Howard Tyndle, Hope is Loud Foundation RA³C Team Captain

My hope is that everyone can enjoy cycling the way I have.  If I can do something that could breathe life into someone’s struggle with cancer and cycling is that path, I’m in!  My Dad had a slow process of Leukemia very late in life from working in a cement plant years before his death.

After 15 years of being diagnosed my dad didn’t suffer much but, it eventually ended his life prematurely.

Ahamadu M. Sirleaf, Founder and Executive Director

Ahamadu is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, inventor, professional software developer and now Founder and Executive Director of Hope Is Loud Foundation.

After dealing with an undiagnosed and unknown condition of low blood counts of his red and white blood cells and platelets, his condition advanced in 2012 and on December 13th, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

He survived thanks to the gift of science and a bone marrow donation from his brother. The national and international registries proved fruitless for finding a donor. It required an arduous manual process to get samples from his family in Liberia (West Africa) to identify his brother as a usable half match potential donor.  This fortune often does not befall other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community members in America and other countries around the world.

Hope Is Loud Foundation provides Ahamadu with an opportunity to bring awareness to the lack of donors in the bone marrow registry as well as other key health inequities experienced by the BIPOC communities.

Bobby Dean, Board Member

Like many people, I can tell you some horrible stories about cancer.   

One of my sisters, Mayada, lost her husband to cancer, and now has to raise her daughter Lynn without a father. My cousin David lost his battle with cancer leaving his young son, David Jr devastated.  

 A couple of years ago, I lost a very good friend, Steve, to cancer. Add to that, my step mom is currently battling cancer, and another of my sisters, Justa, has been battling Leukemia for over a decade!  

My sister Justa is my SHERO! Through all of the daily health challenges and obstacles Justa has endured, she has managed to raise two amazingly talented children. Her strength and resilience is nothing short of miraculous. Her fierce determination, and the courage of countless other Leukemia patients out there, who bravely look cancer in the face each day and “ride on”, inspires me. I think you get the picture!  

Sometimes the stories we’d rather not hear about the battle against cancer and dying from the disease can inspire positive change. 

My friend, Ahamadu Sirleaf had the courage to look Leukemia in the face and take action by founding the Hope Is Loud Foundation. When he asked me to join the Hope Is Loud Ride Across America to SAVE LIVES, my response was a very loud “YES”!! 

Hope is Loud has given me the opportunity to be a part of something amazing, a life altering endeavor, the chance to inspire others to positive action to correct the severe lack of diversity in the national bone marrow registry, so that BIPOC leukemia patients and patients with other blood disorders that require a bone marrow transplant, can realize the hope for a suitable bone marrow donor match.     

My hope is that you will join me in supporting the Hope Is Loud Ride Across America Awareness Campaign, in the following ways: 

1. If you are between the ages of 18-40, please sign up to be a Bone Marrow Donor.

   1. Remember, BIPOC patients cannot access donors of different races.

2. Tell your family, friends, community organizations and churches about the mission at Hope Is Loud.

3. Make a tax-deductible donation - whatever amount you can!

"We Ride To Save Lives"; “One Peddle Stroke at a Time” Join me, and help Hope is Loud SAVE LIVES! 

Toni Moore - Hope Is Loud Riders’ Club Member

I have been a long-time supporter of other fundraising and awareness campaigns: the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life and Bike-A-Thon.

When I learned about Hope is Loud Foundation and its mission, I was happy to throw in my lot. I believe the Hope is Loud Ride from the East Coast to the West Coast, to raise awareness and increase donor registrations, is very critical.

My prayer is that this campaign will loudly proclaim the sad reality that without a suitable bone marrow donor match, black people are left with only clinical trials and experimental treatment protocols to fight leukemia and other blood disorders.

I hope to see a significant increase in the numbers of BIPOC bone marrow donor registrations, spurred on by the realization that no one is going to save BIPOC but BIPOC.

Nowu Lavala, Board Member

Nowu is a mother, amateur cyclist and runner.

She is an IT Project Management Professional who obtained her undergraduate degree from Livingstone College and graduate degree from George Washington University.

She is passionate about health wellness. Hope Is Loud Foundation provides her an opportunity to connect her passion for cycling and the need for health awareness within the community by volunteering and campaigning for the urgent need to increase the number of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) bone marrow donors in the national registry.

She believes this purpose-driven organization will provide education about the importance of bone marrow donation and services to communities in need now and in the future.

As proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she believes in community services and outreach.