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The sun is out and the roads are dry enough to ride so cycling season is in full form but one person will not be riding with us for a while this summer.
Adam is still in hospital. I saw him at the Les Domestiques Chritsmas party on December 12th and he looked great but on December 28th he was back in Sick Kids.
The leukemia which they thought they had caught and cured with his last bone marrow transplant was back. Its been a long battle and Adam is in isolation right now as he gets more transfusions and another bone marrow transplant.
His mom, Lorraine is keeping everyone up to date on his progress on Caring Bridge.
Also I wanted to pay tribute to another incredible young woman.. Megan McNeil..
Megan spoke to us last September as we partied at BC Children’s Hospital and she sent us on our way across Canada. She was battling cancer for the third time at the age of 19. She was so talented and penned and performed an internet song sensation called “The Will to Survive”.
Megan passed away two months ago and I guess this post is just a small way to keep her memory alive.
David
Thank you to all who supported me in my Cross Canada Ride ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8coLtAk36k
On Day 9 we rode into Collingwood and we had a friend join us for the day. He will remain nameless but he is an incredible young man who has been fighting cancer for years.
What an incredible example and a great athlete and musician…
He has been through chemo and drugs and bone marrow transplants. He is back in hospital again.. and probably for another bone marrow transplant.
Get well soon and promise to ride with us next year !! If any body can do it you can.. Keep fighting!!
David
I think the last time I blogged I was freezing somewhere near lake Louis or maybe I was somewhat brain dead in Northern Ontario or perhaps its when my knees were creaking somewhere in New Brunswick, but regardless this years National Kids Cancer Ride ride is finished but not over.
Our goal was to raise $1.5 million and we did that. I met some great people and made some lasting friendships and had a lot of time to think about direction, balance and kids.
For those of us that are healthy we have lots of choices. Lots of others don’t so if you get a chance smile, say hello and above all try to make a difference.
To all my supporters, friends, sponsors and to the kidlets thanks so much for being there for me.
David
This morning we are in Lake louis. Its 4 degrees and raining.
Jeff said that this ride would teach us life lessons and things about ourselves. He was so right.
We were very concerned about black ice and the rain so I asked some riders not to start and some other riders were just too concerned about safety so they sat out. 8 of us started.
I really struggle when I get wet and cold. I think it is a side effect of having my thyroid removed when I was diagnosed with cancer but if I get wet and cold I shake uncontrollably.
Within 2 km I was shaking so hard I could not control my brakes so I pulled myself off the road. Jeff Rushton once said that you learn a lot about yourself on a ride like this and he was so right.
When I got in the van I was shaking but I warmed fast. It was the emotional deluge I did not expect. I totally lost it about 5 minutes later. I was devastated.
I know I made the smart and safe coice but it was a hard decsion but the right one. There were too many people that could have been affected if I rode and caused an accident. There are my loved ones at home and the riders I could have impacted if I had caused a crash and their families at home.
I had lectured every one on how this ride was not about ego and our primary focus was safety. I just never thought I would learn this lesson in such a crushing personal manner.
So to all my fellow riders and friends.
Lesson learned….
Apparently its sunny ahead so maybe the day will end on a light note.
Stay safe guys !! See you soon !!This morning we are in Lake louis. Its 4 degrees and raining.
Jeff said that this ride would teach us life lessons and things about ourselves. He was so right.
We were very concerned about black ice and the rain so I asked some riders not to start and some other riders were just too concerned about safety so they sat out. 8 of us started.
I really struggle when I get wet and cold. I think it is a side effect of having my thyroid removed when I was diagnosed with cancer but if I get wet and cold I shake uncontrollably.
Within 2 km I was shaking so hard I could not control my brakes so I pulled myself off the road. Jeff Rushton once said that you learn a lot about yourself on a ride like this and he was so right.
When I got in the van I was shaking but I warmed fast. It was the emotional deluge I did not expect. I totally lost it about 5 minutes later. I was devastated.
I know I made the smart and safe coice but it was a hard decsion but the right one. There were too many people that could have been affected if I rode and caused an accident. There are my loved ones at home and the riders I could have impacted if I had caused a crash and their families at home.
I had lectured every one on how this ride was not about ego and our primary focus was safety. I just never thought I would learn this lesson in such a crushing personal manner.
