One week from now, we will be on the eve of PAA 2015!
Every year has it's ups and downs in training, fundraising, and life ... and every year for the past four years, this time of year holds special meaning. Summer gives way to Fall (or in CA, extended summer), the anticipation of riding hundreds of miles brings nervousness and excitement, and being childhood cancer awareness month makes it that much more meaningful. But also, in a couple of days we'll be upon Keira's 5 year anniversary of being diagnosed with Neuroblastoma/OMS...this fact alone is the most sobering ... and for me inspiring to do what I do.
Team V sits at $29K on a goal of $40K, and we have a week to go 'till we roll, I think we can do it.
This year, I'm grateful that my friend and 4yr PAA rider Bill Begien is joining Team V and riding PAA for OMS this year. It's an honor to have Bill on our team and also has personal meaning as we both rode PAA for our first time in 2012 from Boston to Philly. For me that was such a crazy time with so much uncertainty ahead...it was the first big ride I had trained for, I was away from the girls for a week, we had just had Akemi and Keira as still on active treatment. The crazy idea that we could somehow raise $10K that year for OMS kept me going. We ended up raising $30K+ ... totally blew me away, and Bill was there for that, and I'm glad he'll be joining me this year ... and blocking the pacific headwinds for me as well ;)
Also I'm grateful that my good friend Eric Cattell is joining Team V on his first PAA to raise money for OMS. Training and fundraising is hard, so putting in the hours on the saddle, asking people for money, and dedicating so much personal time to our cause, especially with a family is something I'm very thankful for. but it would be impossible without the support of his wife Maggie so big thanks to you and Spencer, for supporting Eric throughout this training year. I'm also looking forward to drafting off of Eric as well ;)
And speaking of family, a big thanks to Crystal for whom this ride is going to be bittersweet. We just couldn't fit it in with our life, work, and kid schedules to have both of us train. I know she wants to be on the road with me, but she's been beyond supportive at home, taking over school drop-offs/pick-ups, letting me train, and complain about all sorts of first world problems while being the foundation of everything.
So with a week to go, if you haven't already made a donation, please consider doing so, either to me (http://classy.org/naveen), or either of my fellow Team V riders, Eric (http://calssy.org/ecattell) or Bill (http://classy.org/beej2015).