Featured: 24 Hours of Booty

 

As cliché as this is

 

Man that rang true this weekend.  There is so much to share that happened in just 24 short hours that I need to just tackle the highlights. 

 

I went in with the mindset of wanting to ride a certain amount of miles and was pretty hell bent on doing that.  At some point during the ride I was reminded to stop and smell the roses, enjoy the journey.  There was so much going on at one time and so much I would have missed if I stuck to my OG plan.  I would have missed out on the camaraderie, meeting all the wonderful people, listening to all of the stories, hearing the great music provided by so many bands, interacting with the great people that live in the Myers Park neighborhood and learning more about the beneficiaries.  I was in a place that it was ok to let my cancer flag fly and fly high and for the first time since I was diagnosed at 28 I felt like it was ok to be that girl and it wasn't going to make anyone feel uncomfortable because that's why we were all there, to celebrate the survivors and honor the ones we've lost along the way.  

 

The Dawn of Noah was our team name and I can't thank these ladies enough for saying yes when I asked if they wanted to ride/walk with me.  I met Kim and Angie about 6 years ago while I was going through breast cancer doing the MS bike ride to the beach and we have kept in touch since then.  We all have the same feelings about                                                 cancer..................................................                                  IT SUCKS.  Kim's son was diagnosed when he was 3 years old but I'm happy to report that he graduated this year and is headed to college!  That's what I call a success story for sure.  I have to thank these ladies for also keeping me in check.  When I would have done anything to keep going regardless of what my body was telling me they stepped in and said it's ok, we will change our plan.  PLOT TWIST!  You guys know I love a good plot twist so that's what we did, we changed our goal from miles to just riding all the way up to the final lap resting when needed.  Thank you for that, thank you for reminding me that I was only 2.5 months post surgery and I was asking my body to do too much.  Thank you for also being those people who just flow.  I love that.  We will be back next year and we already have plans for next year.  One of the biggest ones is to make sure we have gotten in the saddle for more than 18 miles for the year, LOL.  What was I thinking? 

 

 

I won an award for an essay I wrote.  This was the question they posed:

 

We want to know – how has your participation in 24 Foundation helped you reach a health or wellness goal? Did you pick up a bike for the first time in years?  Were you a former cyclist, inspired to ride again? Have you always been fit, but 24 Foundation inspired you to reach a different goal? Are you currently working to reach a personal mileage or weight loss goal through 24 Foundation?

 

So I wrote:

 

The participation in 24 foundation helped me recover from my third cancer surgery on May 16, 2018.  When I couldn't do anything else, I could ride and it helped my mind, body and soul through a physical recovery process as well as a mental recovery from my third type of cancer diagnosis.  I've been wanting to do the booty ride for a few years and this year seemed like the most appropriate way to commemorate my recovery.  I always choose to do something big after the storm.

 

When they presented me with the award I received a standing ovation.  A standing ovation, do you know what that did to me?  I mean all I did was write something expressing what riding helped me do during a challenging time, I didn't think it deserved that but it reminded me that walking in my shoes may not be the easiest and they were being supportive.  I tried to keep it together and once it was over I let it out. 

 

One of the most humbling parts of the night was riding at night with the luminaries.  People we were remembering and people we were honoring.  One for my Pop-Pop who had lung cancer, one for my Nanny who passed when I was 12 from cancer, one for our Gabby Girl who earned her wings because of a rare form of leukemia, one for my Aunt Lil who left us because of an aggressive brain tumor and Uncle Nicky with lung cancer.  We remember them to keep their spirit alive and remember for as far as we have come we still have a long way to go.   

 

 

From setting up camp in bootyville (which by the way this was my mom's first camping experience),

 

 

To making new friends,

 

And remembering why we were all out there, this was an amazing experience.

 

I want to thank the 24 foundation for putting on a well organized event.  Everyone was so friendly and helpful.  I firmly believe this always comes from the top down and after having a moment to speak with Spencer, the founder of 24 foundation, this couldn't be a truer statement.  I asked Spencer what drove him to start this foundation and the words that came out of his mouth were not the ones I was expecting.  He started this foundation because he was reading the statistics of cancer and knew something needed to be done because even though he had not been impacted by it nor any of his family and friends he just knew there was a need.  Now if that doesn't tell you something about this man and his foundation then nothing will.  Most people will say my mom, my dad, my child, someone drove them to the cause but not him, it was the statistic and knowing it would someday affect his life.  So kudos to you Spencer and 24 foundation you hooked us. 

 

As I look back on this weekend I'm going to cherish all the memories and laughs. Oh and Angie, safety first!  Your hat does not double as a helmet.  :)

 

Get ready because I'm going to start rallying the troops to come ride with me next year.  Get your bike and booty ready or your walking shoes! 

 

 

peace, love and joy

dawn