Catherine Bancroft

safe landing

On September 23rd, after 10 months of 5:15am early mornings to ride, weight training sessions 2X/week to build up my power, long rides on the weekends, an extra 3 weeks off to train to tackle my weakness, hills, $28,000 of personal money spent, $27,552.24 raised personally, $1.3 million dollars raised collectively, our Team 3 made three stops on our final day.  As seems to often happen to me on my last day of charity rides, I blew a tire, and got into our support van, had the tire changed and rejoined our group.  It was powerful for me to ride in close proximity to Domenic, an elite rider and racer, who was supporting his Dad to ride with us on our last day by putting his hand on his back for extra support.  I thought about the many times I had a supporting hand on my back throughout the ride - Roger in the Rocky Mountains, Mark Burger throughout, and the odd other mystery hand.  The image of Domenic with his Dad has stuck with me since.  Particularly because the next night Eric and I had a beer with both Domenic and his Dad Vince, and we talked about the idea of why suffer? 

Our group stopped at a Sears store in Halifax, and if we had gone in, I could have found the washrooms in the appliance section, because one of the things I had learned on this trip was the layout of Sears stores, go figure.  This was surreal to me, we were here, and this epic journey was almost at its completion.  The next stop was at IWK Children’s Hospital, which I knew well from my work in mental health, and we were plummotted into a high energy Inside Ride.  God, I love those Inside Rides!  A burst of energy from our group showed our feeling of victory.  We heard another 16 year old young woman talk about her experience and recovery from cancer, and I heard the commitment in her voice when she said she was going to do this ride next year.  I began to imagine what this ride would be like if more young people who had survived cancer took on the ride. 

As we slowed down and pulled into the Swiss Air Memorial just outside of Peggy’s Cove, I wanted time to slow down.  I stood beside Roger, one of my most powerful teachers on this ride, took in his tears, and the moment. 

We rode into Peggy’s Cove, climbed onto the rocks by the lighthouse, and took some photos.  The East Coast, The Atlantic Ocean.  I reflected on looking into the Pacific Ocean at While Rock 15 days ago.  I thought about walking on the beach with Jules in Victoria 17 days ago. 

The last leg of the journey, 2 km’s to Point Pleasant Park.  Down the streets of Halifax, I recognized some of the landmarks, and my whole body relaxed.  We had done it!  We turned the corner, coming into Point Pleasant Park, and my Dad was there first, his eyes moist as he moved toward me.  My parents had been there for 2.5 hours, because they didn’t want to miss us.  I hugged both my parents, and proudly started introducing them.

We had a ceremony of sorts where we threw our rocks into the Atlantic, and then walked down the sand at the beach, received a metal, and then all lined up in the water with our bikes, with our wheels in the water.  I almost threw my $4,000 cervelo into the Atlantic I was so happy!

I have had 4 nights of good sleep, 2 in a hotel in Halifax, and 2 at home.  I am relieved to be home, and feel intensely appreciative of all the little things.  I loved doing 7 loads of laundry, going to the grocery store to pick out food, making food, using indoor plumbing, listening to music, walking to work, and going to a job that pays me. 

After 10 months of using every waking minute other than working to fundraise and train, and the odd moment with family and friends, I feel liberated to have time to consider what I want to do, and how I want to spend my time.  I feel relieved that the enormous effort of the preparation and the ride are complete.

I am aware that this is the most challening thing I have done on many levels.  When I was grappling with myself on the hills of the Rocky Mountains, of Northern Ontario, and New Brunswick, Domenic helped me to put where I was in perspective.  He asked me how long I had been seriously training for, and I said I had been riding for 5 years but seriously training for 10 months.  He shared that it took 3-5 years of intense training to build a solid foundation.  What he said made sense and put into perspective for me the challenges I experienced.

The physical challenge, and the conditions we experienced challenged my strength and reslience.  My mind oscilated each day from “This is fantastic, I cannot believe what I am seeing” to: “slow down, stop, no more”, and I spent the majority of the trip walking myself through these paradoxes.  It was not uncommon for me to hear from other riders that they found it easy, and I wondered if we were on the same ride. 

I have thought a lot in the last 4 days about the fact that the challenge of what we experienced is complete, and yet, the fight against childhood cancer is just beginning.  Yes, our national exposure, and the $1.3 million raised is a substantial contribution, and one to be extremely proud of.  And, 10,000 children across the country live with conditions that change their lives profoundly, and they don’t have the choice for it to be over a 15 day duration, like we did.  It is my hope, that the contributions to research that we collectively made will affect cancer research into the future for children and adults.

On our last night in Halifax over a beer with Domenic and Vince, and the discussion about the meaning of suffering, I asked Domenic, the elite racer if he suffered, although I already knew he didn’t.  He said he did not, and that he admired those of us that did.  I knew along the whole trip that I had much to learn from him, and he went on to share that he felt that suffering had a purpose if it helped those in the future not to suffer.  He went on to say that hopefully our suffering would help kids dealing wtih cancer not to suffer in the future.  This resonated for me.

As I re-enter my “normal” life, I have gained a sense of perspective and focus that allows me to see things differently.  Work today was 50% less stressful for me because nothing seemed like a big deal.  As I dealt with a difficult call, I had images of the difficult terrain I crossed.  As I poured over my budget, I realized how easy this was in compared with what I just did. 

When I first started this ride, David Wilson “warned me” that this ride would require a determination and focus, in comparison with the fun community event that I was previously used to through Friends for Life over the last 4 years.  At the time, I grumbled at his proposition, and now, I realize that he was accurate, and, that every experience has something different to teach us.  This experience required every ounce of my determination, focus, and perserverance, and that has allowed me a new perspective. 

You know what they said that it takes a village to raise a child.  I feel that it took a village to support me on this journey, and I feel profoundly grateful for the enormous support I had in order to help me make my dream of seeing Canada a reality.

Please allow me to thank a few people.

Jennifer Chalmers, for your early death, and the impact your life had on me and our family.  It was my honour to carry you on my back during the ride.

Cath, Tom, and Jeff for teaching me about the power of grief, strength and resilience.

My parents, for your unbelievable 38 years of devotion and commitment to my life.  For dedicating your time and energy to passionately recruit your friends and family on my behalf and for raising $10,000 for the Coast to Coast Foundation.

Banting Secondary School for raising $5600 through the amazing Inside Ride.

