Guest Blog by Connie Reiss "YOU SHOULD RIDE"
When a friend told me “you should ride the PMC”, I did. I rode the PMC for the first time in 2015 motivated by guilt and joy.
Guilt: I’m a survivor. Sometimes I wear the guilt like a 100lb weight vest. Two completely different kinds of cancer, caught early. God are you serious? I’m still here? Me, of all people? And so many kind, remarkable and beautiful children, mothers, wives, husbands, fathers, siblings, friends, weren’t as lucky. I’m still here? And my stepfather, a gifted physician, who made a real difference in people’s lives, lost the pancreatic cancer battle at the young age of 50? Why am I still here? I better ride, because I am able, unlike so many others.
Joy: I’m a survivor! I’m still here. Two completely different kinds of cancer, caught early. Celebration! Elation! God, you are serious! I better ride because I can! I can! No better expression of joy than a good ole-fashioned bike ride! Celebrate your beating heart. Pump it up. Let it show off a little. It’s alive! I’m alive! I am now no longer a survivor, as I’ve heard it said, I am a “Thrivor”!
My team, Team Brentwheels, rides to support childhood neuroblastoma research. This wasn’t the particular cancer that I survived, but who the heck cares? Cancer doesn’t discriminate why should I? Because of Team Brent I have learned that “we all rest in the shade of trees we did not plant.” In the past 10 years Team Brent and the PMC have helped to considerably improve the survival rate in certain kinds of childhood neuroblastoma. And that fact folks is Living Proof that we all can make a difference. This Living Proof soothes my guilt. This Living Proof is my joy!
And so, in February of 2015, as I recovered from surgery and finished my last rounds of chemotherapy, my dear friend, an 8-year PMC vet, knowingly advised “you should ride”. I didn’t quite understand it then, but he prescribed “should ride” as a potential cure. The RX? The gift of giving to reenergize a trampled spirit and the commitment to the miles to encourage recovery and strength. That wise sage also knew once I road my first I’d be back again in 2016, and likely a PMC’er for life! LIFE! What a wonderful word.
If I’m alive I WILL RIDE!
Thank you dear friend. Thank you.
