WHY I RIDE

2023 will be my 10th year riding in Pedal the Cause. Here are some of the reasons why I ride.

In January 2017, my mother was again diagnosed with breast cancer and due to regular appointments with her doctors at Siteman Cancer Center, the cancer was caught early and the prognosis was good. Surgery was not necessary and treatment was thankfully only oral medication. In September 2018, my mother was diagnosed with a metastatic brain tumor secondary to her breast cancer. Unfortunately after treatment for the tumor, my mother developed a secondary infection and passed away in October 2018. My mom is why I ride.

In 2016, after years of trying to conceive, a dear friend and her husband found out they were expecting a baby boy, due early 2017. Unfortunately, joy turned to sorrow, fear and sadness. At 20 weeks pregnant, my friend found out she had a tumor in her spine and that tumor was cancerous. She chose to continue her pregnancy and in March 2017, she gave birth to a healthy happy baby boy. One month later, she underwent a very long surgery to remove her cancer. The surgery caused her to become paralyzed and wheelchair bound and what followed was a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma and a poor prognosis. In 2018, after months of fighting with chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy, she passed away after celebrating Christmas with her family, leaving a young child without a mother. This beautiful family is why I ride.

I ride for Kyle Anderson, who is fighting stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He is a father of 3 children under 4. He is fighting hard and his wife is fighting right along with him helping to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. This family is fighting with the help of Siteman Cancer Center and is not giving up. I ride for Kyle and all the other fathers who are fighting to have a long life with their children.

I am proud to join Pedal the Cause in the fight against cancer. Pedal the Cause is more than the region's top cycling event. It's a way of life, a celebration, and a movement fueled by the courage to end cancer.

It takes world-class research to create a world without cancer. Please help me in this journey by donating to my ride, and give with confidence knowing that 100% of your donation will go directly to accelerating cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Thank you for your donation and support!