Countdown
Please take a moment and check out Josh’s blog. Rina and Drew are doing a great job in capturing the feel of the ride.
To date I have raised $75,000 ($48,000 in 2010 and $27,000 in 2011) for the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation. I could not have done this with out the help of some great people.
Thank you to the Georgetown Firefighters Association and Halton Hills Fire Dept. Your assistance is greatly appreciated by me and the children you are helping. Thank you for helping with two Firefighter Server nights and two boot drives over the last year. Thank you for holding a fundraising car was and donating the proceeds towards my efforts.
Thank you Joseph and Kelsey`s for being quick to say yes to teaming up for some great fundraisers.
Thank you to my family for being so supportive and understanding when I was late for family function due to training. Thank you for all your financial contributions and thank you for spreading our message.
Thank you Frank for being so powerful. Thank you for joining us on our journey and riding with Josh at Tour for Kids.
Thank you Roger for stepping up for Josh while me knee repairs.
Thank you Nelsons. Thank you for trusting me with your sons dream. Thank you for taking me into your family.
Josh thank you for allowing me to be a part of your world. Thank you for picking me to hep you live out your dream. You could have chose from my people to be you Captain. I am honoured.
I left the most important for last. To my beautiful wife. Thank you for being so patient. I understand how hard it has been the last year to share me with my bike. I say share but I probably spent much more time with my bike then I did with you. Thank you for help with all the fundraisers. Thank you for taking the time to count pennies. Most of all, Thank you for volunteering you time this year as an RV driver. I know that this will be a life changing experience for you as it has been for me. Thank you. I love you very much.
Thank you to anyone I missed. I need to go jump on the bike.
Over the last year I have been spending a lot of time with Josh and the Nelsons. Josh and I spent a lot time on the bike during our training. Off the bike we spent time planning, fundraising, and just hanging out. Over the last year I never fully comprehended how important the journey we were working towards was to the Nelsons. A couple weeks ago Josh was filming an interview for the CTV National News. During the interview Rina (Josh’s mother) had to leave the room as she had become overcome with emotions. I went to see her and she embraced me and thanked me for helping Josh live out his dream.
Rina, Drew and the rest of the Nelsons are always in great spirits. They are always supportive of Josh and his endeavours.
Hello everyone
It has been approximately a year since I posted a blog. I am going to try and get you all caught up in several little blogs.
2010-Sears National Kids Cancer Ride
Last Year On the Chi Cheemaun fairy I met an incredible teenager and his incredible family. Josh Nelson is a 17 year old who is an eight year survivor of brain cancer. Last year Josh joined the National Riders in Thunder Bay to cover the distance of Ontario. In Burlington, Josh gave a moving speech. He spoke about how he was riding for his friends who were no longer with us, for those children battling cancer now and for those in the future to be diagnosed. This left me even more inspired to do my part in the battle against childhood cancer.
Last December The Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation held a little get together thank everyone for their assistance over the last year and to try and recruit for 2011. I had put a little thought into the offer that I was about to make but I had not idea how it would change my life. I asked is Josh was ready to live out one of his dreams. I asked him if He wanted to ride across Canada in 2011. He simply answer “yes” without any hesitation. It is amazing how one question and a one word answer can change your life and the lives of others forever.
Day 10 Woodstock to Sherway Gardens
Today we woke up to warmth. Well maybe not warmth but at least it was above zero. We started our day by shuttling from the parking lot we were set up in to the Woodstock Sear parking lot. At the store we met up with the other two teams. There were a lot of people from the public there as well to support the cause. We heard stories about children in the Woodstock area that we have lost in the last years to cancer. We also met Rachel. Rachel was suck a bundle of joy. So shy. She was walking around with a walker for stability. When she saw Ben the Bear she left the stability of her walker and took a few wobbly steps so that they could dance together. please take a moment and look at a post the I posted two days ago. It will give you information about Rachel’s battle with cancer.
We left Woodstock with approximenlty 100 ride along participants. We rode towards Brantford. The pas was fairly with for the first 45 km. Everyone was pumped. For most of the National riders they were going to have family and/or friends waiting for them along the way. This is a great motivator when you haven’t seen them in at least two weeks. I started the next leg staying back with Kirk and a ride along participant who was fairly new to cycling. 30 min later I realized that my Mom was waiting at the next stop in Burlington. If I stayed back I would miss time visiting with her. I picked up the pace to catch up to the lead group. I joined up with a 2008 SNKCR cyclist. He helped me hold a 47 Km/h pace for 20km or so. My legs were burning. A little before I would have caught the group I came up on Josh Nelson and Drew. Were just about to hit a hilly section coming out of Dundas Valley. I stayed with them to help them up some hills and right through to Burlington.