My soul sister Michelle.  For riding with me every pedal stroke of the journey.  For your inspiration in your courageous battle with brain cancer.  Your support pulled me through my grief after Jana’s death, and I will continue to do whatever I can to support you in your journey.

For the Anita’s, Meghan’s, Josh’s, Jesse’s of the world and their families.  For being the light on our journey.  Your stories provided us with inspiration and hope.

For Ulana and the Ulana’s of the world, whose children unfortunately cannot benefit from our money raised, but who have the power and courage to pay it forward anyway.  Ulana, you were my rider strength on this powerful journey.  I am so happy we rode in with our blue ribbons into Point Pleasant Park.

For all of my sponsors, whose contributions will assist in the powerful movement of awareness to conquer childhood cancer. 

To all of my friends who supported me, and in particular to Donna Turner, and Barb Peterson whose daily and weekly support was essential.

To Eric, for taking this journey on with me, for starting and completing this epic journey, and for being a solid, integral part of my learning.

To the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation for your 100% model, for taking on something incredibly ambitious and for reaching high.

To Team 3, for teaching me about pushing and pulling, leading and following, strengths and weaknesses, and working together as team.

Stay tuned for an invitation to see a slide show that Eric and I will put together.

Coast to Coast baby! 

Cath

Day 14 Moncton to Charlottetown

I sit in our RV tonight as we travel from our Day 14 end destination Charlottetown to Lower Sackville, where we will meet Teams 1 and 2 tonight.  As we rode into Charlottetown today, I felt like I was in a dream, one day before our final destination in Halifax. 

We were joined today by the CEO of Sears, and it was an honour to have the support of Sears on our team.  It has been heartwarming at each stop to see the Sears employees so excited to see us come into their city/town, to provide us with delicious meals, and to often come in at 5 or 6 am, sometimes on their day off.  It is here that we hear the stories of young people who have survived cancer, lived to tell the tale, and inspire us with the stories of how they are living out their life dreams.  It is here that I am reminded of the victory of the $1.3 million we have raised, and the awareness that our national presence brings. 

I continue to love how the landscape changes as we move from place to place, province to province, city to city, town to town.  Today was no exception.  I was aware of the change from the rustic, hilly landscape of New Brunswick, to how the landscape changed as we got closer to PEI.  I enjoyed the green, flatter, serene, peaceful feeling of the island, and particularly loved going over the 10km bridge to Charlottetown. 

Today our team was blessed in the am with another glorious day, our best yet, climbing to 25 degrees and sunny, with a great tailwind behind us.  Often going 37-40km’s/hour, we were sailing.  This is a cyclists dream! 

True to the nature of this adventure, up and down like a rollercoaster, after our afternoon break, we had a crosswind, and I was breathless trying to stay on the tire of my teammate in front of me.  Coming on and off the tire, I finally fell back fatigued, and was busting my chops to get back on.  As I rode solo for some time, seeing my team move in a pelleton in front of me, the effort and energy of this journey rushed over my body, tears rolling down my face.  As I pushed and pushed to make some gains, I thrust my legs into the downhill, knowing this was my strength.  As I turned the corner into our break, where my team mates were, I got off my bike, and moved into a heap of sobs.  All of the emotions of the preparation and the last 14 days were with me, and a few of my teammates rubbed my back.

I had reflected a lot on this trip about the nature of the challenge for me. Typically in my life I am a high achiever, capable, competent, and set high goals that I largely meet.  Since my highschool days, I have taken a leadership role, and have continued to develop these skills with every new experience since then.

During this ride, I have needed more support to complete this journey.  I had team mates who stepped in to ride with me up hills, to encourage and coach me, and to be my rocks.  In my normal life, I often felt like the rock, on this trip, I was having a different experience. 

I want to dedicate my blog tonight to my team, and in particular to Mark Burger, AKA Cheeseburger who emulates for me the nature of team spirit.  He has had an outstanding rock like enthusiasm, and always works to get his whole team to the goal.  I will never forget the times, each day, that he has supported me when I was down.  One morning, our team talked about using our strengths to support other people’s weaknesses, and I am grateful for all the times we have done this as a team.

After my meltdown today, I focused on using this energy to propel me the last 84km’s of our day.  I stayed on the wheel of my best drafter, Al, and focused every ounce of my energy, breathe, and mind on the road ahead.  Cresting those hills with a fierce determination, I felt completely alive.

Tomorrow, about 3pm, our final victory will be experienced, as we dip our wheels into Point Pleasant Park in Halifax.  I will take my rock, and remember all ways I have been formed and melded through this experience.  The children we have met, and the 10,000 children with cancer in Canada who survive their experience, and have the opportunity to live out their dreams, their experience with adversity helps them to inspire us, and many others.  I too know that all of the challenges and adversity I have experienced have and will continue to strengthn me mentally and physically.

Halifax, here we come!!!!  To my sponsors, may you too feel the victory of your contributions!!! I look forward to sharing the pictures and stories with you upon my return.

Ottawa to Montreal

Day 11, Ottawa to Montreal, my best day yet, despite the fact that I couldn’t talk!
We got up at 5:30am to start a ride along at 7am and did our usual am routine which includes stumbling out of the Sears bunk truck, figuring out where the washroom is, getting into all of my gear, having breakfast, and doing our morning dedication.  THis morning we heard from a Sears employee who is a cancer survivor, and talked first hand about the importance of where our money is going - to help us not lose one more sister, brother, daughter, son, and to help them graduate and fulfill their dreams. 

The route from St. Laurent Mall in Ottawa to La Salle Montreal was gorgeous and I was captivated the whole day amidst a glorious sunny, clear blue sky by the lakes on the left, and fields of wheat and farm houses and old buildings.  I felt that my riding was clicking for me.  Our team rode together seamlessly and I thought about the time that it takes to get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, how to support each other, how to communicate. 

We stopped 30 km’s from the end of our total 140km route, and met 20 riders who had raised $20K and rode in together with them to La Salle.  I loved this route and recognized it from going to Montreal with the Bike Rally each year, and savored the cafes and restaurants on the left and the St. Lawrence on the right.  Beautiful!  As we came through LaChine, I remembered this perfectly and it hit me that we only have 4 days left.

We arrived in LaSalle at 3pm, and while eating, sat under a tent outside of Sears and heard a panel of inspiring speakers from Sears, Montreal Children’s Hospital, and Anita share the importance of where the money goes.  I was moved and inspired to tears, and although my french is less than optimal, I picked up on most of it, and especially their sentiment. 

