MARYSVILLE — Bicyclist Paul Rodriguez arrived in Marysville during a typical bout of Pacific Northwest weather, but in his five years of pedaling across the country to raise awareness for brain cancer, it was hardly the worst storm that the Jacksonville, Fla., native has weathered.

“I had my bike stolen in Hollywood,” said Rodriguez, whose latest trip began in his home state on June 7. “I also lost my glasses.”

Rodriguez rates these inconveniences as minor compared to the cause that he’s promoting, one with which he has a personal connection.

Rodriguez’s brother, Philip, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest of brain cancer, in November of 2009.

“It was embedded in his spinal cord, so it wouldn’t allow them to remove it all,” Rodriguez said. “He had to relearn how to walk and talk.”

In March of 2010, at the age of 37, Philip died after falling into a short, sudden coma.

One month later, Rodriguez had sold his house and cars, bought a bicycle and began the first of his many cross-country rides.

“I spoke to my brother every night on the phone, as he regained the power of speech,” Rodriguez said. “One night, I said how I wanted to let people know what I’d learned about brain cancer, and I thought of riding my bike across America to do it. He told me I should do that. The next morning, our mom couldn’t get him up. Eight hours later, he passed away.”

Five years later, at age 51, Rodriguez can tell those he meets that there are more than 150 types of brain cancer, just about all of which are extremely difficult to treat.

“It’s like stepping on a piece of old gum on a hot day, and you can’t quite get it out of your sneaker treads,” Rodriguez said. “If even a little bit is left behind, it grows back aggressively.”

Rodriguez’s ride last year took him to Maine, with a stop in Phoenix, N.Y., to meet its mayor, Anthony Fratto, before he died of brain cancer.

Although brain cancer has afflicted public figures ranging from professional baseball player Tug McGraw to Sen. Edward Kennedy and Vice President Joe Biden’s son, Beau, Rodriguez pointed out that it has relatively few celebrity spokespersons.

Still, Rodriguez has made connections with brain cancer patients, and others affected by the disease, across the country. He posts photos and updates of his travels on his Facebook page, titled “The Mission: cycling for brain cancer awareness,” and makes connections with members of local support groups.

“Everybody knows somebody who’s suffered some form of cancer,” Rodriguez said, “but the frustrating thing about brain cancer is that we know so little about what causes it. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, so I’m glad that cause gets as much attention as it does, but I just wish that we could be as proactive in dealing with brain cancer.”

As he headed out from Marysville Dec. 11, Rodriguez explained that he planned to hit the Canadian border, then swing down to Ashland, Ore., to meet with the family of Alex Shepherd, who died of brain cancer in May at the age of 13.