Helping a friend

[Tupac]

I have a friend who is doing a bike race for cancer research. Here is what he posted on facebook:

Any parent will tell you there are few things in life worse than having a sick child. And if a parent could, they would gladly switch places and fight the disease or illness for them.

In 2010, after a long and stressful week in the hospital trying to figure out why our daughter wouldn’t stop vomiting, a bomb was dropped on our family. Abby was diagnosed with a 3 centimeter 4th Ventricular Anaplastic Ependymoma. Brain Cancer.

After a successful surgery to remove the tumor, Abby underwent 6 weeks (30 treatments) of proton beam radiation at Mass General to kill any remaining Cancer cells. During that time, we learned more about cancer than anyone should have to know. The number of different types of cancer, the various treatments, their effects, but most importantly, the toll this terrible disease takes on the patients and their families. It’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

People ask us often how Abby is doing. She’s doing great. Abby is a beautiful, happy, healthy, and feisty little girl. She loves Hello Kitty, Princesses, singing, dancing, drawing, anything pink, and her big brother Christo. Aside from the (now barely visible) scar on the back of her neck from surgery, you’d never know she has Cancer. I say “has” instead of “had” because she is not cured, even after surgery and radiation. She has periodic (on a 4 month schedule right now) MRIs to scan her brain and spine for any signs of recurrence. She will have those MRIs for the rest of her life, or until a real cure is found.

Last year, a friend of the family rode the Pan Mass Challenge in Abby’s honor, raising over $7,000. I was touched by her journey, especially the stories of her ride and how much Cancer survivors and their families appreciated her efforts, both on the bike and prior to the ride when she worked tireless to raise that money. After her ride, I decided it was time for me to stop simply writing checks to others who were fundraising, get off my ass, get involved, and make a real difference myself.

So this August, I will join 5,500 cyclists from all over the world raising money to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research. I have committed to raise a minimum of $4,300. I can’t fight Abby’s cancer for her, but I can ride 192 miles and raise money for research so that fewer children, parents, and family members have to go through our family’s fight against cancer.

I ride for the day Abby is cured, cancer is cured, and we can all stop riding.

Please click here if you'd like to donate to my ride:

http://www.pmc.org/profile/AR0139

Just wanted to share that with yall 

[Shuffler]

I used to ride in the Houston TX to Austin TX ride for MS. Two day ride and about 90 miles a day. The Houston Eye Bank ride 100 miles in one day. The Lung Association ride from Houston to San Antonio 2 day.... first day 106 miles, second day 90 miles.

[mthrockmor]

I used to ride in the Houston TX to Austin TX ride for MS. Two day ride and about 90 miles a day. The Houston Eye Bank ride 100 miles in one day. The Lung Association ride from Houston to San Antonio 2 day.... first day 106 miles, second day 90 miles.

I am thinking of doing a ride or walk for our work/organization. We serve students within the roughest portions of inner cities. Likely going to do something this summer. Mostly about PR as opposed to raising serious cash. Got to take the "unions" head on!

Boo