(I started writing this last week, but just couldn’t seem to get around to finishing it). So…we’ve been home nearly 36 hours and I am already having some serious P3C3 withdrawal. Now I am thrilled to be home in my house with my sweet girls, mind you. However, it’s REALLY REALLY hard to come back [...]
28
Oct
I tried really hard to get rid of my lonely feelings of missing my team…. So I hopped in to the backseat thinking this would help. No it did not. Learning to feel again, Learning to breath again, Learning to own Cancer and not letting Cancer own you. These are a few of my favorite [...]
26
Oct
Here it is in its entirety…..my recount of Team Yellow’s Ride to Austin
Posted by Donna Navarro Published in UncategorizedAs I sit here at home the Ride to Austin completed, my heart swells with so many emotions. On Sunday the 17th, we met at the Cancer Center to begin our journey…our fight…our Challenge to Conquer Cancer. Our bags and gear were loaded into our homes away from home…Sienna minivans for all except one team [...]
26
Oct
You learn an awful lot when you spend 8 days with 50 people covering 1600 miles through 8 states. Here is a list of things I now know to be true: It is always hot in Greenville, South Carolina Overtired liberal New England Democrats should limit their exposure to overtired Conservative Southern Republicans. In more [...]
26
Oct
Four years ago when I attended my first LiveStrong Challenge my life was changed for the better. I saw how all the participants celebrated life rather than be mad because cancer had ripped away some you love too early in life, seeing the surviors embrace the second chance they were given and seeing the fight [...]
26
Oct
I’m writing this from the office on Tuesday, 10/26, just after lunch. We are 24 hours back in Greenville, and I’ve been through dozens of e-mails this AM. I’m fighting to figure out all the meetings that the automated schedulers think I should attend. But I did manage to pull a few photos off my [...]
26
Oct
I was writing this on Saturday night/ Sunday morning & couldn’t contain my thoughts. After a couple of days, I think I’m ready to finish it. Good morning. I should be in bed asleep recharging to do the Ride for the Roses this morning, but I can’t sleep. There is a lot that is on [...]
23
Oct
Today as a C3 team we participated in the Annual Austin 5Kwalk/run. As was the case in the past two years it was a very emotional experinece. Two years ago,in this same event, we took turns pushing Kim Chrane in her wheelchair. Unfortunately, after she battled brain cancer for 17 years. she lost the battle [...]
23
Oct
Welcome to Austin: Land of Lance, flushy toilets, real food and boys that say “wow” Apparently, I have fallen asleep in a face plant on the bus bench. We are closing in on Austin, and things are starting to look more civilized. Not that that’s necessarily better. Nothing inspirational about highways and strip malls. We [...]
23
Oct
Team Beach Ball: 3-1+1=3 (4, if you count Felix) WiFi, and chances to get to it, are fewer and farther between, mostly cause it’s the boonies out here (or as Sally called it: Bum F—) and partly cause as things get weirder and weirder, time to sit and type is hard/impossible to find. But so [...]
22
Oct
For the second time, I have completed the Challenge to Conquer Cancer. This year I knew what to expect from the physical portion of the event, but the emotional side is still overwhelming. I did not expect this reaction form me since I had done this ride before. The response from the people that we meet [...]
22
Oct
We are here in Austin after another great adventure. As you have with anything like this, there are bumps in the road but we all overcame them and we are here with only a few skinned knees and tired eyes. Team ScottStrong brought the ride home last night arriving around 11:00. The hard work of [...]
21
Oct
I haven’t blogged much this year leaving it all for the newbes to tell the story. There were so many good times on the bike and in the van. We had 2 wonderful support people this year. Kevin and Justina worked magnificant in finding the correct palces to spend the night without having to get [...]
21
Oct
Here we are in Austin for the third year. Our last 6-hour ride covered about 80 miles took us from Huntsville to Caldwell, TX. Congratulations to my entire team. It was a pleasure. My personal satisfaction was meeting our cancer warrior, Jerry Scroggins. I have been communicating with Jerry for a year now and finnal;y [...]
21
Oct
I have accomplished my primary goal this week of riding part of the trip with each of the five teams. I also accomplished my secondary goal of riding 300 miles in the 4 day trip. Each team has there own unique group of individuals each with there own level of strength and experience. But the [...]
