Yuma community rallies to aid injured cross-country cyclist recovering here

A severed finger in Glendale left Stephen Swift healing in Yuma, where strangers quickly became his support system while the Oregon cyclist tried to get back on the road after a trip built around cancer awareness.

Swift, a two-time cancer survivor, had been riding across the country since 2012 to raise awareness for all types of cancer. He began the journey after losing his wife to cancer, and the cause was deeply personal long before the injury interrupted it. Earlier coverage said he had logged more than 20,000 miles across 43 states and three countries, living lightly, sleeping in a tent and dividing his time between cycling and six months of work in Newport, Oregon.

The ride changed course when Swift was hurt while working a contracting job in Glendale, where he severed a finger while building custom cabinets. Friends helped bring him to Yuma, and by the time of the May 12 story, he had been recovering here for more than a week.

Once in Yuma, Swift posted an SOS message on Facebook asking for help with necessities. Accion Chicana and community members answered with food, water and other support, turning a difficult stopover into a practical network of care. Residents also helped launch a GoFundMe to cover basics and the trip back to Oregon with his cat, Cali.

Swift’s story fits a city that already understands cancer support as part of civic life. Relay For Life of Yuma County marked its 30th anniversary in 2026, and the event was scheduled for March 21 at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex. Local reporting said the county’s Relay For Life efforts have raised more than $3.5 million since they began in 1996.

That backdrop makes Swift’s detour feel especially local. A man who set out to talk about cancer across the country ended up finding, in Yuma, the kind of help that keeps a hard journey moving forward.