Jaimey Buckley's Ride
Why I Ride ...
Keeping our eyes on the prize.
Being healthy, exercising and eating right has always been a priority and getting a physical was on my list of things to do. Why my nurse practitioner decided to go against the grain and test my PSA earlier than age recommended (50) is a question none of us have an answer for - including her. Her decision saved my life. Most are familiar with the events that took over our lives in 2008. But what you may not know is the emotion and determination that had gripped our family. After the initial phone call informing me my PSA level was elevated, a biopsy followed showing 6 of 12 cores were 85-95% cancerous. Pure shock, fear and confusion crippled us. We were not ready for a fight, we didn't see it coming and we had no idea how to handle it. Quickly, we armed ourselves with knowledge. We read everything, we wrote everything down, and we reached out to friends, family and coworkers for advice, love and strength. Slowly, the fog began to lift and we saw what we needed to see - a mountain that had my life at the top of it. We started to climb, armed with information and a blanket of love and support - always keeping our eyes on the prize.
As I approach my one year anniversary, I want to reflect on how appreciative I am regarding what I've been through and what I have in my life - good health, an enormous circle of loving family & friends, great kids & an awesome wife is just a short list of my blessings. My surgery was successful (albeit the cancer was more pervasive and advanced than expected and doctor confirmed we "dodged a bullet"), my recovery was on target (I had some unexpected complications which resulted in a med flight!) and I am relieved to say, cancer is no longer my mountain. I was fortunate to be aligned with great doctors and had a great outcome. One of the most influential people in my life - my Aunt Alice, lost her fight with cancer when I was in college. She was responsible for getting me through some challenging times in high school & was instrumental in seeing me succeed at Xaverian Brothers High School. She helped shape who I am today and the success I have. I have a lot of close friends & family that have battled cancer - sadly, not all have been successful.
As many of you know, I have a strong passion for biking & the PMC is something that always appealed to me - now, it has taken a personal meaning. Every dollar the PMC raises goes directly towards the fight on cancer (The Jimmy Fund / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). So many people have helped me and my family through a very trying time. I would like to give back and raising money to help fight cancer is the best way I know how. Without the research and dedication that has already been done, my outcome may have been different. No one should have to face climbing a fearful, uncertain challenge this size.
Please donate - support the fight on Cancer and help us save more lives. Thank you.
Jaimey's PMC Total
$0
Goal
$5,000
My Progress
My Rides
| 2009 | $6,459 | Sturbridge to Family Finish at Ptown (2-Day) |