Anita, a 16 year old young woman of colour, I connected with deeply.  She shared her story of her experience with having to deal with a brain tumour as a very young child, the recurrances, surgeries, and ultimately her victory.  She is cancer free, and has been apart of the gifted class with a 99% average and has received many awards.  She has aspirations to become a doctor, and to work with children with brain tumours. I thought about the power of her experience, and her commitment to use what she has gone through to support others.  I thought about the irony that her cancer was in her brain, and her obvious brilliance with sciences and maths.  If that isn’t a success story, I don’t know what is!

Anita and LaSalle are now apart of my rock.  That tiny community helped me to deepen my connection to the power of our cross country journey, the awareness we are raising, and ultimately, the success stories, like Anita’s that come fomr the money raised.

My excitement to reach Halifax mounts, and can taste that it is actually going to happen!

In the meantime, I look forward to savoring the rest of the eastern provinces!

Three Rainbows, 5 Provinces, 5 more days

I haven’t blogged since day 3, with no internet access along the way in the prairies and northern ontario, and my fatigue at the end of the day, I couldn’t seem to string two coherent sentences together.  Today was day 10, a marker in the journey where all three teams came together and rode from Woodstock to Toronto.  I woke up with no voice, and took the day off to go to a walk in clinic.  Luckily, I went to a walk in clinic and I have laryngitis, which is a best case scenerio for me, I think.  I feel well and the doc told me I can ride.  Only 5 days left of riding, and I want to ride every one.  After a year of intense preparation, the thought of not riding into Halifax seemed unfathamable. 
Coming through South Western Ontario the last two days has been wonderful, particularly to be greeted by my family and friends. 

Yesterday, Day 9, as we woke up in Sarnia, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we were in South Western Ontario.  We had moved across the country in 9 days.  How was that possible?!?!  My mind whirlled with the beautiful scenes we had passed through in those days.

We went over to the tent in front of Sears to enjoy breakfast, a normal am ritual, with relatively grey am skies.  As I looked to the left a beautiful sun was rising.  Soon after, a gorgeous, vibrant full rainbow appeared.  I mused on the fact that this was the third rainbow I had seen on this trip, my symbol of hope, and this the image that was in Jenny’s room for so long.  The energy of our team rose as we watched the rainbow, and soon after, a double rainbow appeared.  When Jason Morningstar, our team leader spoke about miracles, that he believed in miracles, and the rainbow was a sign of a miracle, I concurred. 

With a 20 person ride along, we rode from Sarnia to London, and I felt the excitement in my bones as we made our way to my hometown.  This was a moment I had been envisioning all year.  After the challenge of the Northen Ontario hills, I welcomed the flat roads of the area I grew up in.  I had been thinking for the last few days about what I wanted to say in London, to thank my parents for raising $10,000 with the support of our London community, and to thank my highschool, Banting Secondary School for raising $5600.  In total, London raised 15,600, which was over half of the total $27,500 I had raised over the year. 

As we approached London, 30 km’s away, I became more and more excited, and as we came down Highway 22, my team put me in the lead, and I felt extremely proud to lead them into Sears Masonville.  We were 15 minutes early, and I saw the tents ahead.  After sleeping in the bunks on the van for 9 days, travelling in an RV in the evenings for 400-600 km’s, the fatigue from riding, I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to see people I love greet us in.  As we turned the corner, I saw my mom, and she started running, in what seemed to me to be a forward motion, as if she was going to fall to the ground.  Tears in her eyes, she was screaming a welcome in.  With our peleton turning toward the tent, and my mom running, I saw my Dad, his quiet, strong self moving toward us.  I got off my bike and hugged my parents, and was overjoyed to see them and my niece and nefew there.  I have been in this journey that has been forming, changing and transforming me, and it was grounding and soothing to see people from my regular life.  It was wonderful to see some of my parents friends who have donated - Charlotte, Shelagh, and Barb, along with a some of my friends - Jen/Theo/Josh, and Shak/Alex/Mya/Bodey.  Thank you so much for coming.  It meant the world to me!!  When my brother walked toward me, I felt like I was in a dream.  He asked me how I was, and I fell into his arms and felt like I could sleep.  I was sad to leave London, wanting to spend more time with my family and friends, and eager to complete this journey and go into Halifax.  Knowing that my parents were making the journey to Halifax was amazing!

As we left London, and made our way to Ingersoll, and Woodstock, I was excited to have the night off with no travelling.   Ah, a good night’s sleep.  Eric and I were met by 4 of our friends, and it was great to see more familiar faces.  I had been thinking about the steak I would have all day, and when we got to the restaurant, I was so tired, I almost had my face in my plate.  Thank you Donna, Kai, Tim and Fab for your generosity.  For meeting all of these Friends for Life on the Bike Rally, they have supported us every step of the journey, which has meant so much to me.

After a great night’s sleep in the hotel, which seemed so extravagent after our rustic bunking situation, and a trip to the walk in clinic, I again pulled out my rock that I picked up in White Rock, our starting point.  When we were there, they asked us to choose a rock that we would pull out of the ocean, carry with us, and then drop in the Atlantic Ocean in Halifax.  I talked with my friends on the car ride on the highway to meet the national team at Sherway Gardens about my rock.  My friend Fab shared his thoughts that the rock was formed under intense conditions of cold and heat, and remained resilient.  I thought about the similarities of the rock and my ride, that I was being formed, melded, shaped, and ultimately transformed by the intensity of the terrain, the conditions of weather, sleeping, nutrition, and human interactions.  I thought about how the reflection of the transformation and what it meant would happen after the ride, because I am so focused on each moment, and what’s happening around me. 

I thought about the forming and melding that was happening for me, for all the other riders, and for the people that were touched along the way.  I thought about that beautiful moment in London when Jana’s mom gave me an angel pin and said that Jana was watching over me from heaven.  I took the pin, my chest welding with tears, and added it to my collecetion of other pins from the other towns we had passed through.  I thought about my parents voices every time I talked to them, and how their support had shaped, formed and melded me into the person that I am now. 

I thought about the irony that I had lost my voice, 5 days from the end of the journey.  I giggled to myself, thinking about my desire to do a meditation retreat, and how it was coming in the form of a 5 day cycle across the rest of the country.  I laughed to myself at the irony that my reflection was coming to me because I wasn’t going to be able to talk with anyone.  I was going to cycle from Toronto - Halifax with my eyes open, enjoying every moment, savoring the deliciousness of this dream coming to completion, and knowing that I could listen, breathe in, see, hear and enjoy. 

