So that was it...

So that was our ride. Many people have mentioned that they appreciate the insight into what goes into training, so I figured you'd all be interested in what we saw & felt (sorry if it went on & on). But I don't think I've ever really mentioned why, or who we ride for. For some reason, it's hard for us to broadcast such a personal matter. However, we are torn between honoring those we know & love, and not invading their privacy. We may take a different direction next year. We may have names attached to us somehow (I'm soliciting ideas, for you creative folks I know). If we carry these names around with us in our heads & hearts, perhaps we should share them with the world, since these are the people that have caused us to seek out the PMC. I know that reading the names on road signs, on the back of people's jerseys, or seeing their pictures provides a lot of motivation during the tougher parts of the ride. It helps keep us focused on the big picture. And maybe its our turn to help other people out in that regard.

My ma had cancer when I was in elementary school. For some reason, this is a deeply personal matter for me, and I don't discuss it much. She's a survivor, and has been in remission for way more than 10 years - so she is considered to be 'cancer free'. Ken's uncle Richard passed away in 2005 just around PMC time, and due to the timing its hard not to think of him almost constantly throughout the ride. And Papa lost his battle in the fall of 2004, and I cannot forget the conversation we had with Papa's son about Papa's last moments, nor do I want to forget. We have countless other friends and family members who have fought their own battle - some, like my mother's best friend (my surrogate aunt) Ruth, didn't make it. Others did, and are now living proof. Regardless, the older we get, the list gets longer. And it needs to stop.

But then there is the future. Cancer seems to run in families - what will happen to Ken & I, or our sisters, or our nieces, or our future kids, as our stories play out? Genetics play a huge factor in your chances of developing cancer. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one way of possibly preventing the development of some cancers, or will create strong base from which to fight. So we ride to stay in shape & keep healthy. We ride for the people yet to be diagnosed. At some point during their lives, 1 out of 2 men and 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer. The chances are not good- it will keep happening to people we know, although we don't know who. It's just not acceptable. Ken & I figure that we can do two things: we can live in fear, or we can try to do something & ride in hope. We choose to ride. And we'll keep riding as long as we can. Ken even mentioned that he saw 2 pregnant women on the ride.

So while we ride in memory of those who have lost their battles, or in honor of those who are now living strong, we are also riding for our future, and for that of the next generation. Our kids. Our future selves, our loved ones. Or someone that we don't even know - people yet to be born, people we'll never even meet. We ride because we can. It's the only thing we can do.