Cycling minstrel Joe Iverson, who travels from coast to coast to raise awareness for hunger and cancer, on Tuesday will present a short program of songs and stories at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Richmond.
Originally from Westby, Wisc., Iverson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and is a Lutheran seminary student with an eventual goal of earning a Master of Divinity degree. He has worked in Bible schools, homeless shelters and youth camps at various times.
Iverson interupted his seminary studies in June of 2008 to start his cross-country tour, with his starting point in California. After hundreds of miles, he arrived in Kansas where he was suddenly sidetracked with headaches, vision problems and small seizures. A diagnosis revealed that he himslef was a cancer victim with a tumor on his brain. Iverson underwent survery and six months of chemotherapy and radiation, and then, remarkably, was given clearance to resume his journey from Kansas with a final destination of Washington, D.C.
Iverson has been traveling again since Sept. 19 — more than 3,000 — and will arrive in Richmond on Tuesday. He will present his program at 6:30 p.m. It is not a fundraiser, and all are invited.