When I arrived I saw my Mom and my Aunt Theresa cheer me in. We had a nice visit and took some pictures. During our stop in Burlington Josh Nelson gave an inspiring speech. He is such a great motivational speaker. This year he rode across Ontario. What will he do next?
From there we rode to Oakville. I wasn’t expecting anyone there but when I arrived my friend Chris was waiting.
The last stop of the day was Sherway Gardens. I was so excited. I knew that Erin was waiting for me there. We cruised all the way with a large group of riders. When I arrived I saw Erin waiting with Sprocket(our dog) and our nephew Nolan. It was so good to see them. When I came around the next corner there more people waiting. My Dad, Karen, Spokey, Ivy, Nisha, Evan and the Albert. It was such a good way to end the day. Thank you everyone for coming to visit.
We just made this amazing girl during a press conference at the Sears location in LaSalle Quebec. Anita told us her story about how she has beat brain cancer twice. She went on to let us know that she graduated in the top 99 percentile from her high school and is now attending university to become a doctor. She wants to work at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and help other children who have been affected by cancer. What a girl. Below is information I took from the SNKCR web page about Anita.
Take a moment a learn why we are riding.
Cheers
Votre lien avec le cancer chez les jeunes. I am a survivor of juvenile cancer. I had a brain tumour at age 6 and a recurrence at 8.
Passe-temps et intérêts Origami, reading, clarinet, tennis
Type de cancer qui m’a touché(e) ou a touché ma familleBrain tumour (craniopharygioma)
Nombre d’années en traitement On August 24, 2000, I had a surgery to put a shunt in to relieve pressure in my brain. Four days later, I had an 11-hour surgery to remove the brain tumour. Most of my pituitary gland was removed. In April to June 2002, I had a recurrence of my tumour and underwent radiation therapy for two months. On November 10, 2008, I had a surgery to replace my shunt since it was partially blocked.
Nombre d’années célébrées sans traitement It has been 8 years since my radiation therapy for my recurrence in 2002. I am still being followed up regularly in many departments at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and take medicines (synthetic hormones) for the rest of my life.
Mon plus grand défi face au cancer juvénile My greatest challenges have been keeping up with my health and also my schoolwork. I can’t forget to take my medicines every day; I really need them to survive. Oftentimes when I get sick, I make sure to act quickly and go to the hospital since it could be something serious to do with my condition, and it could get complicated. It could be my brain, or my shunt, or my hormones (which have been changed many times). Keeping up with my schoolwork is always challenging with all this, since I am a good student and value my studies very much.
Décrivez de belles choses qui se sont produites lors de votre périple avec le cancer juvénileI have become stronger, met many new people, had great opportunities, and gained knowledge throughout my journey with juvenile cancer. I have gone through so many different tests and procedures that I have gradually gotten stronger, less scared, and more confident. I got to meet many wonderful doctors in different departments. I have gotten involved with the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, sharing my story at their radiothon, and now being an ambassador for CTCACF. My journey also caused me to gain knowledge about the human body, cancer, and medicines, and gain interest in science. It has also inspired me greatly. Two years at the Bell Regional Science Fair, I won gold medals for doing projects on ways of attacking cancer. I started volunteering at a hospital this summer and will continue to do so. When I am older, I hope to be a doctor and work in a children’s hospital so I can help children with health problems like me.
Décrivez votre meilleure journéeMy best day so far has probably been my high school graduation on June 25, 2010. I won both the school board’s and the school’s awards for the student with the highest academic standing. I will most likely get the Governor General’s Academic Medal for high school. I won the McGill Science Award for my commitment to math and science. I won $1450 in bursaries, and medals for getting the highest marks in many subjects. It really felt good to see my many accomplishments, despite all my struggles.
Racontez-nous votre pire journée I have had a few worst days. One would be when my parents and I were told that I had a brain tumour and would need surgery. The surgeries were definitely scary times for me too. Another worst day that I remember more clearly was finding out on the phone at home that I had a recurrence, and would have to undergo radiation therapy. The last worst day was when I found out I had to have surgery to replace my shunt. Being older and more aware for made that surgery a very scary experience.
Dites-nous ce que la Fondation D’un océan à l’autre contre le cancer représente pour vous Coast to Coast Against Cancer means a lot to me and I am really happy to be an ambassador and share my story and give hope. I want to raise awareness about juvenile cancer and help raise money for children’s hospitals to contribute to quality of care and cancer research.
Quel est votre message pour les cyclistes, les bénévoles, les commanditaires et tous les Canadiens Juvenile cancer affects many children every year, and it can be very tough to go through. It’s important to never give up hope. Thank you to everyone involved with the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation and their events. Together we can raise awareness about juvenile cancer and raise money to support the cause.
