Trumbull Co. woman biking for cancer research after near fatal accident

After a nearly fatal bicycling accident, a Trumbull County woman is using her strength to get back into training just weeks before a ride to raise money for cancer research. Many know Martha Yoder as the Trumbull County Auditor but in her personal life she’s a cancer survivor who’s now prioritizing health and a better future to finding a cure. 

She frequently ventures out on early morning or late evening rides after work to train for an upcoming 30 mile road ride benefiting a cause close to her heart. 

For the first time, Yoder will be riding in Pelotonia, a bike ride in Columbus benefiting the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital.

Raising money for cancer research is common for Yoder after losing her dad to Leukemia in 1987 and watching her brother go through the same diagnosis in 2024.

“Just seeing from [19]87 until [20]24 the changes that were made and I could just see that if we could do more research we can do more changes,” she said. 

Yoder has battled her own diagnosis of uterine cancer back in 2017, a discovery she thought she would never survive when her doctor broke the news.

“I know that years ago women used to die from my cancer and the reason less women die now is because of research,” Yoder said. 

With a drive for a better future Yoder started training for Peletonia more than a year ago - getting ready for the up and down hill road ride.

But just a few months before the big weekend she hit a huge setback. On her regular route one morning Yoder lost control of her bike.

“I, but not my bike, went over a guard rail and I cut my belly pretty badly. I wasn't ever knocked out or  anything but I realized pretty quickly looking at myself that this was pretty serious,” she said detailing her accident for the first time publicly with 21 News. 

Yoder was able to find her phone and call 911. She was life flighted to a hospital where she had surgery on her stomach leaving her with 17 staples and a deep bruise in her leg.

A few days in a hospital were followed by a few weeks in a rehabilitation center. Nearly a month after the accident her doctor cleared her for exercise and that's when she knew she’d get back on the bike.

"I don't like to quit. My pastor says they don't write songs about quitters and I take that to heart," Yoder said. “It's not how many times you fall down it's how many times you get back up. So, I just saw it that way and try not to get discouraged and just do my best."

One her first ride back Yoder faced her biggest fear head on and took the same route as the accident. She's not yet back up to the same distance she was making before but is getting closer everyday. She’s still committed to the full 30 miles on August 3rd - not just to prove it to herself but to do it for who she started this journey for.

“My dad was a person who never quit…and I feel the same about my brother. My brother went through a lot of really tough stuff,” Yoder said. “If I wouldn't fight…I think it's dishonorable to their memory so I want to fight for them.”

Yoder has committed to raise $1,250 for the ride that will all go to cancer research. She hasn't hit that goal yet. The link to donate can be found here.