Hi all! Day three has begun, but I am going to go over some highlights from yesterday first. Aside from the camaraderie and amazing stories shared during this ride, there is also so much beautiful scenery to be seen and historical landmarks to take in.
During the American Revolutionary War, Poughkeepsie was spared from battle and became the 2nd capital of New York after Kingston was burned by the British.
A classic Empire State Ride Greg-selfie in front of signal station 196 of the New York New Haven and Hartford Railroad.
Here’s something really awesome that Greg passed along to me. Above are the detailed stats from yesterday’s ride. It shows a total ascent of 2,526 ft, which is incredibly impressive! Greg covered over 76 miles yesterday- Way to go!
Now… onto day three! In case you missed the tracking link, here it is once more: https://livetrack.garmin.com/session/c4ddd1f2-f386-4da1-acfb-4e8d4041e886/token/75C3A6E568BF5055BE5E607EC4B5AE82
Again, Greg was up in time to catch the sunrise, today from Rhinebeck! Greg has shared with me that today is the day with the most climbing. He is beginning to feel sore at this point in the journey, and I’m sure as everyone knows with this heat wave going on- its HOT. Let’s continue to lift his spirits and cheer Greg on and encourage him through his ride!
The orange arrows are how riders navigate if they don’t have a computer. They put them out every morning and pick them up in the afternoon. Pretty neat!
Today’s rest stop had PB&J and PB& Nutella sandwiches…
… And ice water soaked towels for the riders.
Today I want to invite anyone who has been following along with Greg’s journey to share stories in the replies of how cancer has affected your lives. Family, friends or loves ones.
My mother courageously and valiantly fought colon cancer for over 4 years. Even while she was going through chemotherapy and surgeries she continued to push through and stay positive. She was always there for her family even when times were tough for her. Unfortunately she lost her battle on 4/1/2020. She is missed every day. Watching the finish line and hearing the stories of survivors is so awe inspiring. I can’t wait until Saturday! Greg is an inspiration and this cause is amazing! We are all so proud of him!!
Margaret Nagle 8/10/1943-4/1/2020
Forever loved and missed
Keri Topf
Thank you so much for sharing Keri!
Wiping my tears as I type. And pushing down the “survivor’s guilt” that rears its ugly head at times like this. Times where there are those who have suffered so much more potentially reading my story. Those who can rightfully remind me that I never actually had cancer.
Well, here goes nothing. I sit typing this reply as 41-year-old “previvor” wo has been in “surgical menopause” since my early 30s and wearing prosthetic breasts over my scarred chest while contemplating the overwhelming hold the “C” word has over all of us.
It connects us ALL.
We lose our loved ones to it. We lose ourselves sometimes, too. We lose what we thought life would be like. But we keep pushing on. We have to.
I am utterly amazed and humbled to be able to follow Greg along on this journey- and hear the stories others share. This is larger than us all- and this movement has the makings of the largest war ever fought for humanity. We will all win this battle. We will win this. Together. I feel it in my bones. So a huge thank you goes out to all involved. Thank you all for doing this. This movement is amazing!
On to my story: I hail from the St. Louis, MO area and have cancers on all sides of my family tree- rare ones mostly. My father was almost lost several times to an extremely rare form of bladder cancer- only found in people with exposure to specific chemicals. He survived after much suffering- and still fights through the aftermath of all the surgeries, scarring and constant infections that will plague him the rest of his life. He taught me persistence and patience.
All grandmothers and grandfathers, most aunts and uncles, cousins young and old, and most family friends have all fought their own battles. Some we lost. Some survived. All are forever changed.
My grandmother and mother both had developed aggressive breast cancers. Grandma in her late 60s. Grandma has since passed on, but not from her cancer. She fought it and won. She taught me to ride out the bad with a smile on your face and be grateful for what you have.
My mother had the same beast cancer as well and she is still with us. She taught me that being stubborn can be a blessing- NEVER give up! After mother’s diagnosis in her late 50s the doctors pleaded that all three of her daughters get genetically tested for the BRCA1 mutation- the same specific rare gene mutation my mother was positive for.
I was in my later 20s at the time, with three very young kids, and despite my previous four years of breast lump scares, constant surveillance, and a biopsy later, I was NOT ready to face this beast. I couldn’t bear it. I was too young, and this was too heavy.
Over the next couple of years as my mother fought and healed from her cancer and all the surgeries, she pleaded with me to take it seriously. For the children. She was right, I needed to process this. I refused to be a victim of willful ignorance any longer. I dug deep into the research of what having this mutation meant and I got myself tested.
I tested positive.
There I was, now in my early 30s. Positive for the same rare mutation of BRCA1 that my mother had, and grandmother was suspected of having as well. This same monster that tried to take my loved ones was now threatening to take me. At any moment. I was a “ticking time bomb” as the doctors put it.
I knew my options, and none were easy. Everyone had an opinion on what I should do. With the history of all the breast lumps sporting “odd tissue presentation that were “not cancer…yet” I knew I faced a lifetime of constant surveillance (biopsies, ultrasounds, and mammograms) if I didn’t make a choice soon. I also knew that despite whatever I chose I can still, at any moment, stop being a “previvor” and have to fight to be a SURVIVOR.
I looked at my kids. I envisioned what my having cancer young would do to them. What it would do to me. What if I wasn’t as lucky as those women before me? What if this…. What if that…. No! I refused to give in and allow the “what ifs” to get me. I took control, made my appointment, and weighed all available options. I then made my choice of action.
Was it the right choice? It was for me at the time. I have been a “lucky” one…. But so many are not. So many find out too late. Many make hard choices between treatments available that fit the best they know to do, take the advice from the brightest brains on the planet, and the d*mn C word still strikes. None of us are immune to this threat. We all have to stick together to fight this. We will win. Someday, somehow, we will win. I feel it in my bones…
Again, I want to send a HUGE thank you to all who are participating in this event, for selflessly giving parts of your life to help highlight and fight this monster. And thank you, Greg. Your determination is an inspiration beyond words.
Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring and heartfelt story, Tricia. Your determination is an inspiration and this read definitely made me tear up.