Challenge to Conquer Cancer - Cycling Relay to Austin, TX » Joe Julian

The Journey Revisited

Joe Julian — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:00:28 +0000

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 last year. This year we all had the honor of meeting her husband here in Austin. He and his friend joined us on the walk/run. This year, our team’s warrior and a special human being, Jerry Scroggins,was one of our honored guests. I had the honor and privilege of pushing Jerry’s wheel chair for a good portion of the 3-mile walk. It was an exhilariting and emotional experience for me when Jerry walked across the finish line and received his yellow rose, symbolic of a cancer survivor. Our other cancer survivors and warriors were equally impressive. My dear friends, this is what our ride is all about. Each of us is continually touched by the emotion that permeates the entire event and its participants. It’s something that you cannot explain, it must be experienced. I thank God daily my immediate family and I have been spared from this dreaded disease. As I’ve stated numerous times, I choose to participate because I can and I wish to honor and memorialize many of my relatives, friends, and classmates.
Again, it’s not about the ride but the journey. To all of our C3 warriors and all cancer survivors, God Bless You and continue to LIVESTRONG.
Tomorrow I will participate in the Ride for Roses with over 4,000 other cyclists, many of whom, are cancer survivors. It’s sure to be another emotional experience.
Monday we return home and take with us another year of emotions, tears and cheers.
The ride and the weekend will have ended but the journey will continue.
“Our third C3 ride a great success,
Cheers to us all, by God we’ve been blessed.”
JoeJ

The Conquistadors Conquer the Challenge

Joe Julian — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 02:32:10 +0000

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 got to meet him. Once again, the reason I ride was exhibited in the emotion we shared.

On Saturday we will all partricipate in a 5K walk. Jerry may not be asble to walk 3 miles but he has my commitment that I will push him in a wheelchair if necessary. This is what we do and who we are.

I thank God for giving me the health to perform this feat and my wife and children for their continual support.

I also wish to thank all of my supporters for their contributions that enabled me to participate in this worthwhile cause.

I’d like to give a special “Shout out” to Scott Palmer of Murrell’s Inlet, SC. Scott is also a cancer survivor, a cyclist and a real warrior. LIVESTRONG Scott!! I hope to ride with again in the near future.

Joe J

The Ride, The Challenge, The Emotion

Joe Julian — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:45:28 +0000

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 marvel at my teammates (most of whom are younger than my own children) playing with their Blackberrys, Ipods, Ipads, Droids, etc. I remind them regularly that I did my college physics calculations on a slide-rule. Nevertheless, I REALLY did stay in a Holiday Inn last night.
Thus far we’ve had three safe rides. Yesterday our ride covered 80 miles and included the end of the Natchez trace and an exhilirating ride across the Mississippi River, from Mississippi to Louisiana.
I was fortunate to have both Buddy and Bob, our two mechanics, that decided to ride with us, coaching me throught the ride.
To me the ride remains about the journey and those we honor and memorialize. I personally remain firmly entrenched in this mission and objective.
I ride for the many relativers, friends and neighbors that have contributed to my efforts and for the 87 people whom I honor and memorialze. Their names appear on my bike tag and on the back of a special T-shirt I wear.
The purpose of why I ride was never more apparent than an experience I had yesterday morning. As Buddy and I were riding down the Natchez Trace, with his voice cracking from emotion. He told me about his wife Penny, one of our warriors and a cancer survivor. Although it was still dark I could not see the tears in his eyes but I could hear the emotion in is voice. Buddy was very candid in his praise for her friendship, strength, spirit and resolve in her battle. This is the reason that we ride, for Penny and the others that we honor and memorialize.
Father time will certainly affect how much longer I can continue to be a rider. Let us NEVER lose sight of the “REASON WE RIDE”. The ride represents a CHALLENGE to each and every one of us for many different, then again the same reasons. I firmly believe “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass it is about learning to dance in the rain”.
Today we’re off at noon for the Conquistadors last six-hour ride One of the teams will be riding into Austin this evening. Today, in riding with my teammates, throughout the route I will remind myself of those I honor and memorialize. I will continually reflect on the fact that the challenge the rides present to me are pale in comparison to the pain and suffering endured by those affilcted by this dreaded disease. AUSTIN HERE WE COME.
Joe J

Another Opening Another Show

Joe Julian — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:02:41 +0000

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 year. There were a number of hills but navigating them just afford me more time to contemplate why we do this and say a few prayers for my many honorees and those I memorialize. It was a good ride that we all and we all enjoyed. After transitioning we drove to Cleveland, TN where we grabbed rooms at a Fairfield Inn and got some much needed rest. The experiences one has on a trip like this are very memorable. This morning I met a man and his wife in the hotel lobby and we began talking about what we were doing for Cancer. The man pulled a twenty oput of his wallet and said I’d lioke to make a cash contribution in the name of my wife’s aunt, who has terminal cancer. I gladly accepted the donation and assured him that her name would be put on a honoree maget and placed on our van. Our purpose was again made very clear.

