Monday, October 18, 2010

LIVESTRONG Challenge Austin: 10-24-2010

Greetings!

LIVESTRONG Challenge Austin is coming up next weekend, October 23-24.  I became involved with this event two years ago, right after I rekindled my passion for riding my bike.  It's kind of a funny story.....I got my old mountain bike tuned up one day in the spring of 2008, and my husband said something like, oh that's silly, you won't ride that bike six times this year.  My response: GAME ON.  I think I rode just about every day that summer, and I decided very quickly that I wanted to ride in the 2008 LIVESTRONG Challenge.  John noticed how serious I was, so he got me a dream bike for my birthday that October.  I only had a few weeks to get used to it, but WOW, once I figured out how to unclip without falling over, I was hooked.  I registered to ride 45 miles, and I think I raised about $1500, which earned me a really cool LIVESTRONG messenger bag (which I now use to tote my giggle-inducing props to photo sessions).  The ride started out very well and I guessed it would take me about three hours to finish.  Oops.  I missed my turn for the 45-mile route and ended up riding 65 miles in the beautiful Texas Hill Country around Dripping Springs.  And I loved every minute of it.

This particular ride is my favorite of all the distance rides I've done, not only because it's a beautiful, well-managed ride, nor because of the cause I'm supporting (although both of these are good reasons to participate).  This ride is my favorite because I do it in honor of and in memory of many loved ones affected by cancer.  It is one way for me to connect deeply with them.  I lost my mom to breast cancer in 1986, when I was just 17, and of course she is my # 1 "In Memoriam."  I can still hear her voice and her distinct laugh in my memories.  Shortly before my first LIVESTRONG ride, I also lost a dear friend, Keri, who was my college roommate for a year and a half.  She succumbed to colon cancer just weeks before her 40th birthday.  And I can't forget my next-door neighbor, Bob, who was like a grandfather to me.  He passed away in the mid-80's when I was barely a teenager.  These are people who influenced my life tremendously and I am grateful for having known and loved them.

On a happier note, I have two girlfriends whose battles with cancer have brought me closer to them, and they are doing quite well today.  My friend Michelle is a Stage 4 breast cancer survivor who just passed her 5-year mark since diagnosis, and she also celebrated her 38th birthday over the summer.  My friend Traci is in remission from breast and thyroid cancers, and she recently went through surgery to get her "noobies."  Both of these fine women are wives, mothers and bright, beautiful shining stars who inspire their friends and families on a daily basis.  The photo below is of me with both of them at Michelle's surprise party in July.  They are a huge reason why this ride is so important to me.




In addition to Mom, Keri, Bob, Michelle and Traci, I wear or carry with me the names of several others who fuel my desire to ride.  Just today I added one to my list, a baby boy in Amarillo named Maverick, who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at 3 weeks of age.  Bless his heart.

For those of you who want to donate, please visit my personal donation page by clicking here.  I thank you for whatever amount you can give.  To everyone out there, please pray that we find a cure soon!

In my usual fashion, I am up again way past my bedtime.  So I guess I'll peel myself away from my computer and get some sleep.  I am such a night owl.

Until next time,
LIVE STRONG!
Kim