Our Stories of the Ride2Survive

To the R2S group 2010

Wow! What a great day!!

Firstly I would like to say Thank You to all involved. Kerry and Vicki it is an honor to just be able to wear a R2S jersey and to say that we are apart of this great event for such an amazing cause. We are amazed that you can do this every year. I thank you as a participant and most of all a survivor. If not for the progress made in research and treatment form funds raised I would not be here...and I am not the only one.

To the crew, pilot vehicles, and the sag, you guys got us riders through. I don't care who you are and what kind of cyclist but we (riders) could not have made it without you guys and the amazing work you all do. I personally think you guys are the hardest working group I have ever seen.

To the ride captains. I can't put it in words other than, I would be willing to go to war with each and everyone one of you! It was a pleasure to be a part of this group.

To the riders, I am privileged to ride along side such great people riding for such a great cause. The training was alot of fun and I hope you feel the same. We all suffer on this ride but we suffer for a cause that is greater than the individual and we do it together. You guys are an inspiration on wheels. Seeing everyone giving it their all is awesome, it is a testiment of the human spirit and the will to carry on...to survive.

At the end I heard a few folks mentioning the fustration of not being able meet their distance goal. It is not the distance completed but the fact that you chose to try even as daunting as the challenge may seem. Whether you were relay or solo, you got up at 2:30am and CHOSE to ride a bike over some of the craziest terrian in B.C. That's amazing!! The choice to try eventhough there may be doubt or challenges is admirable on its own. I think they call it COURAGE. Give yourself a pat on the back.

To my fellow survivors. Being on this ride with you all is amazing! Slugging it out through the day and fighting cancer together. When I was fighting through my battle in 2004-2005 I had times where I felt alone. Alone in the way of what it feels like to fight against something that may kill you. It has claimed far too many great people in all our lives. Thanks to you all I no longer feel alone in this way. You all have truly earned the 'Yellow Jersey'

To Wayne, Rob and the welcoming party at Cap's. There is no greater group to come home to. We were all looking forward to seeing you guys. We are all so thankful for all the support you provide. Gotta love the homecoming!!

To everyone. Let's keep going in this fight. Every day, every kilometer, and every dollar is one more closer to the cure. You guys are AWESOME !!!

Thank you all once again!!
See you next year.

Rich Gestle

What a humbling and fantastic experience. To me the most amazing part of the day is how you volunteers understand how we feel and what we need, even though some of you aren't cyclists. Looking forward to next year, I have a tough time deciding if I want to be a rider or crew member. Not that I don't want to do the ride, but that I find either role just as a priveledged and proud part of something great. I don't think it matters at all whether you ride or crew - EVERYONE involved is doing something great.

Thanks to the volunteers for looking after us, especially those of you we never saw, met or heard of. Thanks to all of the riders, for each one is an inspiration. Thanks to Kerry and Vicki, you are so special.

Thanks everyone
Brian

Check out the running blog from the Yarn Floozies from ride day.

so what we all want to know is "who won the raffle prizes?"

Thanks everyone!

This message is for the woman who, while stopped on Hwy 7 for us to go by, yelled out... "Ride for ME"

I wanted you to know that we heard you loud and clear!! We did ride for you and we will again next year!!

Everyone. Thank you for letting me be a part again of this amazing thing called Ride2Survive.

This year, I needed as much help and encouragement as anyone, and certainly as much or more than I was able to give others. I had a helping hand on my back more than once. And really, everything about this ride is "a hand on the back." All of you, riders, volunteers, organizers, escort, & donors, you are an absolute inspiration to me. For all involved to give of themselves and ask for NOTHING in return, THAT is what "Pushes my reset button".

I'm honoured to have been part of this, and you KNOW I'll be along next year. And next year, if I train as much as I'd like to, and I'm stronger, I'm hoping that the helping hand on your back will sometimes be mine.

We ARE stronger than Cancer.

