his enthusiasm for fighting cancer to establish the Endure for a Cure Bike Ride. Working with his good friend and co-chairman Vince Bulzoni, the two wanted to ride the growing interest in cycling into a successful fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

McQuestion turned to his employer for assistance sponsoring the event.

“As a company, Pride is fully committed to giving back to the community that supports us,” said Ann Sadusky, Pride’s senior vice president of human resources. “We are continually humbled by the generosity demonstrated by our employees. We are proud of Brian’s efforts and pleased to be a part of such a worthwhile endeavor as his Endure for a Cure event.”

In its first year, the 65-mile ride was a huge success and the duo is looking forward to next year’s event. “Two hundred and ten riders and $25,000 raised ... that is basically unheard of,” says Bulzoni. “Brian and I realize it is not the people that organize it that make it successful, it is the participants. That is why we try to make it bigger and better.”

McQuestion is very humble about his nomination as one of The Times Leader’s Health Care Heroes. “I don’t consider myself a hero, I am just raising money to fight cancer. Ultimately, cancer is treatable and research is critical to help save lives — without research, treatments would not be found.”

His dedication has been inspiring to Patty Vergnetti, but who inspires McQuestion? “My mother (Kathleen), I believe she has raised me well, she supports my endeavors, and she was there with me through every moment during my treatment for cancer,” noted McQuestion.