21
Oct
From Team ScottSTRONG As Team ScottSTRONG is driving to our final transition in near Bryan, let me change that to Caldwell, TX we are feeling very bittersweet. This week & the journey we have taken have been an experience almost too much for words. We have had a wonderful time bonding with each other and [...]
21
Oct
I am now sitting comfortably in the Fairfield Inn & Suites enjoying S P A C E, which has not existed for the past few days. I know I posted more or less a fairwell blog yesterday, but I feel compelled to add another. Our last scheduled ride was to be midnight to 6am today. [...]
21
Oct
What a ride…this has been such an amazing experience…and so, so many stories, both funny and tear jerking. Family Polka Dot, you are amazing, I’m writing this almost with tears, knowing that last night was our last night as our team riding together, but our adventure isn’t over. It’s such an honor to ride with [...]
21
Oct
First of all when riding a tiny bike on tiny tires is hard enough…. add to that fraction, Tired, Sleep Deprived, Emotional, Tense and Rush Hour traffic and These Flippin HUGE TRUCKS HALLING BUTT down these roads with Logs on them bigger then my house! We call this Clenching experiences. Not just your hands, teeth [...]
21
Oct
The Beauty. Wednesday moring as we left Jackson, MS, the day met us with dampness and clouds. This gave way to gorgeous sun as we turned on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Natchez, MS. After a quick u-turn to backtrack, there were the Conquistadors booking it along and looking strong. So strong that it was [...]
21
Oct
Hey Everyone and to all the patients, staff and family members on the 3rd floor of the GHS Cancer Center!!! We hope the sun is shining in Greenville and you all are having a fabulous day!! Danielle and Jess here for a quick update of Day 3 on the road (we have to start getting [...]
21
Oct
As the most senior of the riders I choose not to blog about the scenery, the road conditions, the inconveniences or the various incidents that generate so much laughter. I’ll leave that to the younger “electronic generation”. They do a great job. As we ride in our van for 6-8 hours a day, I constantly [...]
21
Oct
Wow! What an amazing day and ride! It was a tale of two rides. The worst & the best rides we’ve had all wrapped up in one. We started in Ferriday, LA at noon with a great transition from the Conquistadors. We rolled out right on time & were ready for an awesome ride. Well, [...]
20
Oct
I cannot believe that it has almost been 4 years since Ron and I were at the LiveStrong Challenge in Austin when we met the team, Cancervive. We were at the 5K downtown and I saw a rather large group of people wearing the same shirts with the big word “Cancervive” on them. I kept [...]
20
Oct
I didn’t realize that our 6 hour shift tonight will be our last shift on this adventure. So different from the ride 2 years ago, yet so much the same. There are such emotions that emerge when you spend such energy. It would be hard for me to conceive what emotions emerge from fighting cancer. [...]
20
Oct
Yellow, hand baskets, blow dryers, hockey injuries, backseat driving, waffle house, scones, candy, more candy, punchy drivers, nothing to see here, naked buffalos (?), backseat roller coasters, 3 way stop, 4 way stop, JUST STOP, he is ALL yours Robin, beach ball updates, car blogging, blog reading, tunes are too loud in the back, front [...]
20
Oct
We finished up an emotional ride last night and are ready for our next adventure tonight from midnight to 6am- which is entirely past my bedtime! As I was preparing for this ride, I gathered all of the necessary gear (because heaven forbid that I get cold or hungry), spent numerous hours riding a bike [...]
20
Oct
Hello everyone on the 3rd floor of the GHS Cancer Center, this ride is for you!! It is a beautiful day in Misissippi and we are traveling along in the car to meet Polka Dotay tonight at midnight somewhere in Texas ( I just sit in the way back and get out and ride when [...]
20
Oct
Here we are in the van again, heading west to our midnight transition. We again had issues to overcome… another bike tray failed, and thax means the bike can fly off the roof rack when the van is at speed. SO we hunted a local bike shop go Jackson, miss. WE came up with Indian [...]
20
Oct
As we literally bus the grove to catch the team that is TEARING IT UP- scottstrong is kickin some tail…. I am thinking about the ride we have ahead of us. I love reading the messages to the team. That keeps us going. We are all tired, stiff, sore and somewhat raw…. I am looking [...]
