CATHERINE

Last year, my graphic on the team shirt was of a bicycle wheel with names of those who had passed away from cancer as well as those who were fighting the good fight and those who had fought the battle and won.  One of those names who had the battle and won was a former manager of mine, Catherine.   I emailed Catherine before the 2013 ride telling her that her name as well as her husband's and her daughter's were on the graphic and sent along a copy of the picture.  She emailed me back saying that she was touched beyond words and that it meant a lot that I had thought to include her. 


On Friday night, February 14, 2014, Catherine lost her latest battle with this dreaded disease.  
 

Catherine was one of those people who could find humour in everything and often did. I remember many a time sitting in her office sharing a laugh after dealing with some tense situation with a client or just stopping in to say hi.  Her smile was infectious and her eyes were always twinkling.   

The last time I spoke to Catherine was when she was in the hospital recovering from pneumonia.  We talked and laughed and I told her that I was doing the ride again this year.  We spoke about what kind of design I might do for the shirt and I asked her if she remembered the graphic I had done last year.  She picked up her phone and showed me the graphic from the t-shirt I had sent her.  She had kept the email with the graphic and told me again how touched & honoured she had been. 


Rest in peace Cato.  Your kindness & encouragement touched so many people and made all our lives better for being around. You will be sorely missed.

My 2014 ride is dedicated to you.

If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help!
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2014?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1512

AND HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Last year I did the Ride to Conquer Cancer in honour of my friend Jennifer who passed away in 2012.  What started out as a ride for one turned into a ride for many.  Over one hundred names that my teammates and I carried with us on the back of our shirts.  Within days of that ride, I signed up again feeling the need to continue the ride to find the cure...the cure that will end this dreaded disease that has taken so many from us and continues to do so even as I write this.
But I can't do it alone and I won't.  This year the team behind me will be bigger and stronger! 19 other people will be cycling along side me all striving for the same goal: raising the $$ needed to find a cure.  We will train together, cycle together, laugh together but most of all we will support each other.
And so here I go again...the winter training, the early morning weekend rides, the after work rides...all of it leading me to one final destination: the finish line in Quebec City.  This year I dedicate my ride to everyone who is battling cancer.  Their sheer determination is what will keep me going!

If you would like to donate to my ride effort, please click on the link below.  I appreciate your help!
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Montreal2014?px=2645026&pg=personal&fr_id=1512