As the national riders came into Sherway Gardens, I felt overjoyed with pride as I saw them come in.  I felt moved and touched as Barb, Tom, and Lor made the trip to come and see us, and seeing them in those moments helped me to gather strength for the next part of the journey. 

As I hugged my friends goodbye, big strong embraces, my friend Fab said, You are the Rock, and I felt strongly embedded in the next part of the journey.  I was shifting from focusing on where I was sleeping, what time we were getting in, when I would shift from the RV to the bunk truck, where and what I would eat, what our next town was, what pot hole or gravel was in front of us as we rode to some of the deeper meanings of this journey for me, which was like the rock as Fab so astutely pointed out.  What forming, melding and transformation was happening for me?

I became excited to embrace my meditation, my time not to talk, my time to listen, hear and breathe in the sights and sounds of the eastern part of the Canadian journey. This moving from west to east thing was part of my transformation.

Day 3, 3 Provinces

I cannot believe it is Day 3 of this journey, and we have made our way through 3 provinces.  Today, we cycled from Medicine Hat to Gull Lake, and now we are in our RV, being shuttled to our next destination Regina.

We just watched the rain come down, and a beautiful rainbow, my symbol of hope.  On our first night in the RV, we had a gorgeous double rainbow, and I thought of the rainbow in Jenny’s room, and my connection to her on the ride.  I proudly woke up on Day One, and pinned a picture of her onto my shirt, carrying her with me on this ride.  Her life and death, my inspiration for doing this ride, for things to be different for other kids.

That is one of the big messages we have been hearing at our morning dedications, and at the stops along the way where we hear from kids, parents and siblings.  Although 10,000 children deal with cancer in Canada, and it is the leading cause of non-accidental death in children, our national awareness and money raised is making a huge difference for children and families in 17 oncology centers across the country today, and in the future.

This provides me with hope, and when I think of the legacy our national awareness is creating I think about the rainbow that connects Jenny and I, and the devastating effects her death had on her parents, brother and our extended family.

I flew out on Sept. 4th to Vancouver and was greeted by my dear friend Jules, who took me to Vancouver island, and we spent 2 glorious days in Victoria, enjoying food on patios, walking along the beach by the ocean, picking up rocks, sharing our connection with Hawaii, and getting massages.  I savored this luxury before the big ride.

The two days before the ride were spent with our 42 national riders in training and team building, and we created a national team charter together, which I found very powerful.  We did two rides together, one with our own teams, and one in our larger group.  My team, Team 3, did a 30 km ride together, and then the next day, all 42 national riders, with our Coast to Coast gear on, cycled to BC children’s hospital, where we participated in an Inside Ride.  We arrived, and the excitement among us was palpable, as we danced and cheered each other on.  We listened to our first ambassador, a 16 year old young woman who shared her 3 time battle with chemo, and then proceeded to get on a stationary bike and cycle.  I started to think about the message of hope that these kids provided to us, and we provided to them as we moved across the country.

The next morning, we awoke at 4:30am, breakfast at 5am, and departed at 6:15am to go to White Rock.  Here, we dipped our wheels in the Pacific Ocean, and picked up rocks that we would throw into the Atlantic when we arrived in Halifax.  It was a misty morning, and as we took pictures, I looked up and saw my first spin instructor, Duff standing there with his partner.  As we embraced, he had tears in his eyes and I blamed him for me choosing to take on this ride.  My stomach felt like a rollercoaster ride, and I was breathing trying to keep myself grounded.  The task before me seemed enormous in that moment. 

The first day we cycled White Rock to Chillawack.  It was beautiful to ride with all 42 riders, all moving in a pack, with our Coast to Coast gear on.  When we arrived in Chilliwack, our larger pack split into our three teams.  My team, team 3, got into our RV, and after a 6.5 hour drive, we arrived at 12am in Revelstoke.  There’s that word again.

At 12am, moving from an RV to our Sears van where our bunks are in a stuppor, we were there until 6am, which is our daily rise time where we get our gear ready, eat breakfast, do our team dedication, and get on the road for 8am. 

On Day 2, we rode from Revelstoke to Golden.  In our team dedication that morning, our team leader, Jason Morningstar, dedicated the day to his nefew, Jesse, 5 years old who had battled cancer.  We talked about this being one of our toughest days, and the energy we would need to summon to deal with the challenges of those hills called mountains.  We cycled through those hills, some of them like the one we did up to Rogers Pass, 1300m, and eight grade 6 km hill.  You get the picture.  In the morning through the rain that got more intense, and then in the afternoon it cleared and the gorgeous vistas of the mountains came into view.  I remembered the majesty of the mountains from working in Yoho National Park 16 years ago.  I wondered what it would be like to go through Golden, where Jana’s body was taken after she died in a climbing accident those 17 years ago.  As we cycled in the afternoon, more downhill than up, through the majesty of the mountains, and into Golden, together as a team, I could feel the energy and excitement of our team as we hooted and hollered, having completed another day, Day 2.

Another 5 hour drive in the RV took us to Medicine Hat, and we got up this morning to a totally different landscape of the prairies.  We moved as a pack, with a fantastic tailwind, at an average speed of 35 km’s an hour.  I savored the difference and beauty of the landscape, the vast landscape with rolling hills.  On our lunch break at Piapot, where we sat outside of a tavern, in the middle of no where, I walked behind our vans to take in the scene before me. 

I pondered the conversations I had heard in our dedications, at our community events along the way, and with fellow riders.  I thought about my conversation with Roger as he supported me up the rocky mountain hills.  We talked about finding “it”, the energy and motivation to take this on, get through it, and handle the challenges, whether it be rocky moutain hills, lack of sleep, moving in a moving RV until 12-1am, rain etc.  It’s what I had anticipated all along, it’s all mental.  Each day, I search for my mental stamina, my motivations for doing this, my search to create a different landscape for the kids we ride for and their families.  I think that moving through 10 provinces in 15 days, with many different landscapes, and many different stories will create a different landsapce for our whole community - all 42 national riders, volunteers, and all of the people we touch along the way.  As we heard at the Inside Ride at BC Children’s Hospital, if you can touch one heart and one mind, then we have done our job. 

Thank you for sharing the journey.  Until we meet at the next stop.  I have taken lots of pictures, and look forward to sharing them. 

