Well, the Palmetto Peleton Project’s “Challenge to Conquer Cancer” Relay is over and was a success from all aspects! They made it through bends and turns in the road, loss of roads and appearances of alternate routes/transportation (the ferry); overcame GPS adventures, sore muscles, and inclement weather. This dedicated group of cyclists were one of two groups that cycled from their hometown to Austin, Texas in a personal assault on CANCER! The other group cycled from Nova Scotia. All applause to them for this effort-we couldn’t be prouder!

It was also exciting to hear from Keith the minute that he crossed the finish line after completing 45 miles (not the 10 miles that he had trained for and that this author cautioned him to probably stick to after only being in training for 2 months!) UNBELIEVABLE! Well, this is the type of tenacity that we both have come to call our wind beneath our wings for all the things that we do in our lives now since that day of diagnosis. We at the BTAO are very proud of his effort on behalf of our organization, brain tumor Angels and Warriors and the many sponsors who shared in this moment of survivorship.

We will have many pictures to share soon but if you want to feel what those cyclists enjoyed and endured, visit their blog.

CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM

 Today was one of those days when you were convinced that you are doing the right thing…telling your story, inspiring hope and providing support where you are able. I opened up my email today and found a letter that made me cry…tears of joy but also immense gratitude. The author has graciously given me her permission…don’t be surprised if you don’t tear up too. I immediately called this woman and had such great satisfaction in being able to say thank you to her for what she has dedicated her life to do….save someone’s life.

Dear Julie,

You don’t know me and I don’t know you but the story of your husband has given me courage and inspiration to pursue my work this morning and why I am waking up early and going late to bed at night every day.

I have joined Bradmer Pharmaceuticals in December last year and all the minutes of my professional life are devoted to the BRAD-301 / GLASS-ART Study.  Before that, this Study was to me complex and challenging in implementing it (with the help of the Duke team) in all the targeted sites (we have 5 open as of today and more to come in the near future) hoping that all these efforts will be making a difference into someone life.  Seeing its logo on the back of the shirt of your husband this morning gave me chills and wings to fly higher from now on.  Why someone remotely involved into the Study would want to carrying it on its back if it was not for bringing courage, hope and inspiration into someone else life.

This is a turning perspective that I was not expecting this morning and I am tremendously grateful to you and Keith for bringing real life into this adventure.

May your life continue to be wonderful to both of you and your family,

Thanks for inspiring me to continue my daily work,

I am sending myself courage and hope to you and Keith (and all the other participants) and may this biking adventure brings more awareness into this disease,

Enjoy your day,

Hélène

Hélène Dulude B.Pharm. Ph.D.
Director, Clinical Development-Bradmer Pharmaceuticals

It felt like the old days…staying on top of details, going without sleep for more than 18 hours…now I remember why I can’t do that anymore! I was on the bus serving as navigator from somewhere east of Mobile to the west of Baton Rouge…and looked forward to flopping in a hotel for rest!

Hey…a shout out to Rob Dempsey of HIS Radio who has dedicated his time to ride on the P3C3 and cover the event from the road on his Blog

Rob interviewed me and broadcast it on HIS RADIO…I love sharing my story.

The reason that I am doing this event is to inspire others that have been told that you only have months to live and prove that a statistic is just that….it doesn’t take away your passion for life, your soul for God, or your body’s will to serve and survive!
Though it is Duke’s motto…At Duke..there is hope. there are great physicians, nurses, advocates, family members, policy makers and survivors who are making cancer a national priority, a personal war on cancer and I am honored to get to know several on this ride this week. I know that we have touched many lives throughout this journey in each town that we have ridden through.

Team 5 is the all-girls team and has quite a story to tell about their journey.

I hadn’t eaten much on my long stretch but the armadillo road kill at least didn’t tempt me! On another note, we found it interesting that Georgia had a lot of road kill, Alabama had none, and Mississippi had little. The team discussion was focused on rumors of ‘Bama BBQ…I can say that ’cause my family is from Alabama.

Well, catch you later!

You know you’re important when you roll into Georgia and a policeman on duty turns his vehicle around and throws the lights on and escorts you for the next 45 minutes through the county. I am just glad we had enough time to slow down and give him a LIVESTRONG bracelet. All my driver could think was that the cyclists were going to be headin’ down the highway and we were going to be obtaining our first ticket!

No chance! These are the moments when you know that everyone has been touched by this disease and in each one of us is a Warrior for another. I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow!

Talk about making cancer a Georgia priority!

Thanks to Mike McCurdy-you can see what we are up to:

Check out our current location here.

Well, at 7 am this morning, we all converged upon the Bi-Lo Charities Children’s Cancer Center and readied for the departure. It was a beautiful morning and spirits were high. Kevin Dunn and the guys have done a tremendous job in thinking of the predictable and unpredictable for this journey. The announcement that there seems to be a bridge missing somewhere and team members were up throughout the night arranging for a ferry to get us across was just one example. One thing about it, nothing is going to stop this group from reaching its destination in top form!

After a word of prayer to honor those we are riding for, remembering those we have known and asking for a blessing of safety for our riders and team members, there wasn’t a dry eye in the lot. As soon as the tears are dried, however, the spirit resumes and we ride off with the sun at our backs.

Be sure to follow our progress as we are hooked up by GPS and you can see our journey! Check out their current location here.

Well, I have been training for the last 2 months to cycle in the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin, Texas October 25-26, 2008. At 7 am tomorrow morning, I and the rest of the Palmetto Peleton Project cyclists will head out from The Greenville Hospital System Medical University Cancer Center-From the Hills of Hincapie to the Land of Lance to raise money for the Oncology Research Institute. The Challenge to Conquer Cancer ride will begin with one of 4 teams of 6 cyclists and I will be providing medic support for the teams. I have missed my career as a paramedic and am glad that now my skills will go to serve a worthy cause and phenomenal group dedicated to making cancer a priority in our community and across country. You can read more on the team’s blog Ride To Austin
Wish us luck!

The P3 Trailer

Well it has been an incredibly busy week-fundraising, training, packing and that was just ME rising to the Challenge! Then there was the prep for the team vans-packing bikes, supplies, studying maps and identifying teams and their shifts. This is the largest undertaking by the Palmetto Peleton Project to raise awareness and funds for The Lance Armstrong Foundation and The Oncology Research Institute at The Greenville Hospital System Medical University Center.

I appreciate the support of the P3 for me as a new cyclist on this Challenge. I hope to continue to gain strength and stamina to honor this incredible group in future rides.

I want to thank my sponsors for making this possible for me to ride in The LIVESTRONG Challenge-Bradmer Pharmaceuticals, Greenville First Bank, Dr. Mark O’Rourke, The Great Escape, The South Carolina State Credit Union, Lee Plumblee-Attorney-at-Law, Boy Scouts of America Troop 282 and The Brain Tumor Awareness Organization. Thanks to all those who donated to this effort- I dedicate my ride to those affected by brain tumors and wear proudly on my sleeve-”At Duke-There is Hope!” and skull cap is signed by those cheering me on!