Wow What else can I say. Riders I watched you from the back of the pack. It was real hard to drive rather then ride. At all the stops I cold see the passion you had in you.
No one complained and you all rode as a very strong team. I am sure who ever you were riding for was with you in every pedal stroke. You are amazing. Volunteers you did an amazing job in making sure everyone one was fed and water. A well oiled machine. A tour like this cannot function without the hard work of support people. It reminds me of a message I read from the Cops for Cancer Team......The ride is like a duck in water. The body of the duck(riders) appear to be a smooth flowing body making a ripple in the water. It wanders in and around obstacles or fast flowing rapids.(Hills) However underneath the water the legs are going like crazy to make sure the duck is able to make progress(volunteers)
Congradulation to all and see you next year.
Ed

I was walking to work today and it hit me once again just how much we all accomplished, and a knowing smile came to my face. All of us - crew, riders, donors - came together and accomplished some amazing things. We raised almost $300,000 that will go directly to Canadian Cancer Society. We came together as a community to dream, plan, and implement an incredible event. We rode 400km in ONE DAY!!! We made connections and built friendships. We had fun. We rocked.

This was my third Ride2Survive. The first 2 years that I rode R2S, I felt strong hands on my back at times and really appreciated the help, as well as the feeling of team and community. Thank you to those who gave me that gentle push - Charles, Dave C, Dave O, Rich, Lyle, Jeff... my goal for this ride was to be strong enough so that I could provide that helping hand to someone else, and I was able to do that. Being able to ride felt really good. Being able to help someone else felt amazing. And I feel honoured to have been able to do that. Thank you.

Looking forward to R2S 2011.

Rochelle

What a Day!! It started with a very emotional meeting.. and a very short sleep. and a crazy morning 2:30am.. I was not sure what to expect, every rider i talked to had a different story to tell and a different outlook on what the ride was going to be. Well all i can say is thank you to all. crew members, Kerry, Vicki, Amiee, and so many others that I talk to but can't remember there names.. And a very Big Thank you to the Paramedics. I had them working..lol Ride leaders thanks for the help and the push... Rochelle, Sue, Cheryl,Steve, Dave O thanks alot for the push and the words to keep me going, and was nice to ride in with you at the end.. I saw a lot of Charles..lol thank you Charles. man I could fill this page. with thank you!! But one more to Tobin!! What a guy.

This was the most amazing thing that I have done.. and was the best Birthday that I have had. I will be ready for R2S.ca 2011 I have told my story to many family and friends and they all cant believe it.. so I just say come for 2011 you will see. Next Year I will be helping and pushing.. I hope..lol

362 days till 2011 R2S hope you all will be back to do this amazing event and raise even more money, so we can stop this cancer from taking our loved ones.

Kevin GLeeson

There are so many words to fill this page about R2S 2010.  It was amazing seeing the pouring rain come down on Friday night in Kelowna.  All I could think was, thank goodness, we've trained in the rain.  Did you know we had tents with walls and had brought 3 big heaters that would have heated those tents up in less than 10 minutes if the weather had been different.  (thankfully, they never even came out of the trailer).

To Les, and the crew at the church, as always, the supper was exactly what we needed, and it was delicious.  The meeting that followed allows everyone to open their soul and shed a tear.  Sitting there listening to the stories, we could have heard a pin drop. Thank you for sharing.

The 'sleepless' night...trust me, after 6 years, you learn to sleep (just a little), but 2:30am comes early.  This was my first year that I actually got an hour of rest.

I noticed that in the morning, the feeling was on high energy, but everyone was calm.  We were all saddled up and ready long before the 4am bell.  (there was no, where's ????, or where's my bike, or where's my helmet).  The support vehicles were organized and there was no panic.  When we crossed the bridge out of Kelowna, the feeling of this ride just felt different.

