I’m a big crybaby.

Every time I take a look at my Ride Cincinnati fundraising page, I start welling up with tears.

I get teary-eyed because I’m so very grateful to the folks who have supported me. I started out with a goal of $2,000. Which I billed as “lofty” because it was. But it turns out that great friends will rally around a good cause. And I’m blessed with a lot of great friends. My Xavier homies, of course. Co-workers. Former co-workers. People I’ve met along my life’s journey who have become close enough that I feel comfortable hitting them up for a donation. (Not my strong suit.) 

Actually, one of my Xavier friends, Jackie B., shared my fundraising efforts with more of the XU crew (her besties, the “PYTs” – Pretty Young Things), and they’ve contributed too! She turned my bike wheels into a flywheel.

I’ve revised my goal a couple of times. Onward and upward. Because the funds raised will support cancer research, education, and care in the Cincinnati area.

Which brings us to the other reason I start to get misty-eyed. My friend LJ. One of my Xavier homies. I met him freshman year… 43 years ago. That’s a long time to share the road. But I can’t think of a better travel companion.

LJ has benefitted from the cancer resources available in our area. One of which is Cancer Care Advisors, which offers second opinions on cancer treatment plans, and can help with care coordination, referrals, clinical trials, financial support, etc.

In LJ’s case, they told him and his family that he was doing everything right to attack his brain cancer. That reassurance helps immensely.

But his cancer isn’t usually the kind you can out-pedal.

We don’t know what’s around the bend. And that’s scary.

But the connection — knowing that there are other spokes on the wheel — provides both comfort and strength. To him. To me. To us.

Just keep pedaling. One foot, then the other. Moving forward. Living life. Which is so much richer when you have a caring crew to support you.

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If you’d like to donate, and have the means (and haven’t already!), you can do so here. Thanks for keeping the big wheel rolling!