First Ride - Los Altos Hills

Yes, it says hills. Now for those boys and girls out there who live in the flat lands, hills are what my coach calls an incline. It is where the road that you were just riding on is now perpendicular to the ground! You are cruising along minding your own business when all of a sudden you turn a corner and the rider in front of you yells - DOWN SHIFT!. Say WHAT??? You want me to take this bike where? Then, as some cruel joke SOMEONE decided to put a freaking stop sign half way up! Now, I have a delima. Coach made it very clear that we are to obey all traffic rules, but really....this one too? Seriously? Are you kidding me? Well, I did a little Hollywood stop but apparently that wasn't ok - I got told. OOPS! But hey, I made it up that twice accursed hill! We did that another 3 or 4 times during our brief little 15 mile joy ride. Rolling back into the parking lot I am slightly afraid to get off of my bike. My legs are Jello - but hey WE DID IT! We were greeted by juice, fruit, bagels and cream cheese - the works! Then we met the people who are the real reason we are here.

I met a dad who noticed a lump under is arm in April just before Passover. He was getting out of the shower and noticed something new. He thought it was a fatty tumor because it grew so fast. He has since had it removed and is undergoing Chemo to make sure everything is gone. One of his daughters was there today supporting him.

I met another team mate who is also suffering from Leukemia. He was engaged to be married and was under a lot of stress. His stomach was hurting but the doctors dismissed it as sore muscles from his cold he was getting over. Then he started to have fevers every day. Then night sweats. SIX MONTHS LATER they figured out that he had Leukemia and hospitalized him immediately. Miraculously he survived but he is still being watched and treated.

Another woman had some form of cancer (I didn't catch which kind) in her brain. She had been hit in the head with a soft ball and a week later couldn't move the toes on her left foot. She thought it was a residual problem from being hit in the head. It took about a week for them to figure out that she had cancer. She was admitted to the hospital right away to start treatment. At one point they put her into a drug induced coma because the pain that she was going to go through was more than she would be able to handle. She woke up to her normally calm husband's face telling her to be strong and keep fighting. That is when she knew that she was in real trouble. She fought for months in the hospital. Her room was plastered in pictures and letters from friends and friends of friends. It kept her going. (Lesson: never underestimate the power of a card or a note) Today she was at our event able to walk, but still limping on her left side. She is working on being able to ride a bike again. She hopes to get back on her surf board some day too.

Those are just 3 of the 5 or 6 that were there today. One wasn't able to be there because he is so sick right now and can't be around other people so we all signed a card for him. I hope to meet him soon too. It is a good reminder when the hills are tough or the ride is long - THIS IS WHY WE DO THIS!!! I am so glad to be a part of such a wonderful team.