PAA Day 6 - "Rolling Hope"

Throughout the week on PAA, you learn about why people are here...families who have been affected by cancer directly or indirectly.  During the week we talk and joke about cycling, adventures from the road, climbs that we did, sections of the road and groups that were crushed by blistering pace setting...on and on go the glory tales and fun competitive egging-on.  But at night during dinner the reality of what we're doing and why we're doing this sets in and through informal chats and private stories, as you hear about all the pain and suffering that everyone has gone through having their child diagnosed with cancer...some still fighting, some who lost their battle, and some, like Keira, who are dealing with the aftermath.

Tonight as we had our final dinner on the road, having ridden 451 miles through California, we had several people speak openly, honestly, and fearlessly about what has brought them here.  This is about as real as it gets and it puts one's life into perspective quickly.  Raw emotions and stories of dealing with cancer filled the room, from Jeff and Jo Ann (founders of Pablove) talking about the loss of their son Pablo, to making connections with other parents who have lost their kids, others whose kids are in treatment, and others like Keira who are battling with ongoing issues like OMS.

This is a group of people that now shares a common bond, an experience of being with others who have suffered directly or indirectly, for their child or that of a friend or loved one, and has spent 6 days cycling and experiencing the freedom and meditation of the open road, all together.  And yet, this is a group of people that I could easily say "I wish I had never met you", and each member would easily understand.

Crystal and I set out on this ride this year to raise money and awareness for OMS.  It was hard.  It required several months of training, fundraising, babysitter coordination, and most important time away from Keira and Akemi.  As I type this on our last night of PAA 2013, the feeling is bittersweet.  We really miss the girls, but this ride has allowed us to raise $43K this year, it has spread awareness about OMS, it has allowed Crystal and I to connect again on the bike, and it has allowed us to meet so many amazing people.  We've had so many stories from the road and experiences that we're never going to forget.  And while I can't wait to be back at home with Keira and Akemi, I can't help but think how much work still needs to be done.  As my good friend Alex Weinert said tonight as he talked about what we are doing here, he dubbed it "rolling hope" -- hope for a cure, hope for a faster diagnosis, hope for kids who will get cancer and hope for kids who have had it and continue to live with it's after-effects.  I'm proud that Crystal and I, along with our good friends Gautham and Brian were able to be a part of this and so grateful for the support you, our friends and family, have given us to make this happen.  Tomorrow we ride 88 miles to LA to finish of PAA 2013.

http://www.stayclassy.org/teamv