20
Oct
HELLO TO THIRD FLOOR at the CANCER CENTER!!!! We are doing this ride for so many people….and YOU are included!!! I have been in the treatment center like you are and look where I am now! So I hope you get to “ring that bell” very soon! I was a support driver for this ride [...]
20
Oct
So yesterday we got to ride the beautiful Nachez Trace. We met Team ScottStrong on the side of the Trace just before noon. The weather was absoutely beautiful and warm. We started out strong and continued. It was a day of several firsts. I had had my first PB&J. ( no I wasn’t a deprived [...]
20
Oct
For those of you who followed the blog last year you may remember my post “Hardest Ride of My Life.” Well, this morning’s ride was part two of that blog. As I said last year, it wasn’t my legs or the pace we were doing or hills we had to climb because our ride was [...]
20
Oct
As we pulled into transition with the Dots last night everyone came up to me to make sure I was ok. Then when we got off of the bikes with the yellow team they asked the same thing. So here is what really happened yesterday. I was short of breath on the am ride Monday [...]
20
Oct
Part 3 “Welcome to the Ham Basket” – Donna & Laurens
Posted by Kelly Vanleeuwen Published in UncategorizedPart 3 At this point in the trip, it would be easy to be, shall we say, cranky. If we were toddlers, somebody would probably be insisting that we nap right about now. After 2.5 hours sleep, Janelle and I rise from our Army-issue style cots (no kidding, we actually slept in a $30 room [...]
20
Oct
Part 2 “It’s like a Comedy of Errors” – Heather B.
Posted by Kelly Vanleeuwen Published in UncategorizedPart 2 Did I mention I just drank a giant highly caffeinated beverage? I should tell I never drink caffeine. Or rarely do I do this. So right away, I have to go. Have you ever noticed that knowing you have no place to go makes you need to? Also, I should tell you—or confess [...]
20
Oct
Team Beach Ball back in action. Our apologies for being MIA. Here’s what happened. (I should preface this by saying, we’re running on 2 hours of sleep from last night, we’re currently uncaffienatied, and we’re writing using notes from last night which were scribbled under cell phone light.) Part 1 Rewind back to 4 pm [...]
20
Oct
Ok, so here it is about 10 hours since we gave up the pavement to Team Yellow, and I heard they did great! Way to go.. hope your bare butts are holding up! LOL. Team Blue Agave has a nice break today, as we pick up the quest again tonight at midnight……. another shift in [...]
20
Oct
The Conquistadors are up and on the road headed for Transition to relieve Team ScottStrong. It has just started to sprinkle and I sit here praying ScottStrong is having an uneventful ride – especially after reading of Blue Agave’s last rotation (Siddens hope you are ok!). I have no idea what day it is. You [...]
20
Oct
I suppose one could say that riding a bike is a lot like algebra. You don’t know how hard it is until you get into it! Well, perhaps today was a day that Team Blue Agave shoulda stayed in bed! We began by having a health issue with Dustin, and had to take him to [...]
20
Oct
Three days into the adventure and we started the day thinking we’d have an easy ride on the Natchez Trace… we thought this because this stretch of road is virtually flat… First off, it must be shared that our team actually has 8 riders because we had Perry Lyles riding with us… Ironically, true to [...]
19
Oct
Team ScottStrong had a beautiful ride today. As I watched the team working together, pacelining, protecting, I really wished I was out there riding with them. But I have an important role in this operation, and that is logistics and safety. I honorably accept that role. This team has had a great adventure. We’ve been [...]
19
Oct
There has been no moon on the Natches trace that I know of. the ride has been awsome. We did a suprising 80 miles last night on the bikes and I don’t know how many in the van today. we are now in Jackson Miss. getting some much needed rest prepairing for our journey tomorrow [...]
19
Oct
Hello Everyone!! Day 2 from Danielle & Jess. “Wow, What a Ride!” As Team Conquistadors headed down the road at midnight to begin our epic 80 mile journey, the first thing we saw in front of us was a beautiful shooting star and immediately thought of Jeni from all of our training rides as she reminded [...]
19
Oct
So here we are in Tupelo, MS. Janelle and Kelly reporting in with less sleep than yesterday after making all the transitions through the night! We took on an honorary Beach Ball team member for a bit, Buddy, as he had not slept in 2 days manning the bus and we had to deliver him [...]
