I knew right away, as soon as I finished leading the 10am session at the very first Tour De Pier, I wanted to do more.
You see, I consider myself extremely blessed to be able to make a living teaching group exercise classes; to help people by providing a safe and supportive environment where they can help themselves. These people I ride with are not simply “students” – they are partners, teammates, friends – and together we’ve formed our own little community. We challenge and inspire each other every day, and that is where the greatness lies. Walking off stage that day in 2013, my first thought was to try and convince our group to join in the fight by either signing-up to participate the following year, or making a donation to OUR bike.
The response was immediate and overwhelming, and I ride with great responsibility and honor for anyone who donates any amount. The $2,000 donation and the $20 donation hold the same weight because that is what they could do to help. I carry with me onto my bike at Tour De Pier the donor’s pure intention to help our greater community by either helping to find a cure and/or offer support to patients and their families… and it powers my legs.
Each year since, not only have we raised more and more money, but our total fundraising has come for more and more individual donations.
I ride to be a Pied Piper. I ride to recruit, gather, and urge new soldiers for our battle.