Why I Ride ...
Really? Still going strong and completely healthy? Dang!
I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer on August 25, 2008. If you know anything about metastatic breast cancer, it is amazing that I have survived this long, much less to be totally healthy and disease-free. Survival rates at 5 years is 15%.
Why? I can say with utter confidence that is because of the care I've received from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In January I was chatting with a friend from the dog park who is a PhD candidate in biology, studying breast cancer. I was going that morning to the Dana for my quarterly visit. I said -- I wonder why I'm doing so well. She turned and pointed to the Dana (I live just around the corner) and she said, "that's why. You have the best care in the world." And all the money raised from this ride goes directly to research at the Dana -- 100% of it. Wouldn't it be beautiful to eradicate cancer?
This will be my third year doing the Pan Mass Challenge. The photo is of me at the finish line last year. Exhausted but elated.
To celebrate my 5 year anniversary of living with cancer, on August 25, Mark and I will be throwing a huge party at our house in Leyden. Mark your calendars! No gifts, please -- other than supporting the PMC!
You can follow me on Twitter @LolaBaltzell. I tweet once a week during training season, and will tweet from each rest stop during the event.
Please support me -- and this life-giving institution.
Thank you. Metta.