Cath

refocus

5 sleeps until I join one of my close friends for a weekend trip to Vancouver, 1 week until our team of 47 national riders meets in Vancouver for 2 days of team building, and 10 sleeps until we start this venture.

When I was talking with one of my fellow riders, David Heaslip, he compared the journey to how he imagined giving birth, and although I have not birthed a child, that resonated for me.  A lot of labour pains, ups and downs, planning and preparing out the wazooo, getting ready financially, physically, emotionally, and mentally. 

There are many people along the way that have helped me get ready.  One of my dear kindreds, Marie Chai and I were sitting together last week and she helped me refocus.  We talked about why I am doing this ride, what I want from my experience, and what’s important to me.  I moved into a different space than I have been the last couple of months.

We talked about the land and the people.  How it’s important to me to have this opportunity to see my homeland, traverse it, see the different aspects of the terrain, and how the terrain informs how people live in different places.  We talked about the history and the legacy of our native people.  I thought about the 15 days, the bite size pieces I will experience.  And yet, those bite size experiences will be filled with deep connection as we hear the stories of kids and their families. 

I left my conversation with Marie feeling uplifted and better about myself, and my experience, and I thought about how I always feel that way after we are together.  I thought about those people in my life that make me feel better after being with them, without fail, and how lucky I am. 

This past weekend, enjoying the sunset on Lake Huron, one of the most peaceful places I have experienced, my Dad and I looked at the maps in detail and talked about the different aspects of the terrain.  We predicted the most difficult days: Day 2, Revelstoke to Golden; and Day 6,7, and 8 covering the territory of Thunder Bay, Marathon, Wawa, and moving down to Manitoulin island.  I thought about seeing Terri Fox 25 years ago in London, and how his legacy will hit home when we go through Marathon.

I thought about moving through the prairies, the homeland of my family, my grandparents, and the deep connection I will feel to my parents, my grandparents, and both sides of my family.  I thought about my conversation with my Dad where he reminded me that we will be going through a place right near Arcola Saskatchewan, where my great aunt, who died at 102, farmed with her family in the early 1900’s. 

I thought about legacy’s.  The legacy of our native people, the legacy of Terri Fox, the legacy of my family, the legacy of the kids and their families we will be meeting.

I thought about how on day 9 of the ride, I will arrive in my hometown, London.  I thought about what I would typically do in 9 days in my life.

Strangers

The ongoing countdown, we’re now at 17 days.  In participating in the Tour for Kids this weekend, I started to get a small taste of what we’ll be a part of over 15 days.  Hearing the stories from parents, kids, and people who have survived cancer connected me more deeply to why I am doing this.

While we were at Camp White Pine on Sat. eve, I sat on the familiar camp benches that I have sat on so many times, as a camper, and counsellor over my lifetime.  Immersed amongst 500 people, I watched as a young man of 15 came up on stage and shared the difference we were making.  He finished speaking and I stood up on my bench.  Adam Fedesoff.  I had been hearing his name for a couple of years now.  One of my closest friends was a teacher at his school, another one of my closest friend’s his dietician at Sick Kids during his treatments.  He and I had been in touch this year about the possibility of him talking at a fundraiser in Toronto.  He was a powerful and engaging speaker, and a leader. 

On Sunday morning, on the misty ball diamond while it was raining, another young man got up with this parents and shared that he felt his experience with cancer was a positive one, that he would never have participated in an event like the Tour for Kids, and would not have had the experience to ride with Lance (I know, I call him by first name like I know him, but doesn’t every cyclist?), among other learning experiences.  I felt astonished that this young man had the wisdom to see such a potentially traumatic and tragic experience as a positive one.  I reflected on the fact that these were the type of people I wanted to continue to surround myself with, and that I was going to have the fantastic opportunity to continue to meet countless courageous warriors across the country.

Jeff Rushton, founder and passionate volunteer, as he introduces himself, shared, misty eyed himself, that in 1985 there was a 15-20% survival rate for children living with cancer.  I thought of the year 1984 when Jenny my counsin, died of leukemia.  He went on to say that now that stat has changed to 80%.  I was moved to know that the money we were collectively raising would continue to contribute to the upward climb of this statistic. 

On Sunday morning, before we left in the rain, an adult woman got up and shared her experience with breast cancer.  She talked about the impact that strangers could have on your life, including doctors, nurses, caregivers, and other people you meet along the journey.  Her statement stayed with me throughout the day, as I thought about the weekend.

On Saturday morning, I started with our team of national riders, and sometime during the morning, my heart rate was peaking at my max 171-178 for too long, and I knew this was my danger zone for my symptoms of severe hypoglycemia to start, and I’d had enough experience to this point to know that with a max heart rate too long, and not enough glucose to my brain, I became a liability rather than an asset to myself and those around me.

I dropped off the group, and cycled on my own for a while, reflecting on what I had been hearing throughout the weekend, the challenges of these kids, and how they survived and inspired others, or died, and left a legacy of inspiration.  I thought about what legacy I wanted to create as I move into my 38th year. 

A large pack of cyclists approached me from behind, and my thoughtfulness was interrupted with, “Do you want to jump on the back?”  Startled, I quickly moved to get on the wheel of the back person.  I wasn’t sure when the last person was going to approach because there was one blue and white shirt after the other.  I recognized it was team Axle, and as I looked at the long stream of mostly men in front of me, I was moved at the show of support for the inspiration that Alex had left behind him.  We heard his Dad speak that morning about the loss of their son, after many surgeries, and the impressive courage that Alex demonstrated during the course of his illness.  As I heard his Dad speak, with his wife beside him, both of them struggling with holding back the tears, I was moved by their ability to take this on only 15 months after Alex’s death. 

As I rode with team Axle over the next day and a half, looking ahead at the sea of blue and white shirts, most of them with pictures of Alex on their backs, it sunk in further how all of these kids are inspiring communities across the nation to come out and take this cause on.  As I drafted off the wheel of the person in front of me, I often enthusiastically called out, “Go Team Axle”.  I felt moved by Alex’s life, the legacy he had left behind, and how many people he had inspired to ride in his memory, and further this cause.  As I moved with their team, I felt honoured to participate in their obvious team spirit, which included looking out for each other, being conscious of safety, all knowing the same hand signs and using them, and moving together as a pack.  This pack had a quiet, supportive, powerful inspiration from Alex, his courageous journey motivating them to move together as one unit.  I got off my bike on Sunday, and faced his Dad, put my hands on his shoulders, and thanked him for Alex’s inspiration and the journey to move together with them. 