19
Oct
For those of you who know me, I never seem to have trouble finding words to express myself…until now. I’ve know since we left Greenville, SC that I needed to blog, but I have been unable to find the correct words. Ron wrote earlier about what a difference a year makes. I couldn’t have said [...]
19
Oct
Hats off to the Conquistadors and Scottstrong for allowing us to get such a great night sleep and sleep in this morning .. (love you guys). After an awesome huge breakfast we packed up and we’re driving to our transition point. We will have perfect weather and flat roads so we hope to throw it [...]
19
Oct
Good morning, everyone! Only have a few minutes before we head out of Nashville and down the Natchez Trace. We have the midnight to 6am shift, which was the highlight of our trip last year. I’ll try to blog later, but wanted to say hello! It’s very hard to blog when you’re driving ALL of [...]
19
Oct
WOW!!! What a little sleep does for you. I gotta try this at home. We arrived at our hotel (Harrah’s Casino Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi – really!!!) about 1 am. I was just getting minivan claustrophobia when we saw the lights in the distance. We all instantly felt like the horse seeing the barn! think [...]
19
Oct
Well, since I have not blogged as much as I would like…now seemed like the perfect time. There are no swaying vans or fighting with the 3G network to deal with. Anyways…some quick things about yesterday… We had a great second shift last night. It began at 6pm and we enjoyed some much need warmth and sushine for [...]
19
Oct
I would like to personally thank the group of people who found it enriching and self gratifying to decorate our vehicle with this fabulous color of White streamers that flowed around our vehicle. It was a treat to wake up too and frankly hysterical. Bless you for the laugh…. and when we catch the TP [...]
19
Oct
Saw about 10 of them on the Natchez Trace this morning. So 2/3 of Team Beach Ball and the Conquistadors got to start the day with ten wishes. That’s a great start to any day! The weather was beautiful this morning for the transition. No one had to get their rubdown in the freezing cold, [...]
19
Oct
Fresh off the bikes (well, maybe the better word is ripe), we are now in the van for likely the duration of the night. Wait! I mean morning! But that is ok because I am feeling great! We knocked off 80 miles when our fearless leader thought we would do well to get 50. The [...]
19
Oct
The Yellow Team rolled into Franklin around 1 a.m., full of McDonalds but missing Donna’s front wheel. Half of my hair was sticking out to the side when I woke up from my 1/2 night’s sleep to go work their kinks out. There was a seizing hamstring and lots of shoulder tension going around (among [...]
19
Oct
I am not a Nascar fan at all, as a matter of fact I have yet to pull of a conversation with anybody about Nascar that did not make me hate the sport even more. I guess it was the lack of oxygen I was getting to my head or maybe its just something about [...]
19
Oct
Day one is in the books. When I started the C3 training I was not as atttached to this ride like I was last year. I don’t know what the reason was but it just wasn’t there for me. But that all changed as I stood infront of the cancer center and introduced my oncologist [...]
18
Oct
Man this is tough. I want to be out there on the road with everyone. I want my legs to be as tired as my head. This week is always an emotional one for me and this year is no different. I am really missing Kim today and at times I have been overwhlemed by [...]
18
Oct
Hello all. Kelly here, the 3rd piece of Team Beach Ball. A reminder, our team name comes from the rotating beach ball icon on our borrowed Garmin. Who, by the way, was Aussie Lee today—British Daniel being not quite British enough for our tastes. Aussie Lee was no kinder than Daniel to us, as far [...]
18
Oct
Hi All, this isn’t Kerrie’ it’s Sheila. My first time doing an event like this and all I can say is….WOW! I felt as though I have spent the last several months preparing, and I did for the ride part of things. I wasn’t prepared for all the other great things I was going to [...]
18
Oct
Team Blue Agave is now done with day 2. We had a really good ride despite some minor setbacks. Renee and Dustin needed a bit of time off the bike….. but both were able to get back on and finish. We also had a 20 min delay because of a really bad car crash blocking [...]
18
Oct
Riding along in the car gives you lots of time to contemplate why you’ve decided to participate in a relay bike ride from Greenville, SC to Austin, TX. For me, Danielle and Donna brought up the idea to me last year during the MS Ride. My first thought was something along the lines of “yea, [...]
