When FitOn Studios was approached to be a part of the Inaugural Tour de Pier, my wife Franca and I, along with our co-founder and best friend Angela Bennett, immediately said yes. This most unique fundraising event – stationary cycling with an ocean view – combines our passion for fitness, our love of the South Bay and most importantly, our desire to raise awareness and funds for the cancer organizations benefitting from this event.
Franca’s dad, Antonio was diagnosed with liver cancer over six years ago, and despite the fatal statistics we read on the internet, we were able to find a doctor with a new chemotherapy procedure willing to treat him. The treatments reduced the size of the tumors and prolonged his life. We credit research and the fortitude of one doctor who not only helped Antonio live to see his grandkids grow up, but his case, helped many others who also benefited from this treatment.
My mom wasn’t so lucky. Last summer, after a fainting spell, she was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors. Emergency brain surgery was scheduled and the whole family rallied around my mom. While the surgery was considered a success, from this time on, we lost a part of my mom to this horrible disease. Gone was the playfulness, the desire to give everyone a smile and a hug as they entered the room. We tried some treatments of radiation therapy along with chemotherapy, but they were stopgaps at best, just holding off the tumor’s growth. This past January my mom passed away after a valiant fight. We miss her daily and only hope that we can do our part to help make sure that no family feels this type of grief.
We are doing our part on May 19 and ask you to join us. Franca, Angela and I will be riding from the main stage, guiding everyone through a ride they will never forget. As the Tour de Pier nears I can only hope that we raise some more awareness along with much needed research and cancer support dollars. And most importantly, that someday we will be able to have rides like Tour de Pier for only celebrating the lives that were saved, instead of mourning the lives taken away too soon.
Please join me at the Inaugural Tour de Pier. Reserve your bike today.
Michael Stadvec
FitOn Studios