Like many, cancer has deeply affected my life. I remember the moment when Jason, my now husband, told me his mother Janet had cancer. Sadly, this was not new to him, as she had been battling it on and off since he was about five years old. He shared the news with such normalcy because, for him, it was his normal. Despite the challenges, watching his mom fight shaped him into the caring, independent, and resilient man he is today. Janet taught him strength, grace, perseverance, and with her loss, the importance of cherishing time with loved ones.

When my own mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2023, she broke the news over a beer in true German fashion! I thought that after walking with Jason on his own journey that I would be better prepared, but I quickly realized that you never get better at facing cancer. Strangely, I did not feel a lot of fear when she broke the news. Maybe it was beers she lubricated the news with, maybe it was because she has always seemed invincible, or maybe it was her confidence when she told me that she was going to beat it. Whatever it was, it reminded me that hope and courage are sometimes the best medicine. Fortunately, she fought like the warrior she is and proved once again that nothing can take her down.

With hope and courage as my fuel, I will be taking on PMC 2025. Biking has always been my time for reflection. It's my time to sit in the pain cave, reminding myself of my mental and physical strength, and to show gratitude for what my body can achieve today. During this year's race, I will reflect on how fortunate I am to have had time with Janet and her influence on my husband, to still have my mother, and to remind myself that no matter what cancer diagnoses come my way in the future, I will have the strength to fight. Thank you for adding fuel to my fire - together we can pedal our way to a cancer free world!