18
Oct
Ahhh the sweet sound of slap happy worn out cyclists! Quick update from 1/3 of Team Beach Ball here. We are transitioning in Caney Springs TN in a church parking lot, making God proud Blue Agave finally came through on that tequila tip, again making God proud The cows around here are awfully talkative. Perhaps [...]
18
Oct
Our first ride down, 3a-6am, from Ducktown, TN to Dayton(not Ohio), TN. Weather was about 15 degrees warmer than last year. Lots of fun with all my new teammates, except Jeff Berkshire. He and I are the only remaining riders from the pink team of 2009. It’s a bittersweet thing not having my peeps from [...]
18
Oct
Well our day started out with a great restful night of 2 1/2 hours of sleep @ a holiday inn express in Dayton tn. But to be quite honest, I felt prettY rested. We packed all of our stuff the night before just trying to predict just how cold it was going to be. For [...]
18
Oct
As Team ScottSTRONG is at our destination for the day & most of the night, we are chillin’ & having fun getting to know each other. Our first shift was a 3 hour shift that had us meeting Team Yellow around Ducktown, TN. Most of us got at most 2-3 hours of sleep last night [...]
18
Oct
Wow after a nice ride to TN. last night with the team and a quick 90 min nap we were off at 1am to find Team Yellow, never thought this day would come and now we need to ride…so off we went for a brisk(cold and fast to stay warm) ride thru some mountain area for our [...]
18
Oct
What a send off. One of the best gifts was having my Dad, Debbie, and the sweet young Elizabeth there to share in our beginning of another years journey from Greenville to Austin. Dad – the trip without you and Melanie this year joining us this year in Austin will be so different. I will [...]
18
Oct
This is my first year so I realy had no idea what to expect. On the drive out to Cleveland, TN last night we enjoyed the scenery, the moon, and the chatter among us. A quick dash into the hotel and a 90′ nap, then back in the van to meet Team Yellow. We were [...]
18
Oct
after getting in bed at 1:30 last night, 4 am came very quicky and with a vengence! After a quick continental breakfast at the hotel we hit the road in the dark at 6 am .. temp was 42 degrees. After a short warm up, we proceeded to climb 3 mountains.. with the second being [...]
18
Oct
Never thought… never thought that it would be this beautiful. Last year when the team climbed in the appalacians it was soooo freakin cold that I was pulled from the ride. So this year… this year I was determined to beat the mountains and stick with the team. Well…. it was more like the team [...]
18
Oct
It’s a beautiful day for a bike ride in East TN. Everyone survived that scary hairpin turn on the descent, whoop! It was wicked just driving it. We traded in our navigator, British Daniel, for Lee the Aussie. He is much more fun to listen to, now we just have to figure out how to [...]
18
Oct
(This is Chasse hi-jacking the blog) Dang, this is harder than I expected – reading the blog, following on Facebook, watching the map and NOT being with you guys this year riding to Austin!!!! This is made harder by the fact that a local breast cancer survivor is going to hospice today leaving me as [...]
18
Oct
One sift completed with three more to go. The first shift of the Conquistadors began last night promptly at 9PM on Highway 76, just outside of Clayton Georgia. From here we rode to Hiawassee, GA, Hayesville and then finsihed in Murphy, NC. Fortunately the weather was much more pleasant than the 28 degree temperatures I remember from last [...]
18
Oct
my, oh, my…. how life is fluid…. one thing about the Ride to Austin that is constant: things change… our transition point will be much closer than we thought. Our teams are a bit behind, but hopefully we can adapt and ride strong today and maybe be part of catching up….. but this is NOT [...]
18
Oct
Hey Everyone! Danielle and Jess here from Team Conquistadors! So I’m sure you are wondering what what the heck the title of our post means…well 3 hours on the bike heading into the middle of the night we can tend to get a little delerious so Disney movies pop into our heads and of course [...]
18
Oct
Ok. So, here I am, finally blogging again after a late ride and some good sleep. I’m so very thankful to all of my friends and family for the wonderful support I’ve gotten. Jay, I love you and appreciate all that you are doing so I can take part in this journey. Jason and Scott, [...]
18
Oct
Team scottstrong had a great first shift. We rode under moonlight skies in the brisk cool night air …. we transitioned with the mellow yellows..they were looking good as we located them on the winding road into tn. We located a transition spot the best we could but releived them just a tad too early. [...]