Tonight we begin our 6-hour shifts and our first begins at midnight tonight We’ll ride until 6AM Tuesday morning. Hopefully it will all be on the Natchez Trace Race Parkway. The show goes on and the emoptions continue to run very high. I wish to again thank all of my contributors that made it possible for to participate in this cause.

Joe

LIVESTRONG TO ME MEANS TO CHALLENGE MYSELF FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS

Joe Julian — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:12:27 +0000

Another C3 ride has been completed and we all continue to reminisce over the cheers and tears that made the experience so memorable. No one has been more moved by the experience than the group’s oldest rider, me.
Last year, as a support driver, I made a personal commitment that at 70 years of age, I would do what had to be done to participate as a rider. With the help of my personal inspiration, Jeni Schumacher, a rider and cancer survivor, I committed to weight loss and a physical fitness program that included three spinner classes a week. It certainly paid off as I completed all assigned shifts of the C3 bicycle relay to Austin and the Livestrong Challenge.
It was an experience I will never forget. When asked why, at your age do you do this? I simply respond, “I can because there but for the grace of God go and I am inspired by our cancer survivor riders and warriors, who choose to LIVESTRONG.
On the ride, the most demanding time for me was riding on the Natchez Trace Parkway from midnight to 6AM. During this 6-hour period we rode in Tennessee, Alablama and Mississippi. Throughout the night, with each cycle of the crank I paid homage to those that I honored and memorialized. Unfortunately both lists continue to grow and some that were honored last year are now memorialized and new names have to be added to the honoree list.
I was emotionally moved when upon completion of this six-hour shift, at 6AM, virtually every member of the Pink team, who was releiving us, gave me their heartfelt congratulations and stated they felt I was an inspiration to each of them.
While I certainly appreciated their support, the real inspiration comes from those that have been afflicted by this dreaded disease. In particular I ride for fellow riders and support. who have become dear friends. Please excuse me if I omit someone but Laurens, Dustin, Jeni, Sally, Chasse, Renae, Keith, Kathy, Susan and Don, “This ride’s for you”. You have my love and respect and I pray that God blesses each of you with health and the resolve to perservere.
I also plan to LIVESTRONG and if God continues to grant me good health, be assured I will ride with you again next year.
Always remember “Yesterday is a cancelled check, Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is Cash….spend it wisely.”

Joe J.

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

YOU CAN DO IT…..I DID IT

Joe Julian — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:46:58 +0000

To all of my relatives and friends who supported my eforts this year and particularly to those I honor and memorialize. I DID IT.

Obviously at 70 years old I must admit I was a little apprehensive about having to ride 6-hours, midnight to 6AM.

Riding through the night down the Natchez Trace Parkway, along woth Milt, Judy and Kathy we rode in three states. (Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi)

Other members of my team will undoubtedly give you many of the ride’s details, I just want to simply say again, ”Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learbning to dance in the rain.” Although the weather wes dry by cold, I did “Dance in the rain”. It was an exhilariting experience and my apprehension was quickly overcome with the passing of each hour. For those that I honor and those that I memorialize, “This Joe’s for you”.

As we rode into the transition point with the Pink team, I was overcome with emotion by the well wishes from their entire team. Thank you for the continued support and encouragement that you give me.

As I finished I prayed and thought, “Surely 6 hours on my bike, in the darkness of night, is much easier than chemo and/or radiation.”

Now it’s off to Louisiana for our first daylight ride, tomorrow, 6Am to noon.

Thank you Jeni, I know the Polka Dot ribbions you put on our van had me in mind. Love Ya!!

JOE J.

Another opening another show

Joe Julian — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:25:46 +0000

In the hills of northern Georgia where the Appalachian Trail crosses Highwayn 76, the White team )Joe, Milt, KAthy and Judy began their first leg of the Challengte to Conquer Cancer.

We were all bundled up to brave the 30 degree temperature. Of we went into the darkness of night in honor of and in memory of our fridns
and relatives. This is truly a great experinece. With my feet getting colder with each pedal stroke and my fingers freezing I kept on. Saying Saying prayers along the way for each of those I honored and memorialzed, I kept reminding myself that since God has thus far spared me from this dreaded disease, this was my tribute to them.

I never realized how cold 30 degrees could be at 10 o’clock in the evening. The bus finally caught up to us and I decided that since wisdom comes with age, I should put on my shoie covers top prevent my feet from getting frostbite.

A little refresyment, a potty break and we were off again. We slid through Hiawassee, GA and on into Hayesville, NC. With each turn of the crank we were getting closer to the witching hour of midnight the end of our first shift. Team Yellow flew by us in thier van shouting words of encouragement and they sped to our transition. The flasing light of our trusty van drive Don was kept in constant sight. Another mile and we are there. Here they are in Murphy, NC. We’ve finished the first leg. I’m little “Tipsy” but Ruben, our trusted EMT, helps me to the vsan gives me a couple of cookies and some candy anmd I’m back to full strength. This was for Chris Force our warrior
Tonight we ride from midnight to 6AM tomorrow. Hopefully the good Lord will give us a little warmer weather.

Joe Julian- Team White ,..ALL IN FOR THE CANCER FIGHT.

