Connecticut Challenge and Pan-Mass Challenge

The TARGETRAINING gang is focused less on racing both this past and upcoming weekend and more on dedicating itself to help those who have felt cancer touch their lives.

Cancer is hardest on family and friends who deeply care for those afflicted with the disease. For Eneas, he was touched very personally when the mother of his lovely wife Nancy was diagnosed with cancer. Eneas races with pink handlebar tape to make clear that his thoughts go beyond the realm of racing each and every day.

Jeff Keith, a co-founder of the Connecticut Challenge, lost part of his leg to cancer as a teenager. He has fought on mightily. A superb athlete, Jeff is also a tireless worker for the cause of militating against the effects of cancer. Jeff ran across the US on one leg, but more importantly, is the father of a lovely family whom he supports and who cares for him. Along with his charity's partner, John Ragland, Jeff has poured tremendous energy and intelligence into crafting Connecticut's version of the Pan-Mass Challenge.

Team Brent was founded to help the McCreesh family in their effort to support their youngest, Brent. As a 2 year old, Brent and his family found out he had a cancer that had severely metastasized (that means it spread). Brent lives today and is an incredible testament to our ability to fight on. That such a young person should have to live through this is both sad and inspiring; how hard can it be to go up a hill or to get ready for a training ride compared to Brent's travails and the struggles his family has had to endure? Endurance is life. And Team Brent, a group of 20+ cyclists, ride in honor of Brent's survival and to help others do the same.

Many clients inspire us to undertake these two weeks of contributing in a very small way to the community around us. One of our great client families had cancer strike in their midst. Last year father, mother and son rode the Pan-Mass Challenge together. Healthy. Fit. Strong. They inspire us. So does our client who has had cancer twice. She rides well every times she trains with us. You could not tell by looking at her that she has had to deal with this twice. She has a young son who probably cannot envision his mom ever sick. And the way she rides, we cannot, either. She inspires us. So many of our clients have lost family members to this multi-faceted disease. They resolutely continue. They are inspired.

Cancer is one of those uncontrollable, horrific items that happen. And then we (the collective) are faced with dealing with the fact that we are not in control of our destiny. We draw strength from each other, and we need strength ourselves, to face the reality that life and death are not that far apart. We have and will overcome. Or face death well. And we do our best to help those face their personal battle with hope and ultimately with dignity and joy. Oncologists are the heroes who everyday have to fight to allow us to survive. This never-ending battle reinforces that every day we live we have to represent who we are to our fullest, because life is certainly short. It is our only chance to be ourselves and to ensure that we live it well.

So when Eneas, Team Brent and the rest of us ride the Pan-Mass Challenge on Saturday and Sunday, we ride in support of everyone who has and will have to deal with this ongoing scourge. We are the fortunate, the ones who are healthy enough to ride fast and strong, to observe cancer, to experience it while overcoming it, even if only for a while. We certainly are not laughing at it, since cancer is an opponent always looking for weakness. We thank God for modern medicine and science, and all those who have helped get science to the point it is at now.

We will do our best to be brave for everyone who has and will have to face it. You are not alone. We are there with you, every pedal stroke of the way.

To our families and friends who suffer or worry, you are with us, always. You are with us, especially when we are riding fast and strong, going up that hill, aiming for that finish line, enjoying just being.

Comments

[Michelle]

Rick, thanks for taking the time to post this. Best wishes for a successful ride to all who are participating.