I thought about all the strangers I met that weekend that inspired me.  Patrick who moved with me on Saturday, and felt like an angel in that moment; all of the team Axle members in their quiet courage; all of the speakers who made the cause real; and all of the tireless volunteers.

I thought of last year’s national riders whose stories inspired me of what is to come.  When I finished the ride on Sunday, and went to put my bike on the rack, I shook hands with one of the female team Axle members.  Catherine Pickup she said.  Ah, yes, I recognized her name.  She said she was one of last year’s national riders.  And she left me with a story I will never forget.  As her team rode into one of the small towns last year, one of the kids with cancer they were riding for in that town, died two days before they arrived.  As their team cycled into the town, the family asked the national riders to come to to the wake.  She described that they rode in together to the wake of this child, with their coast to coast gear on.  She reminded me that it is these moments that you will remember. 

Meeting the reality

After not writing in my blog since April, I’m making up for lost time!  I was talking with a dear friend at work this morning and she said, Wow, this is big, how are you doing?

I answered, “I’m in the acceptance phase…”  She responded, with low laughter, “Ah, and there has been denial, shock, anger too?”  I mused on that and said, yes, mostly shock, as I have met the reality of this throughout the year.  I said, that sounds like a good blog, “Meeting the Reality”

I thought about the initial dream, one I can still taste, thick in my mouth and my dreams.  I was cycling from Toronto to Montreal with the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation in year 3 of my 4 years participating in this 100km/day 6 day event.  It was Day 4, and I began to feel my real strength.  Every year, true to my endurance nature, I slowly built up to my strength.  Day 4/5 and 6 were always my best days.  I got into my grove, my body felt stronger and stronger, and mentally I was sharper, stronger, and more determined.  In year 3, on Day 4, I remember the moment when the dream was born.  I started to visualize myself travelling by bike across the country, and each part of the terrain showed up in my mind.  It was enticing. I didn’t think about it again, and then found out that Robert Windrum, a fellow rider, was cycling across Canada. The enticement was lit again.  I followed his blog and photos last year from the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride, and although I didn’t seriously think I’d do it, I applied.  That was my first mistake.

To traverse the whole country by bike.  To see, experience, and soak in all the different terrain of this fantastic country.  I dream about it often this year, event more in the last few months, with parts of Canada showing up in my dreams.  I knew it was going to be a huge commitment, and yet, how can you plan for something like this?  Month by month, I have met the reality of this more and more.  It has crept up on me.  Yes, I had budgeted $20K, and as I went I realized it was more like $25K.  Ah, what’s $25K when this event costs the Coast to Coast Foundation $1 Million to get 42 riders across the country?  What’s $25K when children and their families are fighting to keep their dreams, their health alive?

I have met this reality when the what appears to be logistical treadmill of my days has pushed me into a whole different reality this year, mostly sacrificing my normal social life.  I have met this reality when every spare moment I had until the end of June was spent following up on fundraising calls.  What am I, a fundraising machine?  Ah yes, and I met my goal of surpassing our goal of $25K by the end of June.

The biggest reality I have met has been between April - August, facing the physical reality and preparation needed.  My mind has played many tricks with me.  Shock.  What the F$%#% was I thinking?  Why am I doing this?  Trying to picture how it will be to repeat 160 km’s over 15 days.  I have played it over in my mind so many times, visualizing it, psychologically preparing myself.  Bargaining.  When I rode 5 days in the Collingwood area, I kept thinking ok, now all I have to do is repeat this 3 times.  3 times?!?!? I continued to meet the reality at a fundraiser my parents had in London at the end of June, and Terri Hoddincott spoke about his experience, and he shared the realities.  Everyone in the audience loved him, and thought he was a fantastic speaker, and he helped me raise more money, but I wanted to crawl in the closest cave after he spoke.  He must have repeated sore ass god knows how many times, tylonel, mosquitos in the prairies, lack of sleep.  Oh god, I thought, how badly do I want this?  Will this be my reality I kept thinking? 

And so I’ve met different riders, ridden with them, and had conversations, getting a real sense of where I’m at.  And as of Friday, after a long conversation with Mike Smith, for the first time in months, I let it all go.  I have no idea how it’s going to go for me.  I visualize myself as strong, and I will put 100% of myself into it.  But I have no idea how I’m going to fare in the rockies or in the northern ontario hills.  What I do know, is that the reality that I’m going to face is the opportunity of a lifetime, and this, in spite of the physical test of it, will fare as a small reality compared to the kids that we will meet everyday that will be grappling with the realities of living with an illness that has changed their life, their dreams and their families. I ponder the contrast of 40 healthy, strong individuals putting their physical, emotional, and mental strength to the test.  And I think, ah yes, this is the demonstration to these kids that we stand for them, for their futures.  When I think of this, I immediately think of Jenny, my cousin, her future robbed of her, after her early death at 15, and I think of how she would of felt knowing that 40 people had spent their year preparing to move across the country in a draft, a symbol of movement, of change, of making a national difference.  That is what I love.  This is what motivates me.

I’ve come to accept that some tylonel, the sore chaffing ass, the burning thighs, and the odd lack of sleep is a reality I’m about to meet, and one that in perspective of what we’re doing, will change me in ways that I’m about to find out.  That’s what I’m excited about; to see how we’re all changed in ways that we would not have expected.  In ways that all the fundraising and training could not have prepared us for. 

Preparation is one thing, soaking in the moment by moment experience is another.

15 days, 2700 km’s, a few hills, and $26,725.91 raised

We will be riding 15 days starting in Vancouver on Sept. 9th and arriving in Halifax on Sept. 23rd.

Each team will cover 2700 km’s teams, and I am on Team 3, going through my home town, London.  I am riding on behalf of London!

Thanks to my incredible supporters, together we have raised $26,725.91 which will go to kids living with cancer and to their families across the nation.  I am incredibly impressed with the Coast to Coast’s commitment to give 100% of the money directly to the cause.

I would love as many people as possible to come and “drop in” at our different locations along the way.  I am listing them below.  Please note that the times may change depending on circumstances, so please follow my blog for updates.  If you come to a location, I would appreciate if you could take pictures.

For anyone from London, it would be fantastic if you could offer to volunteer on Sept. 17th at the Sears Masonville.