So to all my fellow riders and friends.
Lesson learned….
Apparently its sunny ahead so maybe the day will end on a light note.
Stay safe guys !! See you soon !!
Just pulling into Swift Current Saskatchewan. Its 115 in the morning ;-)
What a day. We finally started our journey. I woke up at my normal Toronto time which is 6 which is also 3 in the morning Vancouver time. Starbucks was a 4:45 experience and….
ok something happened. I am now in Penticton.
We are off !!! 20 minutes in the air and at 26,000 feet and my fingers are way too big for this little keyboard but I guess I need to work on my dexterity….
Today was a bit of a rush. I rode yesterday with a friend and somehow broke a spoke.. Breaking a spoke on a long weekend is not a good idea as all the stores were closed and I was in an absolute panic if I could get the thing fixed before my flight this morning. I did have an insurance policy as I sent my spare wheels out to the west coast two weeks ago but it’s a little too early in the game to go to plan b.. My biggest worry this morning was my little guy Taylor. He was starting a new school this morning and since he is a lot like me he is a little nervous about change and the school was way west in Burlington.. I was up at 5:30 and got the lunches made, the house tidied up and my final packing done before I had to rattle the kids out of bed at 7.. We made it and Kaitlin got dropped off at her mom’s at 7:45 and then Taylor and I dashed back to the house to get the bike case and then off we went to the new school..
We got there on time and he went through the very scary process of meeting his new teacher and seeing who his new classmates would be.. Before we knew it the bell was ringing and we had a very cautious good bye.. Now my mind turned to what I expected to be a brutal commute from Burlington to Bloor West Village and the hope they could fix the wheel and I could take it with me on the ride.
Traffic…what traffic??? I got on the QEW at Walkers at 9:05 and 20 minutes later I was a Kipling. By 9:40 I was camped out in front of Wheels of Bloor and hoping they would be in early and not too busy after a long weekend. They really rock.. They jumped right on my wheel and within 20 minutes I was back in the car and heading back home to dump the vehicle and grab a cab to the airport.. Mind you as I sit here at 26,000 feet I am sort of wishing that I had asked them to let some air out of the tires else there might be significant little bang if one of the tires blows due to the reduced air pressure..
I have mixed feelings about the ride. I think I should be OK with fitness and I hit my fund raising goals but I will miss every body at home so much…….
Fast forward… We made it with no lost luggage or broken bikes.. There is an absolute herd of people here and I would say the riders are out numbered by volunteers by at least two to one.. We ate, had some meetings and now its way past our bed times but I wanted to post a note to let every one know how I was doing…. And to everybody back home.. Miss you and love you all to bits !!<—>
We are off !!! 20 minutes in the air and at 26,000 feet and my fingers are way too big for this little keyboard but I guess I need to work on my dexterity….
Today was a bit of a rush. I rode yesterday with a friend and somehow broke a spoke.. Breaking a spoke on a long weekend is not a good idea as all the stores were closed and I was in an absolute panic if I could get the thing fixed before my flight this morning. I did have an insurance policy as I sent my spare wheels out to the west coast two weeks ago but it’s a little too early in the game to go to plan b.. My biggest worry this morning was my little guy Taylor. He was starting a new school this morning and since he is a lot like me he is a little nervous about change and the school was way west in Burlington.. I was up at 5:30 and got the lunches made, the house tidied up and my final packing done before I had to rattle the kids out of bed at 7.. We made it and Kaitlin got dropped off at her mom’s at 7:45 and then Taylor and I dashed back to the house to get the bike case and then off we went to the new school..
We got there on time and he went through the very scary process of meeting his new teacher and seeing who his new classmates would be.. Before we knew it the bell was ringing and we had a very cautious good bye.. Now my mind turned to what I expected to be a brutal commute from Burlington to Bloor West Village and the hope they could fix the wheel and I could take it with me on the ride.
Traffic…what traffic??? I got on the QEW at Walkers at 9:05 and 20 minutes later I was a Kipling. By 9:40 I was camped out in front of Wheels of Bloor and hoping they would be in early and not too busy after a long weekend. They really rock.. They jumped right on my wheel and within 20 minutes I was back in the car and heading back home to dump the vehicle and grab a cab to the airport.. Mind you as I sit here at 26,000 feet I am sort of wishing that I had asked them to let some air out of the tires else there might be significant little bang if one of the tires blows due to the reduced air pressure..