Those training rides that we had to experience were tough, but they paid off.  I will admit, I can't wait for them to start up again.  I loved them all, and felt a connection developing as a team after each ride.  We learned how to ride in a close group and how to do a paceline with perfection.

The sunrise over the lake, was beautiful, and we felt no wind.  That was Heaven. 

That first stop 42 minutes after we started at the pool came on us so quickly.  That stop was completely managed by the West Kelowna Rotary and Karen Guy.  They got up just as early as we did to have everything ready for us to ride in, eat for 10 minutes and ride out.  I wonder how many went back to bed.  Thank you Karen and your team that came all the way to Merritt with us.

At the Chain UP, we had homemade Crepes (Tobin, I didn't know you didn't like pickles!)  Those were the savory crepes.  Next year, maybe we'll have hot scrambles eggs as we have 2 amazing stoves to do the cooking on.

At the Penaske summitt, the temperature was a warm 5 degrees.  It's never been that warm, and there wasn't mosquitos the size of dragon flies.  (bonus). 

At the brake check before Merritt, we had hot chocolate on the menu, but it was so warm, we never brought it out. 

The Mac and Cheese in Merritt was the best.  How many plate fulls did you have?  Thank you to the Zinetti's (as in Zinetti Food Products who makes all the Costco Lasagna) for making this up special for us. 

That extra SAG with Kelsy and Allison was an addition this year, and it was great.  I know Kelsy had one of the best days of her life.  We heard that the SAG was so much fun that is was tough for people to get back out on the road.

The mechanics were amazing....thank you for allowing us to not have to think about fixing a flat or blown out tire.  By the way, 3 blow out tires....Dennis, Kerry and I.

To the drivers of the vehicles for the resting riders, thank you for helping the riders get back on the road and shuttling them to the next stop.

To the Gear truck and crew....do you realize how many times they lugged 96 bags in and out of that trailer, and always with a smiling face.  How wonderful it was to find your bag easily everytime.

The paramedics, thankfully, never had to take anyone to the hospital, but were there to assist us and get us back onto our bikes as soon as possible.  

The police escorts and most especially, Staff Sergent Steve Ramsden of the Delta PD, for giving up his holiday time to do this.  Did you know that a week before the ride, we had no police escorts, and if it wasn't for Steve who stepped up we were out of luck.  (of course there is a story to go with that).  Steve rallied the police from Delta, Abbotsford and the Surrey RCMP two days before the ride to come on board.  We are already working on securing our escorts and going through the right channels for next year.  Already, Delta PD, has stepped up to take it all on for next year's ride so we don't have to 'stress' over the what if we don't have police help.

Do you remember the 'hay' semi trucks coming down from the tunnel, and how it was stinging your legs?

Do you know who put the music together for the stops...that was Aimee, and I know how much time she put into getting the 'right' music.  I saw many of you dancing, even after riding your bikes or sitting in a vehicle.

Was your gear bag tidy and organized before the ride, and what was it like by Mission?  Cheryl, I will never forget you searching for your chamois butter.

To those of us who had a helping hand....it's  wonderful to feel that support on your back.  To those of us who offered an encouraging word, instead of just riding by, didn't it feel good to be there when someone was struggling and needed you to ride with them not past them.

To our crew....WOW is all I can say.  Every year the crew just knows what to do and does it.  The riders don't even have to think.   To Aimee, Erin, John and Mike, who are the rocks and keep it all together.  I've heard the crew had a great time, but were exhausted by the end, and they ate too much too.

As one of the crew said.  I started eating at 3:30am with oatmeal and Mueslie, then had a peanut butter and jam sandwich on raisin bread at the pool, an hour later I was eating crepes, then on to more food, finally in Merritt after one helping of Mac and Cheese, I just decided that I was just going to enjoy the food and have another plate of the Mac and Cheese and continue eating all this good food the rest of the day. (she told me all our food was carbs....go figure)   She said she'd go on a 7 day fast starting on Sunday.  Wasn't the food fantastic!  Did you know that the riders burn on average 10,000 calories, but they also eat that much or more, and the crew eats about the same!