You can contact Samanthan Desjardine, the Marketing Coordinator at:
e: sdesj34@sears.ca

p: 519-667-4710 ext. 453

Please note that I am listing the places below where we stop which is typically am break, lunch, afternoon break, and where we sleep.

DAY 1: Sept. 9th Vancouver - Hope

- Whilte Rock Park 7-9am

- Sears Langley Willowbrook Mall Ride Along 9:45-10:15am

- Abbotsford 11:15-12:15am

- Chilliwack 3:00-3:30pm

- Sears Hope 4:30-6:30pm

- Revelstoke Days Inn 10pm - 8am

DAY 2: Sept. 10th
- Albert Canyon 10-10:30am

- Glacier 12:30-1:30pm

- Beaver Mouth 3-3:30pm

- Sears Golden 4:30-6:30pm

- Medicine Hat 10pm - 8am

DAY 3: Sept. 11th

- Walsh 10am-10:30am

- Piapot Saloon 12:30-1:30pm

- Tompkins 3:00-3:30pm

- Gull Lake Sears 5-7pm

- Regina Distribution Centre 10pm-8am

DAY 4: Sept. 12th

- Viabank 11:00-11:30am

- Montmartre 12:30-1:30pm

- Kipling 3:00-3:30pm

- Wawota 6:30-8:30pm

- Winnipeg Polo Park 10pm - 8am

DAY 5: Sept. 13th

- Richer Rock Garden Campground 10:00-10:30am

- Reynolds 12:30-1:30pm

- Falcon Beach 3:00-3:30pm

- Kenora possibly Days Inn 6:30-8:30pm

- Quetico Park 10pm-8am

DAY 6: Sept. 14th

- Kashabowie 10:00-10:30am

- Shebodowa 1:30-2:30pm

- Kaministiquia 4:00-4:30pm

- Thunder Bay 5-7pm

- Marathon Rec Centre or Campground 10am-8am

Day 7: Sept. 15th

- White Lake 10:00-10:30am

- Sears - White River 12:30-1:30pm

- Paint Lake Road 3:00-3:30pm

- Wawa Home Building Centre 4:45-5:45pm

- Spanish 10pm-8am

Day 8: Sept. 16th

- Espanola 10:00-10:30am

- Little Current 12:30-1:30pm

- Manitowaning Guardian Pharmacy 3:00-3:30pm

- South Maymouth Carol and Earl’s Restaurant 4-5pm

- Sarnia Lambton Mall 10pm-8am

Day 9: Sept. 17th

- Hwy 7 10:00-10:30am

- London Sears Masonville 12:30-1:30pm

- Ingersoll Dealer Store 3:00-3:30pm

- Woodstock 4-5pm

- Woodstock Dealer Store Ride Along 10pm-8am

Day 10: Sept. 18th

- Brandford Lyndon Park Ride Along

- Burlington Mapleview Community Event/Ride Along 12:30-1:30pm

- Sears Oakville 3:00-3:30pm

- Sherway Gardens Community Event/Ride Along 3:30-4:30pm

- Sick Kids Hospital Community Event 5:30-7:30pm

- St. Laurent Mall Ride Along 10pm -7am

DAY 11: Sept. 19th

- Rockland 10:00-10:30am

- Hawkesbury 1:00-1:30pm

- St. Placide

- Carrefour Agrignon Community Event/Inside Ride 3-5pm

- Levis 10pm-8am

DAY 12: Sept. 20th

- Montmagmy 10:00-10:30am

- St. Jean Port Joli 12:30-1:30pm

- Route Lauzier 3:00-3:30pm

- Riviere-du-Loup 5:30-7:30pm

- Nackawia Home Hardware 10pm-8am

DAY 13: Sept. 21st

- Fredericton Regent Mall 10:00-10:30am

- Tracy Sears The Tracy Store 12:30-1:30pm

- Welsford Golf Course 3:00-3:30pm

- Saint John Sears McAllister Place Mall  5:30-7:30pm

- Sears Moncton Ride Along 10pm-8am

DAY 14: Sept. 22nd

- Sackville - Sears Appliance Store 10-10:30am

- Springhill-Ross Anderson Pharmacy Ltd. 12:30-1:30pm

- Londonderry - Section of Streets off Base Line/Broadway 3:00-3:30pm

- Truro Sears 5-6pm

- Lower Sackville Sports Stadium Ride Along 5-9pm

Day 15: Sept. 23rd

- Halifax Shopping Centre Community Event/Ride Along

- IWK Community Event/Inside Ride 2:30-3:30pm

- Point Pleasant Park - Wheel Dip 1:30-2pm

My dream of seeing the country by bike is going to happen, and I thank all my sponsors and The Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation for giving me this incredible opportunity!

Catherine

The final one month countdown!

It’s hard to believe that in less than one month, this adventure will begin in Vancouver.  After preparing for a year, and having this commitment slowly but surely take over my life, I cannot believe that I last wrote my blog in April, and in one month we will begin the 15 day journey.

As I have gotten further and further into the training, fundraising and figuring out the science of my body, and bike, the challenges and rewards have met me square in the face.

I have definately experienced an extrordinary amount of support throughout the journey.  I have been awed, moved and inspired particularly at the support of my donors.  By the end of June, I reached my goal of raising $25K, and I am now at $26,595.  I hope that as I cross the country, and blog about the kids that we are meeting that I will reach the $30K mark. 

In May, I partnered with my high school, Banting Secondary School in London, and it was a day of joy for me.  I showed up, and remembered how much spirit that school has as I watched the 20 teams, all in costume, cycle on stationary bikes, rotate through each person on their team, and celebrate at the end the accomplishment of having raised $5600.  I felt proud to be riding on behalf of London, to have come back to my high school and share in such a fantastic accomplishment.  Shivers ran down my back throughout the day as I heard the pride that the students, administration and school felt for their contribution. YEAH BANTING!!!

In June my parents organized a thank you party for all their friends that had donated.  My parents partnered with me, as they do for all of my life goals, and personally called their friends to ask them for their support.  Through their hard work, they raised $10K, and we celebrated on Sun. June 27th, the weekend of the G20 summit in Toronto.  I still feel overwhelmed at the generosity of my parents, their hard work, and my London community.  This further solidified my feeling that I am riding on behalf of London.  I got more and more excited to come through London with Team 3!  YEAH LONDON!!

