LANCASTER  — Jerry Humphrey hightailed it across the country on his motorcycle in honor of his wife, who was diagnosed with brain cancer seven years ago. 

The purpose of his trip initially was to raise $5,000 for Massachusetts General Hospital’s Brain Cancer Research Center. Humphrey’s wife, Kim, had successful brain surgery and radiation treatments at MGH, where she was treated. Humphrey’s already exceeded his fundraising goal, so far he’s raised $5,155.

“I saw what they [the MGH] did for Kim,” said Humphrey. “They extend lives, they save lives and I feel honored to be able to raise money for them.” 

He added that the motorcycle trip gave him “a sense of power over the powerlessness you feel when people are dying on you.”

This isn’t the first tragedy to befall one of Humphrey’s spouses. Humphrey, who lived on Sterling Street for over 20 years with his first wife, Terry, lost her in 2008 when she died unexpectedly. He’s since moved to Wilton, New Hampshire.

“[The trip] made me feel very psyched and very relaxed at the same time,” said Humphrey, adding that he enjoyed the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Humphrey started his trip at 9 o’clock in the morning on Sunday, Sept. 5. He went to Pennsylvania then headed to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. After that, he hightailed it to Chicago before taking Route 66 all the way to Santa Monica, California, where he arrived on Friday, Sept. 17. Humphrey stayed with his friends in Playa del Rey until Monday, when he took a plane back to Manchester, New Hampshire. He is shipping his bike back home. 

“I raised a little over five grand for this charity, but is that going to cure brain cancer? No, obviously not, but it’s going to help a little bit, right?” said Humphrey. 

If you would like to contribute to Humphrey’s fundraiser please go here: https://because.massgeneral.org/fundraiser/3410431