Hi Wheels!
Two weeks to go, I can hardly wait! We raised about $12,000 this past week looking for $138,000 more to reach our full $150,000 match. This is the crunch time, we are well short of our goal of $750,000 and our average of $600,000 annually. I know you all are the world’s best photo-finishers, so I am not worried!
This week, I find myself thinking a lot about what Will and all the other patients go through at Children’s. Another rider, and dear friend of mine, crashed last weekend. With a broken collarbone and many many bruises and scrapes, she is out for 12 weeks. Approximately. Then last night we had a rider slip and fall (not on a bike) and brake his elbow. This year alone on our team, we have two people out with knee surgery, 3 people with shoulder elbow issues, a couple riders with back pain and other injuries that are keeping them off bikes for the Courage. While we are totally bummed for them, and hoping for a swift and full recovery, they have it easy.
300 new patients per year walk through the doors of Children’s Hospital Colorado, not knowing why they’re sick.
And they hear the word, Cancer.
What they would all give for a broken collarbone or a few broken ribs, a clear diagnosis, a clear path to recovery, and a near guarantee that you will be just fine. To top it all off, they’re children. And in the words of Bernie Gehris, “And so, I ride”. These kids are so strong and so determined and we can learn so much from them.
I am very grateful that through this team I have found an avenue to give back, and it is so important to me and all of you. We truly are making a difference, I believe that with every cell in my body. But, just in case, I am going to go donate blood this morning :)
See you in a couple weeks,
Amber