18
Oct
Team Blue Agave is up and on the road ready for day two! After a challenging ride in the dark over a couple of hills, we unwound in the van and laughed most of the way to Knoxville, TN. It is so hard to believe that after all of the adventures over the summer that [...]
18
Oct
Is still can’t believe we are here again. I have been so busy leading up to the ride that I wasn’t able to enjoy the reason we do this ride. I was trying to make sure everything was perfectly planned so the ride would go off without a hitch and I kind of lost sight [...]
18
Oct
Greetings from Dayton TN! British Daniel took us on a back road adventure on our hunt for the Holiday Inn (It definitely took me back to my college days spent in good ole Bristol TN). The counter lady was more than hospitable, giving us her family rate. Now for our ponderment of the day… how [...]
18
Oct
I am having a hard time watching everyone hop on their bikes. I really wish i was riding. I know it is best that I am not but man is it hard to watch everyone pedal off. Yesterday’s send off was amazing. I decided to stay on the bus for the Polka dots first shift. [...]
18
Oct
So our rolling beach ball Garmin icon (thanks to Brian Hill for lending it to us!) has now meandered through South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and now into Tennessee. But oh, the back roads that got us here. And oh, how we trust technology. The Garmin tells us to turn onto an unlined, unlit back [...]
18
Oct
12:33 am. Still not quite to our hotel. My right hamstring is cramping.. ouch! 8 of us stuffed go a Toyota minivan… but I put it but go perspective. Sore and tired, but I am cancer free… when I suffer, and hurt, I remember why: to fight this awful disease. Renee and Dustin are living [...]
17
Oct
Team Blue Agave just completed our first shift, 3 hours ( 6 pm to 9 pm). Meet Team Blue Agave: Dustin Retherford, Beth Rusch, Renee McCurdy, Jimmy and Heather Brehm, and myself, John Siddens. We travelled from west Seneca to about 10 miles west of Clayton, Georgia. 42 miles basically uphill. Did I mention uphill? [...]
17
Oct
Well, we got our first day on the bike out of the way. What an awesome day. Perfect sunny weather! We didn’t manage to make it the full way to where we where supposed to meet Team 2 to do our transition. But it worked out. Now we are on our way in the van [...]
17
Oct
Brrrrr! Team Beach Ball reporting from just outside Clayton, Georgia. Kelly is massaging Team Blue Agave (we are hoping for a tequila tip…) on the side of the road right outside Blackbearcreek Antiques. Hearing some ‘honk if you hate cancer’ going on as people drive by, which of course always helps with morale! Probably going [...]
17
Oct
It’s just after 8 pm and we’re in the van heading to some town in TN to find a place to catch a little shut eye before we have to get back on the bike at 6 am. Tomorrow will supposedly be our hardest leg with starting out in the dark and a log of [...]
17
Oct
The send off event was awesome. More than a hundred.spectators gathered to see us off. I was Bentley reminded about the importance of what I was doing more than once during the event. The team is learning about each other learning each others story and connection to the cause. We are all here with open [...]
17
Oct
Wow! October 17th got here a lot faster than I had anticipated! What an emotional send off – lots of laughs and lots of tears. What a tremendous honor it is to ride for the Cancer Warriors and Survivors! The body can do more than the mind thinks it can do…this statement will echo louder and louder the [...]
17
Oct
“Beach Ball Team” checking in. Everybody else has a team name, so why not us, right? This is Kelly and Janelle, and we’re being guided by British Daniel on the Garmin. Our icon is apparently a Rolling Beach Ball. Who picks these? Found a tractor supply for some much needed noise makers, cow bells! We [...]
17
Oct
At Christmas time last year a conversation started about C3P3 and how awsome it was to see all the riders leave and work as a team to Couquer Cancer. A question was asked why I didn’t do it? I replied “I don’t have a bike”….a simple answer couldn’t have changed my life anymore. Kim Shuey [...]
17
Oct
I have extra socks, warm clothes for the late nights, summer clothes for Austin and even my favorite comfy sweatpants for the long drives. It seems like we are ready. It seems like everything is in place but I know there are a few things missing. I wish Kim was here to see this. I [...]
17
Oct
Polka Dots van is ready, The food is in the van… and the kids are getting excited. I am not talkin about the kids at home… I realized last night that it is finally here. I could not sleep. Almost like the first day of school. Hmmmm. Anxiety over the cold and the ride for [...]
