Cancer has shaped my life in the most profound ways — as a survivor, and as a daughter.
I am a two-time melanoma survivor. Twice I have faced that diagnosis, and twice I have found the strength to fight through it. My journey looked different from many — I never went through chemotherapy or radiation, but I faced intense surgeries that carried their own profound fear and uncertainty. There is nothing small about lying on that table, not knowing what comes next. Survivorship takes many forms, and every single one of them is hard.
My mother walked that same melanoma road, and I lost her to it. My father fought lung cancer and I lost him too. They were my greatest supporters. But on August 8th, I will ride for them. I will wear a black ribbon on my jersey in their honor, carrying them with me on every mile of that 38-mile course.
I ride because cancer is personal — not in the abstract, but in the most intimate, gut-wrenching way. I ride for the researchers working tirelessly to find better answers. I ride for the patients sitting in treatment chairs right now, wondering if they have enough strength to get through one more day. And I ride because I believe deeply that what we build together — the care, the support, the community surrounding every patient and every family — can change the outcome of this disease.
More than anything, I ride to ignite hope. Hope for the patients who come after me. Hope that the dollars we raise fund something lasting. Hope that no family has to lose what I have lost.
My parents never rode. But I will ride for all three of us.
B Strong. For them. For all of us.
B Strong Ride
B Strong Ride is a bicycle event that celebrates cancer survivorship and funds a complete year of cancer care at the B Strong Center for Integrative Care at Boulder Community Health.
This critical care has a dramatic impact for people battling cancer. Supporting it moves our riders and sponsors to super-human efforts.
Founded in 2011, B Strong Ride has been an outstanding success:
- Over 10,000 riders
- Over $5 million raised
B Strong is for:
- Cyclists of all ages and abilities
- Not just cyclists. B Strong is a family event with outstanding food and entertainment throughout the day. During and after the ride, Celestial Seasonings will be open for tours and tastings.
B Strong Ride funds a complete year of cancer care at the Boulder Community Health Center for Integrative Care and other local cancer charities.
These organizations have deep personal impacts on people whose lives are impacted by cancer. Supporting them moves our riders and sponsors to superhuman efforts.
Founded in 2011, B Strong Ride has been an outstanding success:
- Over $5 million raised
- Over 10,000 riders
Boulder Community Health Center for Integrative Care (CIC) provides a wide range of services integrated with conventional cancer care that are clinically demonstrated to improve patients’ outcomes by enhancing wound healing, shortening hospital stays, and reducing pain medication needs, as well as lowering patient stress and anxiety.
CIC provides evidence-based care by certified and licensed practitioners for current cancer patients and cancer survivors, as well as their family members and caregivers, including:
- Acupuncture
- Manual Lymph Drainage
- Massage Therapy and Reflexology
- Reiki and Healing Touch Massage
- Wellness & Integrative Care Consultation