Here I am with Kurt Harnett in front of The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, June 20, 2009.Wonderful everyone!!! Three times I raised my goal and each time people responded and each time more money came and I, once again, reached my goal. Thank you so very much.
I rode 82 kilometers yesterday in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. I haven't ridden that distance in years and this was only my fifth time on a bike this year. On top of that it was raining for the first two thirds of the ride. It was an adventure for me but I kept thinking that if Melodina had made that commitment she would have used her will power to keep up. I'd drop back a bit and then push and catch up. In the end I rode into sick kids Hospital beside Kurt Harnett, Canadian cycling World Champion, four times Olympian and three times Olympic medalist.
It was a thrill to meet Kurt. I met him first at Sherway Gardens in Mississauga when we were both called up to the podium to speak. After the speeches I got hugs from many people, some who had lost their own children to cancer. It was an emotional time.
Kurt Harnett and I began and finished the final 20 kilometers together. In between when I was struggling Heather Jagar, one of the National Riders from Alberta rode with me. When I told her I was fine and she could ride ahead Heather said she enjoyed riding slowly and her legs could use a rest. My one fall was when I was riding beside her. (a few people fell in the rain yesterday but nobody was hurt) She didn't need to stay with those of us who were slower but she did. Thanks Heather. Eventually I got my second legs and finished comfortably.
Jesse Porter, Melodina's boyfriend from British Columbia, was there. Jesse is and incredible young man who supported Melodina in wonderful ways while she was alive and supported our family after she passed away. We like to think we are Jesse's Ontario family. Jesse is a very good photographer and he wanted to volunteer on the ride. Unfortunately the ride only takes along people who are twenty five or older because their insurance says these are the only people who are insured to drive. Jesse persisted. He told Melodina's story and he kept after them. The organisers called him in Invermere BC the afternoon before the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride began and said if he was in Vancouver by nine in the Morning he was going along. Jessie was there and yesterday the organisers had nothing but praise for this teenager who was not only taking hundred of photos a day but always looking for was to help out. They were very pleased that he came along. I felt so proud, like he was my own son. Linda, his mother must be very proud as well.
Harmony is an official "Ambassador" for the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. Her job yesterday was to meet and greret people arriving at the community event on the front lawn of Sick Kids. Its great to hav her involved.
At Sick Kids I was met by Indira, Harmony, Mike, Hannah and Carter along with my sister Ellen, Uncle Bill and Aunt Lorna. It was good to see them. There were lots of people there. Some were Cancer Kids from the Hospital. In addition to talking about Melodina at Sherway Gardens, I talked about Cancer Kids and, how, as a group, they are the most incredible kids I have met anywhere in the world.
As if to emphasize the point I ran into the father who has a two and a half year old daughter with cancer whotold me what a twelve year old cancer boy told him and him and his wife. He was in the hall of a ward at Sick Kids. I know this boy and I know that he has suffered way more than most. He was told many months ago that he was going to die but so far he is alive. I saw him last week and he was smiling and positive in his attitude about his future. This boy looked at the parents of the little girl and said " Little children shouldn't have to suffer the way your daughter suffers. If I could I would die so that she could live and be healthy." The father had tears in his eyes as he told me this story and I had tears in my eyes as I listened. Cancer Kids are wonderful and they are worth saving.
If anyone would still like to donate to the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride, you can still sponsor me at: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/LoginRegister.aspx?EventID=25787&LangPref=en-CA and click on James Herman and the click Donate Now. Thank you all for your interest. You're wonderful and I love you.
I rode 82 kilometers yesterday in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. I haven't ridden that distance in years and this was only my fifth time on a bike this year. On top of that it was raining for the first two thirds of the ride. It was an adventure for me but I kept thinking that if Melodina had made that commitment she would have used her will power to keep up. I'd drop back a bit and then push and catch up. In the end I rode into sick kids Hospital beside Kurt Harnett, Canadian cycling World Champion, four times Olympian and three times Olympic medalist.
It was a thrill to meet Kurt. I met him first at Sherway Gardens in Mississauga when we were both called up to the podium to speak. After the speeches I got hugs from many people, some who had lost their own children to cancer. It was an emotional time.
Kurt Harnett and I began and finished the final 20 kilometers together. In between when I was struggling Heather Jagar, one of the National Riders from Alberta rode with me. When I told her I was fine and she could ride ahead Heather said she enjoyed riding slowly and her legs could use a rest. My one fall was when I was riding beside her. (a few people fell in the rain yesterday but nobody was hurt) She didn't need to stay with those of us who were slower but she did. Thanks Heather. Eventually I got my second legs and finished comfortably.
Jesse Porter, Melodina's boyfriend from British Columbia, was there. Jesse is and incredible young man who supported Melodina in wonderful ways while she was alive and supported our family after she passed away. We like to think we are Jesse's Ontario family. Jesse is a very good photographer and he wanted to volunteer on the ride. Unfortunately the ride only takes along people who are twenty five or older because their insurance says these are the only people who are insured to drive. Jesse persisted. He told Melodina's story and he kept after them. The organisers called him in Invermere BC the afternoon before the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride began and said if he was in Vancouver by nine in the Morning he was going along. Jessie was there and yesterday the organisers had nothing but praise for this teenager who was not only taking hundred of photos a day but always looking for was to help out. They were very pleased that he came along. I felt so proud, like he was my own son. Linda, his mother must be very proud as well.
Harmony is an official "Ambassador" for the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. Her job yesterday was to meet and greret people arriving at the community event on the front lawn of Sick Kids. Its great to hav her involved.
At Sick Kids I was met by Indira, Harmony, Mike, Hannah and Carter along with my sister Ellen, Uncle Bill and Aunt Lorna. It was good to see them. There were lots of people there. Some were Cancer Kids from the Hospital. In addition to talking about Melodina at Sherway Gardens, I talked about Cancer Kids and, how, as a group, they are the most incredible kids I have met anywhere in the world.
As if to emphasize the point I ran into the father who has a two and a half year old daughter with cancer whotold me what a twelve year old cancer boy told him and him and his wife. He was in the hall of a ward at Sick Kids. I know this boy and I know that he has suffered way more than most. He was told many months ago that he was going to die but so far he is alive. I saw him last week and he was smiling and positive in his attitude about his future. This boy looked at the parents of the little girl and said " Little children shouldn't have to suffer the way your daughter suffers. If I could I would die so that she could live and be healthy." The father had tears in his eyes as he told me this story and I had tears in my eyes as I listened. Cancer Kids are wonderful and they are worth saving.
If anyone would still like to donate to the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride, you can still sponsor me at: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/LoginRegister.aspx?EventID=25787&LangPref=en-CA and click on James Herman and the click Donate Now. Thank you all for your interest. You're wonderful and I love you.
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