To our pilot drivers, Dayle, Kerry O, Karen, Anne, Mignon and Sandra...amazing women....did you see that...they were all women.  They kept the pace steady and smooth and were our safety net.  Imagine driving at 11 - 40k for 18 hours over the Coquihallia and Hwy 7.  Coming into the city limits and all the extra traffic chaois around them as they were driving, and never once did they slam on their brakes or run into us.  To Allison in the rear pilot, you kept track of it all and kept in contact with Pam in the front pilot and the captains.  I'm sure seeing the pack from the back has lots of 'hold' your breath moments.

To Pam and Mary, thank you for singing to us, it kept our attention and made us stay awake. Pam, you are one woman with so much energy...you certainly don't need any power gel's to stay alert.   You have enough energy for 10 people. 

To Denika and Jacek for all the pictures and filming.  We saw you Jacek climbing mountains to take some of those shots.  (Thank you to Ted, your motor cycle driver for getting you to your next spot)  We will let you know when Denika has the documentary finished.

The ride captains were angels.  They were carefully selected because of their riding skills, their patience, their leadership, their strength, and their passion and kindness.....I wish we could have heard all the radio chatter between them and the pilot cars. They not only had to ride, but talk on those radios, and push, and they never seemed out of breath.  Great job.

When you saw the colors of the jersey's riding down the road what did you think?  Thank you Charles and Del for the vision of wanting the colors to be full of energy, to be alive and fresh.  They were beautiful.  To Charles for this year's design, thank you. It's about the people.  How many phone calls we had at 11:30pm as we sorted the design out to be what it was.  (also the t-shirts and the Yellow Mile t-shirts...they are amazing and we have them to sell)

Thank you Rich for leading us home from Maple Ridge.  

Did you know that a ride captain was always at or near the front holding the pace, and there were also many ride captains at the back, with the rest dispursed through the group.

To Ed, the 'tail end charlie', what a great job you did, blocking the lanes when needed.  I know you had a few strong words thrown at you and a few fingers held up. 

The radio guys, who kept the radio's charged and were on it for replacing them in the vehicles and on the captains at every stop.   Great job.  They were never out of communication with each other.

Adam, thank you for the RV for the 'women' to change in and use the bathroom...even though I found you in there a few times, by the end of the ride, we didn't care, it was just a matter of changing our clothes as fast as we could.  That RV bed was perfect for riders who needed the rest and a quiet place to recover before getting back on the road.

To Robby, who drove the Potty truck, what a sight that was flying down the highway.  Thankfully, no one was left inside.

To Lisa and the crew at the welcome in.  You guys are amazing.  We rode in to a fan fare.  What a feeling.  You guys set up, cleaned out the vehicles, and then cleaned up so we could all just go home to bed.  To Classis Soda who entertained the crowds till we rolled in.  Thank you, I love your music.

To Caps South Shore for all you did all year, whether it was getting new bikes, repairing bikes, selling us rain coats, or having a place to come home to.  To Boston Pizza, and the Cactus Club for providing the post ride food.  Pizza, mini burgers (more carbs) and salad.

To the Canadian Caner Society, who supports us and helps us in so many ways. Without them, this event would not run as smoothly.  They help us with all the little but important details.  They are in the fight with us.

The Surrey Urban mission were so thankful for the food we had leftover.  They never see milk, and they got chocolate milk.  They never see meat and cheese, and they got ham, turkey, pepperoni, havarti and swiss.  They feed 60-90 kids breakfast and lunch every day, and the 100-150 homeless lunch every Mon/Wed/Fri.  It felt good to know we weren't throwing anything away.  (they take food, clothing and household donations all year) Email- Sums@telus.net

As always, there will be a few riders or crew who are special to each of us, and who will stick out in our minds. Maybe it was a ride captain, maybe it was a rider who you thought couldn't do it and they did, maybe it was a rider who you helped or paced back, maybe it was your buddy who you trained with, maybe it was the new friend you met on the training rides that you suffered with, maybe it was the crew member who was there instantly at each stop, helping you get organized and back on your bike.  Send them an email to say thank you.

