There are too many people praying for mountains of difficulty to be removed, when what they really need is courage to climb them.
-- Unknown.
In 2004 and 2005 I put my body through, well, to be blunt and figurative, a wall – one day with 100 miles of mountains at high altitudes. I also raised over $10,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I had a lot of help with that part.
Together – that saved a life. I didn’t even need a cape or shiny tights to do it.
How? How does a bike ride save a life?
That $10,000 funded research, paid medical bills, housed a family, train nurses in patient care, trained doctors in emerging treatments for a specific blood cancer, taught a wellness class. By doing all that, it left someone unburdened so they could focus on one thing: survive cancer.
Why? Why do I care? Why is this important to me?
About 3 years ago, I was talking to my boss about a cycling friend who had been diagnosed with Leukemia, and mentioned another person I knew surviving uterine cancer. Then I remembered a former coworker also surviving Lymphoma. He paused and said, ‘Wow, you know a lot of people with cancer.” I said, “No I don’t, it’s that a LOT of people have some type of cancer.” One in Five people will develop some form of cancer – that is the national average. My asthma issues aside, I count myself very lucky – being in that group of four. I can’t get complacent about it – I am well and strong and I need to give back. I need to help.
Who? Who are these One in Five?
A cycling friend who in 2003 had her life turned over by cancer. A fun little boy who should be worrying about missing an episode of Sponge Bob Squarepants instead of losing his hair. A mother of a friend who was so beautiful in life and now in spirit. An odd sales associate at my local sporting goods store who embraces everyday with really strange jokes and a huge smile. A business man who is client of my mom’s, he battles every year and still puts up a mean fight over the price of dry cleaning. That’s who.
What? What can I do?
Well I tell you what I can’t do – I can’t go to the future and locate the formula for the cure. I can’t perform magic to make cancer disappear. I can’t develop an intergalactic faster‐than‐light‐warp‐wave communication device to locate medically advanced life forms and ask them for a cure. What I can do is ride a bicycle. I can put myself through a day of sore muscles, tired lungs, aching limbs – just one day. I can ask you for support. One day can save one Life. Yeah, I can do that.
When?
November 17, 2007, it will be me, my bike and 109 miles in Tucson, Arizona. That day my teammates and I will participate in a moving memorial and celebration, each of us raising $5000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This will not be easy, this will not be a walk in the park ‐ this is what I can do. This is what I will do. Every mile ridden, every dollar raised...it’s all worth it if it saves a life. You can do this with me. When someone asks you, “What’d you do this weekend?” you can say, “I saved a life.”
Thanks so much for you time and your support!
In 2004 and 2005 I put my body through, well, to be blunt and figurative, a wall – one day with 100 miles of mountains at high altitudes. I also raised over $10,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I had a lot of help with that part.
Together – that saved a life. I didn’t even need a cape or shiny tights to do it.
How? How does a bike ride save a life?
That $10,000 funded research, paid medical bills, housed a family, train nurses in patient care, trained doctors in emerging treatments for a specific blood cancer, taught a wellness class. By doing all that, it left someone unburdened so they could focus on one thing: survive cancer.
Why? Why do I care? Why is this important to me?
About 3 years ago, I was talking to my boss about a cycling friend who had been diagnosed with Leukemia, and mentioned another person I knew surviving uterine cancer. Then I remembered a former coworker also surviving Lymphoma. He paused and said, ‘Wow, you know a lot of people with cancer.” I said, “No I don’t, it’s that a LOT of people have some type of cancer.” One in Five people will develop some form of cancer – that is the national average. My asthma issues aside, I count myself very lucky – being in that group of four. I can’t get complacent about it – I am well and strong and I need to give back. I need to help.
Who? Who are these One in Five?
A cycling friend who in 2003 had her life turned over by cancer. A fun little boy who should be worrying about missing an episode of Sponge Bob Squarepants instead of losing his hair. A mother of a friend who was so beautiful in life and now in spirit. An odd sales associate at my local sporting goods store who embraces everyday with really strange jokes and a huge smile. A business man who is client of my mom’s, he battles every year and still puts up a mean fight over the price of dry cleaning. That’s who.
What? What can I do?
Well I tell you what I can’t do – I can’t go to the future and locate the formula for the cure. I can’t perform magic to make cancer disappear. I can’t develop an intergalactic faster‐than‐light‐warp‐wave communication device to locate medically advanced life forms and ask them for a cure. What I can do is ride a bicycle. I can put myself through a day of sore muscles, tired lungs, aching limbs – just one day. I can ask you for support. One day can save one Life. Yeah, I can do that.
When?
November 17, 2007, it will be me, my bike and 109 miles in Tucson, Arizona. That day my teammates and I will participate in a moving memorial and celebration, each of us raising $5000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This will not be easy, this will not be a walk in the park ‐ this is what I can do. This is what I will do. Every mile ridden, every dollar raised...it’s all worth it if it saves a life. You can do this with me. When someone asks you, “What’d you do this weekend?” you can say, “I saved a life.”
Thanks so much for you time and your support!
Would you like miles with your donation? ask me how =)
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