I Rider For: Marie

I Ride For: Marie

When do you stop fighting cancer? While I am a long way from needing to answer that question for myself, Jeri and I have speculated on this many times over the years. Is it disease-related, physical age-related, or both? Is it quality or quantity of life? And what about loved ones? Do we need permission one way or another? While I have my own opinions, I don’t KNOW the answers to any of these questions.

What I do KNOW is 82 year old Marie is just STARTING her fight with breast cancer. I know what my treatment has done to my body in just 5 weeks, and my stuff is nothing compared to what those going through breast cancer have to endure. I do not know the answers to this philosophical questions, but I know Marie is a warrior.

Marie, you are the first 80 year old starting treatment I have ever ridden for. (My guess is I’ve done about 200 of these flags over the years.) At times last week when I was feeling crabby and down, I did think of you as I touched this flag and tried to suck it up. It did not always work, but the flag was always there. I hope you come out of this tunnel soon and get back to the life you want to live. I’ll keep pedaling and thinking of you.

SHINE!

The Road/Trainer Rider