GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – A Green Cove Springs couple is turning personal hardship into national advocacy — one mile at a time.
Marine Corps veteran Casey Kroner and his wife, Ashton, set off Saturday morning from Clay County on a multi-state bicycle ride to Washington, D.C., to push Congress for reform in veteran cancer screening policies. The ride spans more than 1,000 miles.
Recommended Videos
“Anywhere from 60 to about 110 miles a day,” Ashton said.
The Kroners, along with a couple of other bikers, plan to arrive in D.C. on June 28th, traveling on the road for nearly 15 days.
“They need better screening, better protocols, and better outcomes,” Casey said.
What he’s referring to is veterans, and he happens to be one. About five years ago, Casey began experiencing severe back pain.
Ashton said visits to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) did not yield clear answers.
It was a civilian hospital that eventually delivered devastating news: Stage 3A testicular cancer that had already metastasized, causing Stage 1 kidney failure.
After treatment and extraordinary resilience, Casey rang the bell — signaling the end of his cancer treatment. But he and Ashton didn’t stop there.
The couple founded the Veterans Cancer Network, a nonprofit focused on improving early cancer detection and screening for military veterans.
“My story is just one of many,” Casey said. “As we’ve started a nonprofit, we found that this is not a singular problem. This means so much more because we’re going to be able to impact a lot of different veterans.”
The Kroners are not making the trip alone. Michael Elliott, a fellow veteran and supporter, joined the cause after a single phone call — and stepped up in a big way.
“I said, ‘Ashton, I’m going to do better than that — I’m going to be one of the support vehicles that’s going to follow you guys to Washington, D.C.,’” he added.
Supporter Cheryl Kennedy was among those who gave the couple a send-off before they departed.
“They have a strong story of resilience and a goal and a desire to spread their mission,” Kennedy said.
The Kroners said they will post regular updates on social media throughout the trip. Supporters are also planning a homecoming celebration when the couple returns.