To our sponsors who provided us with so much, the food, the heaters, the water, the church, the refresh, the magnetic signs .... the list goes on and on.  Please look on the website under our sponsors on the HOME page to see who came on board to help this event. 

Thank you to those who lent us their vehicles and trailers. 

To our special people who we rode for.  I will always ride for my family and my friends, this year I rode with my mom close to my heart.  She passed away in April.  At one of the early stops, I found a penny on the ground.  Instead of thinking a penny is for good luck, I think of a penny found, as someone from Heaven that I am missing is with me and thinking of me.  I put it in my pocket and kept it there the whole ride.  A few times, I had to have a strong talking to myself and I'd say, Mom, help make me strong so I can do this.  As this ride is over for another year, it will now be time for me to grieve for my mom and spend some time reflecting on the success of the ride, the money raised, and the future we are making a difference for in our fight against cancer.

Thank you to my family and friends who support us in doing this event.  We live and breath it and are thrilled to have each of you a part of it.  We hope you will be back next year.

If you have any comments or feedback feel free to drop us an email.

Cheers to the Ride2survive 2010 Team....riders, crew, friends, family, donors, and to you.

What an amazing day, still reflecting on it and words can't quite capture what I am feeling. I felt such a team spirit throughout the whole day and a calm peacefulness with all of us travelling with the same sense of purpose that we were all sharing. That energy shone over us all day.
When I started the day I had not set out to do the whole thing but as the day when on that energy drove me to continue. But to do this I had a fear to conquer...to go down hill fast. So there I was heading down into Merritt, It was a memorable moment, because as I was flying down the hill going as fast as I could, Charles came up beside me and said " can you get down any lower?" and I asked how? and he said " hang your butt off the back of the saddle and get your chin down lower"...So there I was hanging my butt off the saddle and chin down picking up speed, with a smile on my face.. Now if you would have asked me if i would ever do that...never. But that is my point. This day brings out your courage and strength to go beyond and also your trust and faith in others.

The day had many special moments.

Looking forward to next year.

Cheryl

Dotty here.  Just wanted to pass on comments that have been left on our knitting blog .

Okay, sorry, I can't get past chamois butt'r and can't stop giggling like a school girl!!!! - Purling Pirate

Terrific job, all of you! Really enjoyed catching up on the blog this afternoon. - Grace

I just have to say you gals (Gladys, Dotty and Rebecca) were great to be stuck in the Caps van with for all those many hours. Not only fun but hard working. I love the blog keep it up and hope to see you next year. - Cheryl -
PS. keep watching for potties!

Congrats!!!!to you all - cici

Awesome photos!!! Congrats to everyone who helped and participated. Your support for the cause is wonderful. Having spent the last few days with a neighbour who has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer & is now struggling with pneumonia, it is truly wonderful what is being done for the cause. Thank you again.
Kathy

Yay!!! Congrats, guys - Chris

Congratulations! You ALL did a fine job - Monika

CONGRATS! Amazing job. - ColorSlut

Hey, just saw you all leave the Boston Pizza while picking up my kids from the theatre. 
You all looked so energetic, when you must have been so exhausted.
CONGRATS to you all. Keep up the great work, you are all heroes. - Anonymous

We (my cow bell, yellow blankie, and I) just got home from cheering on the team at the corner of 176 St and 64th Ave. The team looked so strong, after such a long , long day. It was such an emotional experience to see them ride past. They passed "my corner" about 10:17 so should be nearing the home stretch soon. I wish I could personally thank each and every one of the riders and volunteers. - Gail from Surrey