Faites-nous part de toute autre réflexion personnelle Thank you to my family for all their love and support. Thank you to Dr. Jean-Pierre Farmer and Dr. Carolyn Freeman for saving my life, as well as all the other doctors and staff of the Montreal Children’s Hospital who have taken wonderful care of me.
Type of cancer that has affected me or my family Brain Cancer / Medulloblastoma
Number of years on treatment: 1
Number of celebrated years off treatment: Currently undergoing treatment, to be completed around November 2009
My toughest challenge with childhood cancer: Being away from my 1 year younger sister Emely when mommy and I have to stay in the hospital, and as well time away from school when we are at the hospital. In the beginning we would be in the hospital for weeks at a time, now we go about 8 days per month as long as everything goes well. Also, my port does not give blood return so that means every time they need blood work done, which can be quite a few every day sometimes, I have to get a needle poke.
Describe some great things that have come about through your journey of childhood cancer: My mom and I have been helping out with fundraising for various different groups that have been here for us through this journey – Childcan, Brain Tumour Foundation, Pediatric Cancer Research through the Canadian Cancer Society and of course the Sears National Coast to Coast Kids Cancer Ride. We want to be able to help out other kids. As well, so many people have told me that I am their hero and very brave and positive.
Describe your Best Day: My best day is when I am well enough to be able to attend school and be with all my school friends and my younger sister for the day.
Tell us about your Worst Day: My worst day was in the beginning before I was diagnosed. I had very painful headaches and my head felt like it was going to explode. As well, I don’t like the GFR Kidney Function test as I need to have 4-5 needle pokes just for that test.
Tell us what Coast to Coast Against Cancer means to me: I really want to be an Ambassador for the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Ride because I want to show other kids that there is hope, and I want to be able to spread the word about pediatric cancer and help to fundraise for more research to find a cure and help out other families who find themselves in a similar situation.
My Message to Canadians: If you have a positive, brave and trusting attitude it will go very far for you, not only if you have a cancer battle, but anything that you do in your life.
Share with us any other personal thoughts: Yes, this has been a very difficult journey that I wish that my entire family and I did not have to go on, but we must be as strong, brave and positive as we can. We have had a lot of very rough months where I was hospitalized for weeks at a time and I know that all my loved ones were scared, but through it all I have trusted in Jesus to help keep me brave and strong. Now months later I am actually able to attend school and am able to walk again too. I want to say thank you so very much for all my loving family members, my school friends and other friends, as well as our community. Everyone has shown us such love, caring, support and kindness. Thank you!!!
Day 9 Sarnia to Woodstock
Today we woke up to overcast skies and a little rain. As we were getting ready the sun started to come out and we witnessed the most beautiful full rainbow.
Sarnia is our team captain, Jason Morningstar’s hometown. He had a lot of supporters out to visit him along with his family. We had a chance to meet Jason’s boys Jett and Jesse. Today Jason dedicated our ride to his sons. Jesse who is a cancer survivor at age 5. Jett who should not have had to watch his little brother battle cancer. After Jason’s dedication, the boys were presented with 2010 SNKCR jerseys signed by team members.
Jessie Morningstar
To start off the ride the 12 national riders rode out with approximately 20 ride along participants. We all rode together for the first 8 km with a escort from 3 police on bicycles. At the 8 km point the ride along riders were to split into three groups(30/25/22 km/h average). The rest of the national riders rode with the fastest group. I decided to stick back with the 25 km/h ride along riders. I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet some people and thank them for coming out. I could also help them out by pulling considering we had a heavy head wind.
Around the 20km point I saw a Tim Horton’s. The Inside Ride crew were there cheering. I decided to stop for a coffee. The crew thought I was crazy. I ended up riding out of Tim’s with a coffee in my water bottle cage. Yum. I had to work my butt off to try and catch up to the group. I caught up to Lee, one of the ride along Marshall’s. I helped pull her back up to the ride along participants. We caught up to the riders just before the first rest stop. I was riding behind the last rider when she hit her brakes. I don’t think she knew I was behind her. I tapped her wheel a few times. To avoid taking her down and Lee behind me I headed for the gravel. I went over the bars. No big deal just some minor scrapes. When leaving the rest stop I stayed with the rest of the team.
We rode antoher 50 Km to our next stop of London. There were lots of people out to cheers us on. London is team member, Catherine Bancrofts hometown. She gave a speech thanking her family and her former high school for there fundraising support. After lunch we rode towards Woodstock. We had one last stop. When stopped at a Sears location just outside of Woodstock for a snack. This location was owned by national rider Linda Kay. We were met by her husband and family friends. Thank you for the apple crumble.
