Well today we will be getting ready to pack up and head to Philadelphia for LiveSTRONG.  This summer has been quite a journey.  On June 19th when I had my accident I didn't think I would be able to do Livestrong more less ride my bike for months.  But here I am and ready to ride.  While I was on the couch this is the video I watched a lot and it contains one quote that has helped me make it through:

"Its about doing what you set out to do."

Go Marlene's Misfits!

Jimmy

It's about going for it......



Are you ready to go for it? 

Refueled

Yesterday I was able to head back out on my bike for a real ride (56 miles)  since my accident on June 19th.  I decided I wanted to go back to where I had my accident and thank the guy who helped Nicole and I that day.  As I began to ride I was very nervous and honestly a little scared.  If you have taken a nasty spill on a bike you know that it can be daunting to get back in the saddle.  As my nerves let up and I was noticing that my wrist wasn't hurting too bad I started to think about all the people I needed to thank for helping me out while I was laid up on the couch.

First of all I want to thank my wife who cared for me hand and foot for two months.  Without her I would've been helpless.  I am sorry for all the complaining and crankiness.  Also I want to thank Casey and Jason for coming over and cutting my grass this summer.  Not a fun job when its 90 plus outside with ridiculous humidity.  Also would like to thank all the friends and family that have sent me get well wishes.  Every little bit helped and without you I would not be where I am today.  

So as I rode today I could hear everyone whispering in my ears.  Telling me to move forward and to not give up.  So when I head out on my ride for the Livestrong Challenge on the 22nd I want to let everyone know you will be with me.

Each of you fuel my engine

Evan

His bike is the written and spoken word.  What is your bike?

What can you do?



Be informed...Be inspired...Be involved.

Sean

With one lung he climbed Everest and became the only cancer survivor to do so.  But this is only part of the story...

For Sean it was about screaming hope.



Be informed...Be inspired...Be involved.

Livestrong 2009 Reflections

First let me extend my deepest thanks to those who donated and or supported me in any way for my Livestrong ride. Your gratitude will not be forgotten. As for Andrea and Christian you once again proved to me you are truly remarkable people and I consider myself lucky to call you two my friends.




So instead of giving you a boring play by play description of the weekend I have decided to share and reflect a little. Go beyond the details and let you inside my head. I know scary but stick with me.

To tell this story properly we have to start on mile 21. This is were I was faced with the biggest hill of the day. Actually it was the biggest hill I have seen on a bike. Immediately feelings of failure came over me. For some reason I became very scared that I wasn't going to make it up. Then as I started up I could see people getting off their bike and walking up the hill. As I kept climbing I was so tempted to just quit and and walk it up. As I shifted down to the granniest of all granny gears I refused to stop even if that meant I could pass out. When you reach that level of pain and suffering you learn a lot about yourself. I learned that I have more fight in me than I thought. Although that is not because of any hard training schedule or anything like that. No it was the countless stories I have heard of or read in the last year after committing to this ride. Stories of people who go through worst pain everyday just because of this disease we call Cancer. I also thought of the namesake of our team Mrs Marlene. Although I have never met her in person I feel like I know her enough to say she was a fighter. So as I drew near to the crest of the hill and got out of the saddle to push over I felt calm. Weird but as my legs went numb and then I knew I had made it over. She gave me the fight I needed to win that hill.

So as the ride progressed I made some friends and chatted a little. And as the finish line approached something very unexpected happen to me. I became very emotional. Yeah I cried, there I said it. Reason? Well ever since I lost my Dad 12 years ago to a heart attach I promised myself I would do something in his honor. Unfortunately I am very lazy so I never got around to it. Even though he didn't pass from Cancer I quietly dedicated this ride to him. So as I crossed the finish line it took everything I had to hold back my emotion. So Dad that was for you, thank you for being my Dad, my Father, and my friend.

So in closing one more thing I want to say so its official, yes it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Mentally and physically. So if you think you are up for the challenge let me know and we can add you to the team for 2010.

Livestrong.

Thanks Tracey

This is an email Nicole recieved from an old high school friend responding to a Fundraising email Nicole sent out. It puts things in perspective once again. Thanks Tracey for sharing your story.

Nicole,

It is good to here from you. I have received several of your e-mails and wondered how you are doing. I rode in a bike ride back in 2006 out in Lake Tahoe Nevada. It was for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation. It was a wonderful experience and the lake and mountains were beautiful. How do I make a donation? Can I send it to you through the mail? Could you give me your address? We have a very special friend from churhc who is battling lung cancer and it is stage 4. Four months ago they gave him eight months to live. He will have his last chemo treatment next week. He is 66 years old and someone I look up to so much. His faith is amazing. He has not given up yet. I wish Ken luck and hope he has a wonderful experience.

God Bless,
Tracey

Fight For Susan

Well today yet anothor reminder that cancer is still very real and claiming lives everyday. Last evening Susan Nelson lost her battle with Cancer. She is the wife of Eldon Nelson aka Fat Cyclist. I read his blog everyday and have learned what being a true fighter is all about. His love and dedication to his wife and her fight is an example to all of us. Today she may have passed but her fight will live on forever.

Below is the post from yesterday on Fatcyclist.

Don’t Say She Lost:

Susan died tonight (August 5) at 7:25pm. It was a hard, long day, and Susan fought right to the end, for much longer than anyone would have thought she could.

My mom, my sisters Kellene and Jodi, and my Brother-in-Law Rocky were all here to support my family as Susan passed away.
I’ll have more to say soon, but consider this. Susan inspired me to expand the focus of my blog from nothing but bike-related jokes to a serious and pitched fight against cancer.

Then she inspired 500+ of you to join Team Fatty, the largest LiveStrong Challenge Team there has ever been.
And Team Fatty has raised close to more than $500,000 — a record amount.

Susan’s part in the battle is over, but she didn’t lose. She led the charge. She showed the rest of us how to fight: with determination, focus, creativity, and outrageous endurance.

Now it’s up to the rest of us to Fight Like Susan

Cancer Climber

Fight For Your Right To Live

I don't have much to say about this but how stunned I was to hear this news. Beastie Boys have been a favorite of mine since seventh grade when a friend made me a tape copy of Licensed to Ill. Now I don't want to eulogize Adam because I am sure that he will have a full recovery.


Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Has Cancer - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News

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Repost: Laugh, Love, and Cry

On March 4, 1993, Jim Valvano was awarded the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the first annual ESPY Awards. Following is his acceptance speech




I can't believe it has been fifteen years since I watched that speech on ESPN. It moved me then, and it still does today. I have never forgot the quote at the end:

"Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever".

The Jimmy V Foundation

Why?

I Am Pissed!

I must confess I don't normally pick fights anymore. Those days are long past me or as it seemed until I met someone who deserves a nice asre whipping. Someone that I am going to hunt down every time I go to the gym, every time I get on my bike, every time I hit the alarm off at 4:50am.

You know who you are.



You wanna join my fight here is the LIVESTRONG Challenge link.

Or if you wanna join the team I am on just click the Livestrong box in the upper right corner of page.

Strong Words