While I think most folks know what this blog is all about, and have seen my email and/or Facebook page, I wanted to include it here for completeness sake, for historical purposes as it were...
As I said in my letter to my friends and family as I embarked on my fundraising campaign for this event just over a week ago, 2012 marks my 10th year as a breast cancer survivor. If you're like most people, your initial reaction is probably along the lines of "Wow - that's fantastic!! Congrats! Good for you!!". However, quite uncharacteristically, I've been very hesitant to celebrate this milestone in any way. I know. I've gone round and round trying to pinpoint the reason, because it is SO unlike me. And after nearly 6 months of introspection, I've concluded that its the result of a combination of 'survivor guilt' and
not wanting to 'tempt fate'. I've been telling myself that it's just a number. That
it doesn't mean anything. That the cancer could come back tomorrow, or
next year, or any time. Like it did for my dear friend Linda Baginski
who after being cancer free for 11 years, had a metastatic
recurrence, and lost her battle last year, just 4 short years later. I
think that's the one that weighs heaviest on me. Losing another dear
friend, Wendy Raditz, five months later after her multiple battles made
it that much worse.
However,
it's not like me to succumb to fear. Far from it, in fact. And dammit 10 years
should be celebrated, right? Well, this even has provided the perfect opportunity.
It combines many of the things nearest and dearest to my heart.
Adventure, travel, motorcycling, bonding with and supporting other
cancer survivors, spreading the word about the need for early detection
and treatment, and last but not least, celebrating survival. There. I
said it. And I'm gonna do it!
I have had the incredible good fortune to have been chosen to participate in a
cancer awareness motorcycle event in South Africa for a project called
Cancer.vive (pronounced "can survive" - how appropriate!), benefiting
the not-for-profit organization, People Living With Cancer (PLWC),
taking place from September 22nd through the 29th. You can view my
profile and read more about the organizations, sponsors and event here.
 |
| Cancer.vive is a project of people living with cancer |
I've
already started interacting with and getting to know the other riders - men
and women both. The focus of the ride is to provide education and
awareness aimed at "shy cancers" – the cancers that most people find it
most difficult to talk about. These cancers often go undetected because
of fear, stigmas, cultural taboos and lack of knowledge. From what I've
heard, places I will see and people I meet along the way will redefine
the word "underserved" for me. We will be able to reach many thousands
of people over the course of this week, and in the process, lives will
be saved.
It will also allow me the opportunity to make good on a
promise I made to Wendy before she died. One of her
last wishes was that her biker friends who came to her memorial take
some of her ashes, and spread them along beautiful roads that she would
have loved to ride. She so loved travel and adventure, and I know she
will be smiling down as I share this journey with her half way across
the world.
The
catch? I need to fundraise in order to participate. I haven't done this
in a long time, and I really don't like doing it, but if I'm going to
do this I need your support. I need to raise a minimum of $3000, but my
goal is $5000. (That translates to roughly 25,000-42,000 ZAR (South
African Rand)).
As luck would have it, Revlon South Africa is the title sponsor of Cancer.vive, and
Revlon has kindly agreed to support my personal participation in the
2012 Ride, by donating products for me to use for fundraising. Revlon
has been an active supporter of women’s health issues with a particular
emphasis on research, advocacy and treatment of breast and ovarian
cancer, and I am extremely excited and grateful to have their support!
I'm hoping that this will cover the first third or more of the lower end
of my goal, which would be amazing - but I will still need your help.
 |
| My Revlon gift bags |
I know it's not easy to feel like
your donations are doing good in a place that is so far away and unfamiliar to most of us, but I promise that through the magic of social media - including this here blog - I will make it personal
for all of you. I've set up a
Facebook Fan Page for the event too. Please feel free to "Share".
I also know times are tough and we're all stretching to
make ends meet, so anything that you can give will be sincerely
appreciated. The Paypal button below will send you directly to my 'Bikerchick' donation page. It will give you the
options of either EFT/Credit Card or Paypal. (Paypal donations are
listed in dollars, EFT/CC in SA Rand)
Rough conversion is 1 Rand = .12 USD/ 1 USD = 8.22 Rand.
You have all been such an
important part of my life, and my daily celebrations of survival these
past 10 years. I would not be leading the amazing life am blessed with now, nor have
the opportunities I have - such as this one - if it weren't for
all of you.
Thank you for helping make this a life worth living to the fullest, each and every day. It's been one hell of a ride so far. Can't wait to see what's ahead!
Health, Happiness and Blessings to you all.
Karen
