Tag Archives: Cycle

…Till the Wheels Fall Off!

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Today was my Cycle for Survival ride at Equinox, a fundraising event for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, whose mission is to treat and find cures for rare cancers. This was my third ride of however many it takes until a cure is found. Although our group, “A Team 56,” didn’t reach our goal of US$15,000.00, we did raise US$12,900.00 which is still a large amount.
2015-03-07 23.43.40For four hours straight, we rode, shouted, and danced our hearts out for all of those fighting, for the survivors, and for those who have lost their battles with this terrible disease. Some of you have read my previous posts about this event and know how important it is to me, so I won’t be repetitive–trust and know you will be seeing similar posts exactly one year from now. However I cannot shake the feeling I’ve had all day from hearing the experiences of those who are fighting, of those that have won, and of those that have loved ones they are sending to MSKCC currently; the mother and father that personally thanked all of us for our fundraising efforts because they have a 7 year-old daughter with a brain tumor being treated at Memorial now. The woman whose mother had a better quality of life due to the clinical trial our donations paid for last year. For Lisa Adams who passed away last night, losing her battle at the hospital the day of the first ride.
Knowing that every dollar my team and I raise, along with all of the other riders nationwide, goes directly to research and trials, compels to do everything I can for the millions of people worldwide affected by cancer in all its forms. I will urge each and everyone of you as I do every year, to join the battle with me, either by starting your own team wherever you are, by donating your time, by donating your money. Just as one of the doctors said today, “Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it definitely takes a village to find a cure for cancer.” We all live in the same village.

150307_094940This is why I rode. This was, and is, my battle cry until a cure is found.

Why I Ride

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A few people have asked me to stop fundraising on my Facebook page because it’s annoying. Some have also said it’s “beneath me to ask for money.” They have since been excommunicated, not only from my Facebook page, but from my life. It’s my page and I will do as I please with it, especially if it means bringing awareness and raising money for a cause that is extremely close to my heart. Never have I ever asked for money for myself, and I don’t even actively raise funds for multiple events/causes, except this one, Cycle for Survival. Since others have asked me why this is such a heartfelt issue for me, I figured now is as good a time as any to share one of the several reasons.

When I was 4 years old and in my kindergarten’s summer program, a beautiful girl named Chase joined and we became fast friends. Her skin was tanned like butterscotch and her wild sandy brown hair sat on her head like a halo. Her eyes were hazel and framed by the longest lashes I’d ever seen at that point in my short life. Chase had two missing front teeth, just like I did, and we couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. We played everyday she came to school and were inseparable, even during nap time. I hated when she wasn’t around–she’d be absent for days in a row. I asked her why she was gone so much and she explained to me that she was sick and had to go the doctor for special medicine and care. I told her I got sick all the time, especially in the winter. She told me it wasn’t that kind of sick, that she had something called Leukemia and that it never really went away. I didn’t know what Leukemia was, but I told her I hoped she got better soon so we could play more. She said she’d be fine one day and we went to play on the swings, never to talk about her sickness again.

I remember Chase missed a whole week and I was really sad. Then another week went by, so I asked the teacher where Chase was. Ms. Sandy looked at me and said that God didn’t want Chase to hurt anymore, so he took her to heaven to live with him. Not truly grasping the concept she was trying to convey to me, I said, “That’s nice of him. I’m really gonna miss her though.” She cried silently and rushed me off to go play.

Chase has stayed with me all these years: her smile, her eyes, the feel of our hands joined together as we skipped around the playground. She was the first friend I lost to cancer, my first friend in life. I raise money in her memory; I ride for her. Cycle for Survival is my battle cry, my part of the fight against all forms of cancer.

Please understand. Please help me fight. If you’d like to donate, please click here and know that you are appreciated. My team and I will ride hard and strong for you, your loved ones, and everyone affected by cancer in all its forms.
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Cycle for Survival 2K15

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Greetings, everyone!

It’s that time of year again when my team and I ride in Cycle for Survival to raise money to fund lifesaving rare cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Together we can ensure tangible progress and give real hope to patients and their loved ones worldwide.

Why do I ride?

BECAUSE I WANT TO HONOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOUCHED BY CANCER. My family and loved ones have been hit hard by different forms of cancer, as have I personally. I will be riding for them and for everyone else affected by all forms of cancer. Cycle for Survival is my way of fighting back and making a difference.

BECAUSE RARE CANCERS ARE MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK. When you add all of the rare cancers together, approximately 50% of all cancer patients are fighting a rare cancer. And these are familiar diseases: pediatric cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, and thyroid, ovarian and pancreatic cancers are all classified as rare.

BECAUSE THERE AREN’T ENOUGH TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS. There is a critical funding gap in rare cancer research, but we can change that. In the first eight years of events, Cycle for Survival already had raised more than $51 million, arming doctors and researchers with funding to discover new and better treatment options.

What can you do today? Please donate to my ride to support lifesaving research!
Click here to donate

100% of every dollar you give will go directly to pioneering research within six months of the events.

Cycle for Survival has contributed to more than 100 clinical trials and research studies, and also to major research initiatives that will change the way cancer is diagnosed and treated.

Together, we can truly make an impact.

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Thank you for your consideration and continued support.
–Vicky T.

I Want a Slice!

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I rarely write rants, BUUUUT… Never have I ever walked out of a gym class, or any class for that matter, out of respect for the instructor. Today however, it could not be helped. I took the worst spin class I’ve ever taken in my life, and I’ve been spinning for over 10 years (I’m also certified, so I have experience on both sides of this coin). I understand everyone has their own teaching style, Yet and still: one’s inability to stop talking, horrendous music selection (by anyone’s standards), constantly cutting off the volume in order to hear one’ s voice, therefore not allowing anyone to get into any kind of “zone” whatsoever, makes for a horrible experience and denies the class of any potential energy. I tried to stay and ended up angry and annoyed. Unable to hide my irritation, I unclipped and hopped off the bike in mid-stride, apologizing to my friend–not the instructor–for not being able to stay. On top of that, I wasn’t the only one who left, so I know it wasn’t just me that was feeling this way. Re-certification is definitely in order. Too many people get a piece of the pie that don’t deserve it. And I’m a hungry mofo.CFS 2014

Cycle for Survival: Join the Battle!

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I am taking action against rare cancers by participating in Cycle for Survival for the 2nd year in a row. My family and I have been greatly affected by cancer, so I will be riding to honor their memory, and to fight the battle for us all.

This national indoor team cycling event raises money to fund critical research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Participants and donors make progress and hope possible for patients and their loved ones worldwide. Here are two important facts you should know:

v 100% of the funds donated for my ride will go directly to MSKCC to help patients around the world.

v Since its inception, Cycle for Survival has helped fund 85 clinical trials and research studies.

Why do I ride?

I can’t say it enough: I ride to honor brave family and friends touched by cancer, including my own. Cycle for Survival is my way of fighting back and making a difference.

I ride because I want to contribute to lifesaving research.

I ride because there aren’t enough treatment options for people with rare cancers—I know we can change that. All pediatric cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, sarcoma, and thyroid, ovarian and pancreatic cancers are among the many types considered to be rare.

How can you help?

Give a gift to my Cycle for Survival ride! Every dollar goes directly to promising cancer research. Together, we can truly make an impact! I believe that from the bottom of my heart.

It’s time. JOIN THE BATTLE WITH ME.
 

I humbly and greatly appreciate your support,

Vicky
http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/vickytdavis
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