I have mixed feelings about the ride. I think I should be OK with fitness and I hit my fund raising goals but I will miss every body at home so much…….
Fast forward… We made it with no lost luggage or broken bikes.. There is an absolute herd of people here and I would say the riders are out numbered by volunteers by at least two to one.. We ate, had some meetings and now its way past our bed times but I wanted to post a note to let every one know how I was doing…. And to everybody back home.. Miss you and love you all to bits !!
We are off !!! 20 minutes in the air and at 26,000 feet and my fingers are way too big for this little keyboard but I guess I need to work on my dexterity….
Today was a bit of a rush. I rode yesterday with a friend and somehow broke a spoke.. Breaking a spoke on a long weekend is not a good idea as all the stores were closed and I was in an absolute panic if I could get the thing fixed before my flight this morning. I did have an insurance policy as I sent my spare wheels out to the west coast two weeks ago but it’s a little too early in the game to go to plan b.. My biggest worry this morning was my little guy Taylor. He was starting a new school this morning and since he is a lot like me he is a little nervous about change and the school was way west in Burlington.. I was up at 5:30 and got the lunches made, the house tidied up and my final packing done before I had to rattle the kids out of bed at 7.. We made it and Kaitlin got dropped off at her mom’s at 7:45 and then Taylor and I dashed back to the house to get the bike case and then off we went to the new school..
We got there on time and he went through the very scary process of meeting his new teacher and seeing who his new classmates would be.. Before we knew it the bell was ringing and we had a very cautious good bye.. Now my mind turned to what I expected to be a brutal commute from Burlington to Bloor West Village and the hope they could fix the wheel and I could take it with me on the ride.
Traffic…what traffic??? I got on the QEW at Walkers at 9:05 and 20 minutes later I was a Kipling. By 9:40 I was camped out in front of Wheels of Bloor and hoping they would be in early and not too busy after a long weekend. They really rock.. They jumped right on my wheel and within 20 minutes I was back in the car and heading back home to dump the vehicle and grab a cab to the airport.. Mind you as I sit here at 26,000 feet I am sort of wishing that I had asked them to let some air out of the tires else there might be significant little bang if one of the tires blows due to the reduced air pressure..
I have mixed feelings about the ride. I think I should be OK with fitness and I hit my fund raising goals but I will miss every body at home so much…….
Fast forward… We made it with no lost luggage or broken bikes.. There is an absolute herd of people here and I would say the riders are out numbered by volunteers by at least two to one.. We ate, had some meetings and now its way past our bed times but I wanted to post a note to let every one know how I was doing…. And to everybody back home.. Miss you and love you all to bits !!
Its been a long summer and who knows if I trained enough or too little but its too late now as I am out of time.. I am just starting to panic about the whole concept of packing and I just broke the mount on a Garmin 705 my friend John lent me so its now a real panic to find a bike store that has a spare within 20 minutes of here. Tuesday I will be seeing , my little guy Taylor off to his new school and then off to the airport to beg to the WestJet staff to see if my bike can fly for free. Regardless there will be 40 other riders and a host of volunteers waiting in Vancouver when I get there that are pumped and ready for an epic experience. As much as I downplay the ride, it is epic. We are riding across probably the biggest country out there and we will probably be riding through rain and snow and hopefully some dry weather. It is something I can be proud of. I am going to really miss Kaitlin and Taylor and they are one of the main reasons I am doing this. How many kids can say their dad has biked across the country and as much as I am proud of being able to do the ride I am sure they are just as proud of me for doing it. Not much time to fund raise left but if I can sneak one more event in then who knows where I might land but right now I have raised almost $51,000 which is pretty cool!! So as much as I have struggled and my kids and friends will miss me, there is the whole issue of why we are doing this. Our goal is to raise $1,500,000 to help kids and their families who are having to deal with cancer. They are the real heroes and I just hope I can make them proud. From today on I am passing my blog over to my highly articulate and incredible daughter Kaitlin who will keep any one who is interested in my cross Canada journey up to speed.. You go girl !!