17
Oct
So the day has come and we will shortly embark on a journey to Austin Tx. Surely, we will all be tested along the way .. We will have obstacles and challenges to overcome. “Why are we doing this”, you ask? Simple answer: Cancer sucks! We are all committed to trying to do what we can [...]
16
Oct
As I ready myself for my 3rd journey to Austin I am reminded of the first time we ventured on this ride. We really had no clue or understanding of what would take place. When we loaded the vans on that chilly Sunday morning in October, 2008, I was told I packed way too much!!! [...]
16
Oct
I am very sad that I can not join this team this year as I had planned but I am extremely grateful for this family. Last year my Dad, Barry, met Kim the support manager aka Team Manager and they have since fallen in love and are married as of Friday October 15th 2010. This [...]
16
Oct
It’s here! The P3C3 Ride to Austin begins tomorrow! Well, the actual RIDE begins tomorrow. The preparations have been going on for months. Our team has been riding A LOT. We have all been fundraising, which honestly was harder this year than last. We have been thinking about what to pack and how we’d get [...]
16
Oct
Packed and repacked twice. Honed down stuff, but dang is my bag full… guess being,um.. large.. has its downfall! Helped outfit the vans yesterday.. just not sure how 8 people are gonna fit in a Toyota Sienna minivan.. wow… departure time now 26 hours… finally getting fired up…
16
Oct
As my 2009 team knows, I am not a fan of driving/riding on bridges. This summer, while vacationing in Yellowstone, I was reminded that I am not a fan of being on curvy mountain roads without guardrails. Can’t really explain why. I do know it is getting worse as I …hmm…get older. I can handle [...]
15
Oct
Cancer has a way of spreading fear that can fill the deepest parts of our souls. How can one person stop this from happening? I am realizing that it is a simple act of love. This C3 family that I belong to has more love and shown more love to me that it has proven [...]
12
Oct
Wow, just days before we head out to Austin. I’m just now thinking of how to keep everyone posted, as we make this incredible journey. Oh, and tell them all about the ride too! It’s been amazing just how much this ride has changed my outlook on life and allowed me to see in the [...]
12
Oct
In just a few days we will all gather on the lawn in front of the hospital. We will pack the vans, hug our families and smile for the cameras. There will be about 50 of us heading out to Austin. When we stand on that lawn we will still be 50 individuals. Each with [...]
12
Oct
In a week and half, it will be year that I decided to participate in this incredible journey I am about to begin. The 2009 riders and support had just returned home and I was up late reading through the entire blog. I couldn’t stop reading or crying or smiling. I was fairly new to [...]
12
Oct
In 5 days I leave on the P3C3 Trip. I am nervous and excited all at the same time. For the 2010 C3 trip, I have volunteered to be what is now called a Team Manager. Team Managers are a required element of making this a successful event. The Team Manager is in charge of [...]
11
Oct
So I suppose I better get packing. I leave New Hampshire in 60 hours. This year’s journey is going to be different for me. Last year I rode. I didn’t ride fast and I didn’t ride as far but I was on my bike. This year things are a bit different. My body isn’t cooperating. Guess I [...]
11
Oct
As I am writing this, I am almost finished with my commitment of raising over $5,000 to go to ongoing cancer research & treatment programs of GHS University Medical Center, Cancer Association of Anderson & the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Little did I know that even with several months, this would be such a challenge. Yes, [...]
11
Oct
I cannot believe it has been almost a year since we got off our bikes in Austin after completing another successful Challenge to Conquer Cancer. Like last year I expect the ride this year to not only be physically challenging but mentally and emotionally challenging. It is hard not to think about my dad or [...]
11
Oct
So, here I am again. My second Challenge to Conquer Cancer ride… why am I here? Why would I spend my only vacation of 2010 riding a bicycle 2000 miles? Well, just ask my mom. Or my dad. Or Carmon Powell. If you could. They are just three of the people in my world who [...]
5
Oct
I just received this from my son-in-law, a very gifted musician who plays with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC. I will be riding for Ken. “The bass I just bought was owned by Ken, former Assistant Principal Bassist of the ******* Symphony and one of my teachers. He fought melanoma for a year and [...]
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