It was a few days after I registered for what will be my 7th PMC that I glanced at a quote which stands on my dresser, one that's been there for some time, but for whatever reason it resonated and brought me to a pause.

“Our struggles push us to places we never thought we’d go to reveal the brave person we never knew we could become.”

I’ve struggled a little this year to figure out how to express in different words and examples from the last 6 years Why I Ride. The ability to capture for my audience (you) what the PMC means to me. But as someone who overthinks most of the time, I guess the real question is for me. Do I have to? My story and mission hasn’t changed. As I keep going back to the moment I was drawn to the quote on my dresser, as I stood paused with flashbacks of life rushing through my mind ~ the memories and moments that resonate with this quote so much ~ cancer days ~ how that chapter of our lives brought out so many struggles, but revealed how brave individuals can be ~ what a journey life can be.

Truth is my story for Why I ride and ask family, friends and complete strangers to support my mission, well it will never change. It all started by unexpected life events, for #brownboystrong.

While we didn’t know that 2018 would be Kayur’s last time at the PMC finish line and I told him, “I’m riding next year…” maybe that moment was purposeful beyond our control as now it is my mission to carry out Kayur’s pride in helping those that provided so much for our family during his 3 year courageous battle with cancer.

This is Why I ride and will continue to ride for as long as life allows. First and foremost, #brownboystrong and secondly to show Lucas, our 10 year old son that although life's unexpected events may not always be fair, it's important to stay brave. As I gain years in the ride, it fills a ray of pockets in my life. And from last year at the finish line, when Lucas asked me how many more years until he can ride, I think he gets it! He knows that Team BBS is one of the many ways we remember Daddy’s fight, courage and perseverance.

PMC is not just those that ride, it's the donors, the individuals that show up on the roads to cheer us on, the text messages that come across our Garmins as we climb those hills! It’s crossing the finish line seeing the SMILE on Lucas’ face, 5 more years buddy then you will be peddling by my side! It's the magnitude of small little moments that make PMC simply amazing!