Imagine for a moment that you were diagnosed with cancer. Then pretend that all of modern medicine failed to cure it and your doctors said the best they could do was “keep you comfortable.” Suddenly the hidden hour glass of your time left on earth is visible and almost empty.
That was the stark reality for our close friend Jeff Milch last May. In between “getting his affairs in order,” spending precious time with his wife and two boys and saying goodbye to old friends, he accepted the offer to be one of the featured riders in the inaugural Tour de Pier.
The event was important to Jeff on many levels. He was honored to be a signature rider and to be able to share his thoughts with the large crowd. More importantly, he recognized that Tour de Pier was a fun and healthy way to raise awareness and money to beat the disease which robs too many people of too many tomorrows.
For his two best friends, Tour de Pier allowed us to share our positive energy with Jeff and the other folks fighting this dreadful disease, get an enjoyable workout and contribute to a wonderful cause. All told, of the 365 mornings in 2013, we will remember that one for the rest of our lives. Bring on Tour de Pier 2014 where we will ride in Jeff’s memory!
Kyle Kazan and Guido Rietdyk