It's difficult for Ronald Levy, 61, to talk about his father, Samuel Levy. It's even more difficult to remember the day the elder Levy lost his battle to lymphoma.

"I really kind of blocked a lot of stuff out. His death really affected all of us," Levy said as he paused to hold back tears. "My mom, it affected her worst. That January, they celebrated their 52nd year of marriage and my dad worshipped my mom. Before he got ill, he gave her breakfast in bed every morning. He cherished her so much."

To honor his father, Levy is returning to cycling to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He will ride in the Santa Fe Century in May.

This ride will also be a milestone for Levy. Although he has been an avid bicyclist for more than 35 years, he had to take a break when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He credits the Cancer Institute of New Mexico for his disease now being in remission.

"They are tremendous," he said. He underwent an aggressive treatment that included three months of chemotherapy for five days a week, three weeks a month, with a week off. "The doctors are really caring, the nurses can't do enough for you, the volunteers who walk around make you feel at home — they give you coffee and snacks.

"Lance had the same thing," Levy said of cyclist Lance Armstrong. "He had testicular cancer and he (competed) in the Tour de France. He came out No. 2 last August. If he could do it, I said, 'Yeah, I could do it for myself and my dad.' "

He got into cycling when he was a postal worker in Goshen, N.Y.

"I'd ride my bike to work in the morning," Levy said. His work day used to start at 4:30 a.m., so he'd leave his house at 4 a.m. and ride the three miles to work. He'd ride more when he got off at 1 p.m.

"In the afternoon, I would ride and ride and ride," Levy said. "I'd ride between 30 to 50 miles a day just for the exercise. I'm a bit of a fanatic for exercise."

Levy has also been a loyal rider of the Tour de Goshen, a 75-mile ride; and the Rock and Roll event to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Despite having raised money for charitable organizations in the past, he has never felt so close to a cause as now. His goal is to raise $1,850; he's raised about $300 so far.

Levy is training by riding about 30 miles a week. He also goes to the gym two to three times a week. He is waiting until it warms up to kick his training into full gear because he has a circulation problem in his hands.

"My hands are blue from the cold," Levy said, as he opened up his hands to reveal blue patches. But if his wife, Eileen Levy, will take care of him always, he said.

"She's very supportive," Levy said. "She says, 'Make sure you drink water; make sure you're eating; make sure you have enough water on that bike; if you can't ride anymore, call me up and I'll come out with the car with the bike rack.' "

He's attempted the Santa Fe Century once before, but only made it to 40 miles. He rode with his friend, who he noted was a smoker, and when his friend wanted to give up, he didn't want Eileen Levy to have to make two trips out to pick them up, so he just left when his friend left. This year, however, he's going it alone.

"I'm extremely excited and confident I'll be able to do the 100," Levy said.

To donate to Levy's cause with a credit card, visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/nm/santafe10/rlevyp. Make checks payable to LLS and mail them to 9 Featherbrush Court, Santa Fe, N.M., 87508.

Levy said it's a worthy cause. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, there are an estimated 139,860 people in the U.S. that were diagnosed of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2009.

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.