Words from the ‘senior citizen ambassador’

Joe Julian — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:06:32 +0000

I can’t believe that in only five (5) days we’ll be off on the second annual Challenge to Conquer Cancer Bicycle Relay to Austin Texas.

As the senior citizen ambassador of the riders (for those I haven’t told…I’m 70) I dedicated this past year to getting in both mental and physical condition to be a rider. Last year I volunteered as a support driver and did the Ride for the Roses in Austin. The entire week-long experience was truly one of the most inspirational experiences I’ve had since our children were born.

Although I’m not the fastest or strongest rider (most could be my sons or daughters) I’m inspired by the passion, dedication and enthusiasm consistently demonstrated by the entire team.

We’re are all riding for individual reasons and for the same reason………..to honor and memorialize relatives and friends and further develop an awareness of this dreaded disease and in the words of the late Jimmy Valvano, “Never Give up”.

Last year, when we arrived in Austin, I met Rob Dempsey who, with the help of Jeni Schumacher achieved a physical condition and weight loss that was incredible. At that time I was 69 years old and weighed close to 280 pounds. I mentioned to Jeni that if she could do what she did for Rob, she could sure help me. I was determined to make the effort and condition myself to be an integral part of this year’s C3 riders’ team. With Jeni’s counsel, as a “Y” employee, and her encouragement, I’ve been participating in a physical fitness program, including three spinner classes a week, since last November. I’ve lost 45 pounds and have significantly increased my cycling efficiency.

I’m repeatedly asked by our friends, why at 70 I choose to do this. I simply respond, “I can because there but for the grace of God go I and to honor and memorialze my many relatives and friends whose pain and suffering gives me the inspiration to make the effort.”

It’s my honor and privilege to be able to participate with this dedicated group of individuals in this week long event.

I extend a word of personal gratitude to Ron & Jennifer Jerina for their tireless efforts in making this event a reality and of course to my “personal inspiration”, Jeni Schumacher.

Thank you all for allowing me to participate.

I’m confident that God will watch over us and ensure us of a safe and trouble-free week. GODSPEED

JOE JULIAN

Welcome to Austin

Joe Julian — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:21:01 +0000

I’m not here to talk about bushes, roadkill, gravel roads or cold weather. Let me say congratulations to everyone. Welcome to Austin, Texas. You are all truly an inspiration to your individual and collective causes. AMEN. Talk to you later. King Joe

Ride to Austin

Joe Julian — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:39:51 +0000

I’d like to thank all involved for putting this ride together. It’s been great meeting so many of you that have the interest in riding, the perserverence to have conquered your illness and the passion you have for this worthwhile cause. Most of you are young enough to be my son or daughter. Nevertheless, I always look forward to the opportunity to “act your age”. I’m truly looking forward to an exciting and fun-filled week.

At my age, any list of those memorialized or honored is long and distinguished. My involvement in the Palmetto Peloton Project and now the Challenge to Conquer Cancer is for each and every one of them and of course you, and your loved ones, our warriors.

I first rode the Palmetto Peloton Project in 2005. At 66, with an artificial; hip, I opted to do the metric century. Two-thirds of the way through I was having tire problems and Kevin sent me my personal SAG/mechanic. Virtually everyone had finished except me. I was riding a Hy-bird bike at the time and never realized what 62 miles in the northern Greenville hills required. Nevertheless, throughout the ride I repeatedly reminded myself of the pain and suffering that those afflicted with this dreaded disease, had and/or were enduring. My agony, compared to theirs was insignificant. I continued on. I was the last one through each SAG stop. My wife had been waiting for me for some time, since I told her I would be finished in about 4 1/2 hours. At one point Kevin asked her if she was sure that I was “all right out there”. My wife, June, romantically responded by saying “He’s either going to finish or die out there. He’ll never quit”. She was absolutely correct. I would never quit because of those, on whose behalf, I was riding. Everything had been packed up except a couple of chicken sandwiches and a few bottles of water, saved for me. Six and on-half hours later I came rolling in to the cheers of my wife and Lisa . As they say, “It’s not how fast you ran but that you finished the race” I can’t explain the exhiliration I felt coming down Broad St. knowing that what I had just accomplished was not for me but for everyone that I honored and memorialized.

I’ve continued to be an integral part of this cause and this year has been no different. Unfortunately each year my list requires that many, who I honored, have to be memorialized and new names have to be added to my list of honorees.

This year for example we lost three who had been previous honorees. One was very dear friend and past neighbor. We intended to visit her in Schenectady, NY, on our recent vacation. Unfortunately she passed two days before we arrived. Her son currently lives in Houston and will be joing us for the Livestrong Challenge, in Austin, on Sunday, October 25th.

Once again my sincere appreciation to all of you that organize, support and participate in this worthwhile cause. I also extend my heartfelt respect and admiration for all of you that have battled this dreaded disease. I’m confident that ultimately, God will have a special treat for you.

I’m honored and humbled to share this Ride to Austin’s preparation and experience with each of you. I look forward to the continuation of our friendship and mutually rewarding relationship.

Sincerely: Joe Julian