I asked Terri Hoddincott, one of last year’s riders to speak at the party my parents organized, and everyone came to understood the ride a lot more through him, as he talked about sore butts, lack of sleep, sore muscles, pain killers, etc.  After he spoke everyone in the audience seemed to feel more connected to what I was taking on, and I felt more afraid.  What had I gotten myself into!?!?!  YEAH TERRI!

This mixture of excitement, awe, passion, and connection coupled with questions, doubt, fear, being overwhelmed, I have learned is part of any large dream, be it a physical challenge, a relationship, parenting, career paths.  I have also learned that some of the same ingredients are necessary in meeting those challenges.  Mental focus, determination, perserverance, and commitment have been my staples throughout being overwhelmed on a regular basis with balancing life, and getting ready for this ride, throughout this year.  As my legs are feeling like they are going to blow up in a training session, I picture the rocky mountains or the continuous hills of northern ontario.   As I endeavor to sort out the balance of my body chemistry to maximize my challenges with severe hypoglycemia, I remember the challenges that these kids and their families face each day.  As I feel like I’m on a tread mill sometimes running from one thing to the next, taking care of logistic after logistic, packing up stuff, cleaning my bike, planning routes, I remember the unbelievable task it takes to transport 42 people across the country. 

And I remember, I was one of the 42 people to be chosen to travel as an ambassador for kids who we can help have a future.  I remember that each day, at our meal stops, we will have community events, and I will meet these kids and their families, and I sense that the depth of this connection will make every burning muscle, and every sore butt, and every call for fundraising, and every friend I was not able to see this year, and every 3am wake up in a panic all unmistakably irrelevant. 

These last few weeks have left me feeling more strengthened and confident, as I have tackled hills in the Collingwood/Barrie area, as I rode from Toronto - Collingwood in 3 days, and I have continued to improve my riding skills and learn about the fine science of my nutritional needs. 

Two weeks ago, I ventured up to Collingwood and spent the first day traversing the escarpment in Collingwood.  I knew it was “good” to give me a taste of what the grade of some of the hills we would be facing would feel like, but there was nothing good about what I was feeling!  However, I can tell you that my advantages come in the downhill, with my height, and my cervelo, I loved coasting down the rolling hills in Collingwood.  That is why I ride, feeling the accomplishment after the challenge of a hill, feeling the rush of the wind on my face, feeling free amongst gorgeous scenes, and taking it all in.  I have always loved transportation and travelling of any kind, including planes, trains, buses, cars, boats, you name it.  Cycling has opened me to a new kind of travelling, a way of seeing places around me that allow me to take in all the details around me, help me feel immersed in it, fully alive. 

On day 3 up in the Collingwood area, I set out on a route from Barrie - Alliston, up to Wasaga Beach, where I was meeting friends.  This 140 km route took me on some beautiful rolling hills near Alliston, and then I moved further north toward Wasaga Beach where I encountered construction, and had to reroute.  It was a hot day, and I found myself on airport road, with a lot of traffic, including trucks, and uphill.  I began talking in a highpitched voice (yes, that’s outloud!), singing old campsongs, and realized half an hour into my self entertainment that I may be delirious.  I giggled to myself as I thought of the movie Cast Away, and the conversations that happened with Wilson, his volleyball.  However, I hoped I was not in the category of deserted island, no contact with the real world, yet!!

In my 2nd week, I met up with fellow national riders Kirk Fudge, Damon Allen and Martin Lacelle, and cycled the first day from Toronto - Coburg, the 2nd day from Coburg - Kingston, and the 3rd day from Kingston - Ottawa.  I was happy to put in 3 consecutive days of 123km’s, 160km’s and 190km’s.  On the ride our average day is 160km’s, so I thought, well, if I can do this 5 times, consecutively, with no breaks in between, seems doable, no?!?!? 

Again, I experienced the feeling of being overwhelmed by the generosity of people.  I met Kirk Fudge for the first time, another rider on our team, and he opened up his home with his family (including 3 kids!) to myself and Damon, and treated us like we were family.  I thoroughly enjoyed B&B Kirk, and also appreciated going to bed at 7:50pm so that my wake up time of 5am was more realistic than my normal time of going to bed at 10-11pm. 

Damon and I left the next morning and our ride together from Coburg to Kingston left me feeling strong, and excited.  We drafted the whole way, or shall I say, I drafted behind Damon, and I appreciate his consistent pace.  As I drafted behind him, I got into a grove and at points hardly felt like I was doing any work.  Quite a different feeling than pounding out an 8 grade hill in Collingwood!  I relaxed as took in the beautiful scenes along the water.  Moving at a pace of 33-37km’s per hour felt fantastic. 

As I moved into Kingston, I stopped at a coffee shop, and saw the shirts from Tofino to Halifax from a distance.  When Kirk and Damon and I were cycling from Toronto - Coburg, we approached two people on the road with large packs.  I thought to myself, I am so glad that we don’t have to carry all our stuff.  Kirk and I talked briefly to them, and found out that the one guy rode from Tofino to Mississauga, and picked up his friend, and they were riding together to Halifax.  I sat down for coffee with them, and heard their stories, and it was probably the most reasurring thing I had heard yet!  As we laughed and told stories, I reflected on the challenges they had faced, compared to what we are doing.  Matt had chosen to cycle to raise money for Parkinson’s, and as I laughed about my talking in a high pitched voice story, he told many of his own that left me in tears from laughing.  He had a full on fight with his bike one day, he hid under a rock and a bridge during thunderstorms, and as he shared his challenges, I felt in awe of his commitment, particularly riding all that way on his own!  They shared the generosity of the people they had met, and as we were sitting together, the locals approached them to ask if they needed a place to stay. 

It is my hope that as many people that I know as possible will come out and join us as we raise awareness of the need for support for these kids living with cancer, and their families. 

You can go to the website: www.searsnationalkidscancerride.com to read more about the community events, ride alongs, and inside rides.

There you will find the community events, and you can also ride along in certain sections if you’d like.

My team, team 3, will be in some of the following locations:
Regina Distribution Centre Sept. 11th

Winnipeg Polo Park Sept. 12th

Quetico Park Sept. 13th

Thunder Bay Sept. 14th

London Sears Masonville Sept. 17th

Oakville Sears Sept. 18th 3:00-3:30pm

Toronto Sick Kids 5:30-7:30pm

I will be blogging as we travel across the country so please share in the journey!!

My hearfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported me and the Coast to Coast against Cancer Foundation!

YEAH CANADA!

Catherine