Film On Central Bucks Grad's Cycling, Cancer Journey To Show At Doylestown Theater

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A film about a Central Bucks East graduate and his cycling journey after a life-changing cancer diagnosis will soon show at the County Theater in Doylestown.

"Mountains We Climb" was recently selected for inclusion in the International Bicycle Film Festival, according to a news release.

The film follows Christopher Baccash, born and raised in Doylestown, after he received a life-changing cancer diagnosis on the heels of a personal best performance at the 2019 Bucks County Classic Pro Cycling Race.

"From my hospital bed in Philadelphia, the night before my first surgery, I turned to my visiting teammates and said, 'When I'm out of here, let's race Leadville,'" Baccash said.

"Mountains We Climb" brings audiences along with Baccash on his medical and physical journey of racing the Leadville 100 MTB, a 100 mile high-altitude extreme terrain race through the Colorado Rockies. Leadville has the highest elevation of any incorporated city in the U.S.

The movie chronicles this feat, undertaken with the support of his family, friends, and community.

Ryan Canney, a Central Bucks East graduate himself and now a filmmaker living in Lansdale, directed "Mountains We Climb." He owns the video production company Riverbank Creative.

Canney came together with Brian Boger of Bike Works in 2019 to create the film project centered around the Bike Works and Fred Beans elite team.

But, when Baccash received his diagnosis, the topic shifted rapidly and "Mountains We Climb" was born.

The film spans three years of his life through multiple surgeries, recoveries, a global pandemic, and training for one of the hardest mountain bike races in the world. After his diagnosis, he also chose to step away from his business career.

Today, in addition to his ongoing medical procedures and racing calendar, Baccash is pursuing a Master's Degree in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

"Mountains We Climb" is being entered into additional film festivals throughout 2022, and the filmmakers intend to continue documenting Chris’s journey and create a feature-length documentary. The film was made possible by support from Bike Works PA, GiantBicycles, and community partners.

Tickets are expected to go on sale for the screening at the County Theater in March. The film will screen Apr. 28.

More information about the film is available online.