With so many charity events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, it’s hard for some people to pick an event that will best honor a survivor or a loved one lost to the disease.

That was not the case for Brian and Kristin Diegan.

The Hermitage father and daughter set out Oct. 1 on a four-day, 227-mile bicycle ride from Hershey, Pa., to New York City to celebrate the life of mother and grandmother, Nancy Diegan, who passed away July 20, 2008, of breast cancer at the age of 68.

Sponsored by The Hershey Co. with money raised by the riders going to the Young Survival Coalition, Diegan rode in the Tour de Pink in 2007 while his mother was being treated.

“I can’t explain it,” he said of how the ride made him feel.

Kristin, 16, was the youngest person to complete the ride, which had about 180 participants this year. She and her father knew riding in the Tour de Pink together would be a great way to remember Mrs. Diegan, especially since they enjoy physical activity.

“It was very challenging and fun at the same time,” said Kristin, a junior at Hickory High School, Hermitage.

One of Diegan’s other children, Michelle, 18, wanted to ride but couldn’t fit it into her college schedule.

The Diegans raised about $6,000 by the beginning of October, adding to the nearly $800,000 collected for the Young Survival Coalition, which raises awareness for breast cancer among young women.

“It’s still coming in,” Kristin said of the donations.

When the Diegans arrived in Hershey, their bicycles were inspected and they took a cycling class from two professionals.

The first day of the trek was tough, riding about 90 miles in eight hours in some rain, but looking around at the sea of pink shirts kept them motivated, they said.

Diegan met up with some of the same people from the 2007 ride, and they made new friends along the way. Some were breast cancer supporters while other riders were survivors or currently being treated.