I wish you could have been there. Thousands of people – cancer survivors, cancer fighters and those of us who love them and support them gathered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania for the LiveStrong Challenge - Philadelphia. We came from more than 42 states, each of us with our own cancer story and our own motivation for walking, running and riding to raise money for cancer research and programs. Last year, I rode out of rage that cancer had taken and hurt so many people I love. This year I felt gratitude for all the support that made my mother’s recovery possible. This year I would ride out of hope – hope that together we would find not just a cure for cancer, but unlock what causes cancer and stop it before it starts.
The adventure started in Lime Rock, where Leif and I loaded up our famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) 15-passenger van, She-Beast, with bicycles, clothes, and anything else we might need for our trip. We were going to pick up Angel and Maribel at my Mom’s house. When we got to there, my Mom had pots of arroz con pollo (rice and chicken) and habichuelas coloradas (red beans) waiting for us. Leif couldn’t have been happier! We enjoyed our scrumptious lunch and kissed my Mom goodbye as we set out for Philly with our stomachs full and our spirits high.
Although traffic was brutal and so was the heat (She-Beast doesn’t have air conditioning), we were unfazed. Angel took over driving duties from Leif, and Maribel and I made up the peanut gallery in the back seat. By early evening we were in the parking lot of the Doubletree Hotel, the same place we stayed the year before. We even found a parking spot in front of the same lovely tree we had parked in front of the year before! We took it as a good omen and soon referred to the tree as the “She-Tree” (like She-Beast). Hot and tired, we were ready for a good meal, but not before we had gotten our complimentary chocolate chip cookies when we checked in! We dropped our bags off in our room and immediately went to pick up our registration at LiveStrong Village.
There’s something both comforting and exciting about walking around the various tents in the LiveStrong Village. I guess it’s knowing that everyone around you has a connection to cancer and made some sacrifice to be there, to be counted in the fight against cancer. Standing among all those people whose lives were touched by cancer was an opportunity to be a part of something powerful, something much bigger than any
one of us. I was overwhelmed. Angel and I were also interviewed by Brooke McMillan, a staff member at the Lance Armstrong Foundation, for their blog post “Why I’m Here” My favorite part of the village was the area where you could leave messages in tribute to people who had fought cancer. You could also attach the messages to your shirt during the walk or ride, a way of carrying those loved ones with you. That night, Team LIFE FIGHTERS enjoyed a fabulous meal at Bertucci’s. (Who knew?) Between mouthfuls of warm rolls drenched in olive oil and delicious pasta, we cracked jokes and told stories. Maribel and Leif enjoyed the peach sangria, while Angel happily drank his Peroni beer. As for me, I was just happy to be with my people in Philadelphia again. Participating in the Challenge the year before had definitely been a bonding experience for us. It was probably one of the highlights of the year for all of us, and we were excited to be back.
The next morning, Maribel was ready! This year, the walk/run was on a separate day from the ride in order to accommodate all the people in attendance. When we got to the start-finish line, we were amazed at the number of people. More than 3,000 had signed up just for the walk/run! Add to that, the hundreds of volunteers, and the family and friends who came out to cheer the participants on, and you’ve got a party. Maribel was pretty cheerful as she began her walk, listening to Angel’s MP3 player (with God knows what music playing!) While we waited for Maribel, the rest of us walked around the Village. There were some terrific vendors there, and Leif made a point to snag as many lip balms, tire patch kits, towels and anything else he could get his hands on!
About 45 minutes later, Maribel crossed the finish line! We were ecstatic, and she was proud that she had managed to walk in about the same time that she had the year before. After hanging around some more, we took off to run errands, work on She-Beast (who was needing some attention) and just relax. Maribel was eager for a shower, and frankly, who could argue with that? We had been up since early that morning, and the next day was going to be in an intense one, so we decided to take it easy. Then we got a surprise! My Mom and Diana decided to drive down and cheer us on! They arrived at the Doubletree full of sass and energy, excited to be part of the weekend and support our efforts. Another stupendous meal – this time at PF Chang’s with lots of hilarity– capped a terrific day. Sunday morning, Leif, Angel and I walked out of our hotel room into a damp day. The weather reports predicted we would see rain before the day was out. We arrived at the parking lot of Montgomery County Community College early enough to get a choice parking spot for She-Beast, under the shade of a tree and near the LiveStrong Village. As we sat drinking coffee and munching on some challah rolls that Maribel had bought us the night before, I realized how far we had come in a year. Far from feeling depressed or daunted, I was inspired by the mere fact that we had survived. Despite some of the worst moments we had ever faced, we were still here. I would honor that by riding 20 miles through lovely neighborhoods in Pennsylvania.
Angel was inspired, too. So much so that we didn’t see him after the first mile of the race. He took off like a bat out of hell, while Leif and I rode at a more sustainable pace. Up and down, up and down, the climbing never stopped. Families gathered at the side of the road to cheer us on, clapping, yelling and thanking us for what we were doing. That support and appreciation went a long way to keep our spirits up, especially when the skies opened up and released torrential rains.
It reminded me of rainstorms in Puerto Rico, what we call aguaceros. They might be nice to walk in, not so great to ride in. My glasses fogged up; my feet squished around in my shoes. This was not how I imagined this ride would be. But we kept riding along, side-by-side. With the 1-mile to go sign, Leif and I smiled. We came onto the campus holding hands and heard the cheers of my Mom, Diana and Maribel as we passed by! We caught up with Angel, who was standing by the refreshment table. And just seconds behind us, the man himself, Lance Armstrong crossed the finish line to the cheers of many, including my Mom. We were exhausted, and we were exhilarated. But mostly I was thankful – for the support of family and friends like you, for the work of the LiveStrong Community, for the commitment of my teammates, Angel, Maribel and Leif. And more than anything I was thankful that my mother was there to see it.
Until next year,
Aimee
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