Why I Ride
Cancer has touched me in so many ways. I’ve lost my mother and younger brother to cancer. I have friends who either struggle with it themselves, or have family members who are. No matter where you turn, you cannot escape the insidiousness of this disease. So, I ride in memory of my mom and brother; I ride in support of my friends who’ve also been touched by cancer; and I ride for the myriad others who are surviving!
Paul O’Neal, Bend, Oregon
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Why I Ride (The Tour des Chutes) :
I am a cancer survivor. This term “cancer survivor” means anyone who has ever received a diagnosis of cancer. Man, woman or child: Those who are being treated for cancer now are survivors. Those who are living cancer-free after treatment are survivors. (We don’t like to use the term “cured” with cancer, as we never can know for sure.) And those who are still living with cancer are survivors. We are forever changed by this diagnosis, mostly for the better, despite, or perhaps because of, the challenges and difficulties the fight against cancer has brought to us.Cancer survivors are everywhere. I do not know anyone who has not been touched by it, in their family or among their friends, if not themselves.
The annual Tour des Chutes is one day when we in Central Oregon can celebrate everyone we know who is a cancer survivor; And anyone who has passed on from cancer. Those we love. And those we admire. It is a wonderful day. It is a party on wheels. I ride in honor of all cancer survivors, past and present.
[By-the-way, The Tour des Chutes supports the very important and effective Survivorship Programs of the St Charles Medical and Cancer Center, and the LIVESTRONG.org programs across the nation and around the globe. Now how can you beat that? ]
Paul Van Camp, Bend, Oregon
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I ride because I’ve known & loved my friend, Gary B. for 20 years and I work with oncology patients…they are truly amazing in their fight against cancer
Shelley RN
Medical Oncology
St. Charles Cancer Center
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Although I only ride the 25 miler, it is feeling of accomplishment to finish that last hill. The camaraderie of riders is unmatched, the spirit of the event and wonderful food make this event quite memorable and worthwhile.
Carol Schrader MPH, RD, CDE
Clinical Nutrition and Diabetes
St Charles Health System
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“To be inspired by my patients”
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I ride in the Tour des Chutes to show my children that there is joy and strength after surviving cancer. Each year I stand by the finish line and feel so inspired as I watch survivors ride up after 75 or 100 mile rides-and see the strength that surviving cancer can bring. Now, having the privilege of helping run the survivorship program at St. Charles, I meet these inspiring people every day. My daughter, the young girl in this photo who rode with me at the first Tour des Chutes, is now a beautiful teenager. The real celebration continues everyday that I can livestrong to watch her and her brother grow up.
Lizzi Katz
Survivorship Coordinator, St. Charles Cancer Center
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This is an important event for me; specifically this year. Like many others, cancer has touched my life in different ways. My father died of cancer at age 50. My sister has had to occurrences and is now cancer free. This past October I was diagnosed. I underwent a nine hour surgery at OHSU and am slightly over two months into my chemo. My time on my bike is healing. I cannot express the joy I felt cleaning my bike this weekend and hearing from my brother that he and his wife are flying up to Bend to ride with me. I am not only going to survive but thrive. The finish line will feel like my start over line.
Bill Baker
Send your ‘Why I Ride’ story to us at www.info@tourdeschutes.org