Tonight we lucked out. We are staying in Woodstock for the night which means no shuttle and extra hours of sleep. We had dinner tonight at Boston Pizza. While looking at the jersey that Jett was wearing that I had missed signing it back in Vancouver. I found a sharpie and drew a hamburger on the back for him to remember me by. While I had the sharpie I asked the Jesse and Jett if they wanted to sign me. So I have there names on either arm. Jett and Jesse will be in my heart tomorrow.
The rest of the teams will be arriving tonight in Woodstock. All three teams will ride together tomorrow. We will ride from here to Mapleveiw Burlington for 12:00pm. From there we will be joined with Ride along participants to ride to Oakville. Our last stop for the day will be Sears at Sherway Gardens. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I will get to see my family and my beautiful wife. One more sleep Baby.
To check out our schedule go to www.searsnationalkidscancerride.com
Bed time
Day 8 Spanish to the Chi Cheemaun
Today we woke up in Spanish to the sound of puring rain beating on the top of the trailer.
We were supposed to start early today, 6:30am but due to the rain and the lack of light we shuttled to Espanola to start our ride.
9 of the 12 of us set out on a cold wet ride toward Manitoulin Island. We rode hard today. We had to be extremely careful today on the descents. The shoulders were narrow and rough. Especially dangervorous when you add the pouring rain and the transport trucks. During a climb a saw a rider flying down the other side of the rode. He yelled across can I join you. He turned around and caught up. He explained that he rode in the Tour for Kids, a brother event to the Sears Ride. He joined us for the next 30 km.
At the 55 km stop I decided along with two other riders to call it a day. There is a cold going around and everyone is concerned about catching it. I though is was best to get out of the freezing rain.
We arrived at the Chi Cheemaun early. We had time to enjoy a Turkey meal before getting on the fairy. On the fairy all three teams to exchanged stories. I had a chance to meet Josh Nelson.
Josh is a 15 year old from Cambridge. He is a brain cancer survivor. Josh is riding with Drew on a tandem bike across Ontario. Josh is featured in the 2009 SNKCR video giving a touchy and very inspiring speech in Burlington. Josh will be speaking again at the Mapleveiw Mall in Burlington on Saturday Sept 18 th at approx. 12:15 pm. Please stop by if you are in the area to meet this incredible young man.
To veiw Josh’s speech in the 2009 SNKCR video go to: http://www.searsnationalkidscancerride.com/en/about-us/2009-event/video-archive.php
second video down
We are now on the road again on our way to Sarina. I am getting closer to home. I can’t wait to see everyone. See you soon.
Day 6 Quetico Park to Thunder Bay
160 Km 31.5 Km/h average speed
Today we woke up to freezing temperatures. This made it extremely hard to get going. We dressed, ate and did our business outdoors in the cold. Today we were riding into Thunder Bay which is one of our team rider’s home town. Harry made our dedication for today’s ride. He dedicated today’s ride to his youngest son who has beat cancer, to his oldest son who had to watch his little brother suffer and to all the children who are currently fighting their own battles.
Our ride today has us riding different terrain then the last few days. We are now riding northern Ontario which means rolling hills. I found today’s ride difficult. Fatigue is starting to set and I have a nagging pain in my neck. This is our 8th day of riding in a row with no time to recover. Also I am starting to get home sick. I miss my wife and our dog Sprocket. I look forward to spending a few moments with Erin in Toronto.
During one of our stops today we left behind one of our team members. Whoops. When the RV realized their mistake they turned around to pick Vicky up. When they returned they found out that she had caught a ride with the Beer Store delivery truck. They shuttled her back to the group and gave her a $60 donation. Canadians are great people.
It remained cold most of the day until we approached the city limits of Thunder Bay. The sun came out and it started to heat up as if to welcome Harry’s home. We arrived to the Sears in Thunder Bay and ended our ride by cycling though the Intercity Mall. It was neat to get applause from the food court as I road in and out the tables. We shuttled to Lake Head University to use their showers and then we were on our way to the Terry Fox memorial.
This was one of the moments that I had been looking forward to the last year. This was my first time visiting the memorial. You can’t help shed a tear when you are standing in front of the statue of a man who endured suck pain to helps his fellow man. Terry Fox is the Greatest Canadian ever. He ran in so much pain day in and day our and sacrifice his own health so one day we can find a cure for cancer. He is my hero and I know I am not the only one as I looked around at the faces of my team mates. This is what I needed to get me back on track.
“Dreams are made if people only try
I believe in miracles…
I have to…
Because somewhere the hurting must stop.”
Terrance Stanley Fox
July 28, 1959-June 28, 1981
