Craig Casterella never imagined that a bout of night sweats and a persistent cough in July 2023 would unravel his world and change his outlook on life forever.
Born and raised in Mamaroneck, New York, Craig’s journey up to that point had been relatively straightforward. His academics led him to the University of Hartford, where he discovered his passion for holiday decorating during a college internship at American Christmas, a company specializing in large-scale festive displays, including that of Rockefeller Center in New York City. That initial experience led him to a thriving career, ultimately opening a new office for the company in Maryland and growing its reach in the region. But as Craig’s business was booming and he was making plans to expand even further, something unexpected began to simmer beneath the surface— something that would change his perspective on everything.
It all began during a trip to Atlanta. What started as a typical cold evolved into unexplained fevers and night sweats. When Craig’s tonsil swelled up and became covered in white patches, doctors attributed it to a lingering infection. Yet, the antibiotics they prescribed did nothing to alleviate his symptoms. Frustration mounted as he bounced from one specialist to another, each offering a dismissive diagnosis. “It’s just tonsil stones,” one doctor claimed. “It could be lymphoma, but I’ve never seen it present this way,” another mused. But the idea of lymphoma lingered in Craig’s mind, a shadow he couldn’t shake. Despite repeated assurances that he was fine, Craig pushed for more tests, driven by an inner voice that something was seriously wrong.
His persistence paid off when he finally found a physician who didn’t dismiss his concerns. By then, it was October—three months after his first symptoms had appeared. A biopsy confirmed the worst of his suspicions: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “My world just turned upside down,” Craig recalls. “No family history, no genetic predisposition—just completely out of the blue.” The diagnosis was staggering, but rather than succumb to despair, Craig resolved to fight. “It was the moment when I realized what actually matters in life—family, friends, and making the most of every single day.”
Craig’s journey through treatment was nothing short of relentless. He drove into chemotherapy in November, determined to maintain his health and push his limits in every way he could. Each day, he pushed his body through rigorous workouts in his garage—running on the treadmill, lifting weights, sweating it out in the sauna. “I realized there’s a balance between standard treatment and holistic wellness,” he reflects. “The doctors tell you to take it easy, but I wanted to see just how much I could push myself.” His strategy seemed to work; by his third cycle of chemotherapy, his cancer was 80% in remission.
As he neared the end of his treatment, Craig began searching for ways to channel his newfound perspective into something meaningful. This August, he stumbled upon BellRinger while researching ways to get involved with MedStar Health, one of his company’s clients. “I saw the word ‘BellRinger’ and thought, ‘That’s for cancer patients, right? The bell we ring when we’re in remission? It all just clicked. I’d spent the past year proving to myself what my body could endure—now it was time to ride for others.”
With his first ride in BellRinger looming near, Craig isn’t just thinking about finishing the 100-mile challenge. He’s thinking about the conversations he’ll have along the way, the people he’ll meet, and the stories he’ll share. “I want to hear why others are riding—whether they’re doctors, caregivers, or survivors like me,” he says. “And if I can inspire just one person by telling my story, if I can help someone see that life doesn’t have to end with a cancer diagnosis, that will make it all worth it.” For Craig, BellRinger is more than just a ride; it’s a symbol of hope and a chance to show that there’s life—and purpose—beyond cancer.
These days, Craig is focused on his future, which no longer revolves solely around business expansions or career accolades. He’s six months out from his last treatment, and his scans are clear! “ I want to continue to do things that push me, that make me feel alive. I am so grateful for my health and the life I am living each day.”
BellRinger, for Craig, is just the beginning. He’s setting his sights on making a tangible impact, whether through fundraising, sharing his journey, or simply showing up. “I want to be able to say I made a difference,” he says. “When my time comes, whenever that is, I want to know I left something good behind.”
As Craig prepares for BellRinger, his motivation is clear: to honor the journey he’s been on and to give back to a community that’s faced the same fears and struggles. “The world changes after a cancer diagnosis,” he says softly. “You realize what really matters, and you want to make every moment count.” For Craig, that means riding 100 miles, raising $5,000, and pushing his body and mind further than he ever thought possible. But more than anything, it means standing tall as a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of never giving up. “At the end of the day, if I can inspire just one person to keep going, then every mile, every struggle—it’s all been worth it.”
