Why I Ride
By Betsy McLaughlin
I ride differently today than I rode a year ago. During the last Tour de Pier, I was honored to ride on stage alongside Michael Stadvec from Fit On Studios. Michael had lost his mother and his wife, Franca, had lost her father, both due to cancer. My motivation was to support them and others, both on stage and off, in our collaborative quest to raise funds to fight the #2 cause of death in the US. As I watched all those riding in honor of a loved one, I felt proud to be part of a “movement” to support so many whose lives have been impacted by cancer. I was also thankful to be healthy and able to ride for the cause. When Michael yelled to the crowd, “We ride for the supporters!” I thought “Hell, yeah. I am a supporter!”
One month later, during a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. There was no history of breast cancer in my family and in 20+ years of regular exams, I had never been called back for any type of secondary screening. Given the timing, clearly the tumor had silently resided inside of me while I was riding at the Tour de Pier. At the very instant of diagnosis, I transitioned from being a supporter to the hope of being a survivor.
This past year has been a story of clarity, education and support. The concept that my body had fostered the growth of cancer was horrifying. Instantaneously, all of those other aches, pains and problematic minutiae in life disappeared and gave way to a monster that had the power to take my life. My perspective lens became crystal clear. I recognized the long path ahead and sought to remove all obstacles that could possibly detract and distract. I embarked on an education process that needed to occur at warp speed, and in doing so learned more about cancer in 10 days than I had learned in a lifetime being on the sidelines. Most significantly, throughout the entire process and continuing to the present, cancer has ironically given me an incredible gift of support. Friends, family and colleagues continue to rally around me, directing positive energy and what seems like never ending love; their acts of kindness have changed me forever. Those close to me (including my docs), rearranged their lives in an instant, and in doing so saved my life. I truly believe that their support and positive energy are the most powerful weapons in winning the fight.
So why do I now ride?
I ride as a survivor.
I ride for will.
I ride for strength.
I ride for courage.
But most of all, I ride for love.