Her name was Mavis.
Mave to some.
Nan to me.
She was an incredible woman.
She loved a scotch and a laugh. She was always open, honest and forthright in her views. An incredibly warm but firm woman.
Some of my favourite childhood memories are of when Nan would come to visit.
She was like Mary Poppins. She would arrive and open her (bottomless) bag, pulling out containers full of (homemade) jam drop biscuits, apple pies and jars of orange jam.
From her, I got my long legs and sense of adventure; she only started travelling ? through out Australia and Asia ? in her 60s after becoming a widow.
I still remember her telling me that I could be anything I wanted to be. That I had brains and I had to use them. She believed I could become a lawyer ? not to mention the first in my family to go to university ? long before I believed it myself.
She had a tough childhood but was not one to dwell on it.
Her mum passed away when she was 8.
She left school at 14 to help her older sister raise their 2 brothers and cook for the men who worked on the dairy farm her family owned.
She had a tough life but an even tougher death.
She died a long and painful death of cancer while I was at university. She was a nurse. She knew what could be done for her in terms of palliative care and rejected it, choosing instead to die at home (under the care of my aunt ? also a nurse ? and uncle).
It was a long, drawn out and painful death.
On riding
Just over 12 months ago, I was hit by a car whilst riding my bike.
It was destroyed. ?Aside from the shock of it, I was fortunately unscathed.
Physically at least.
3 weeks later, my husband had a bad crash while riding his bike which resulted in 7 facial fractures, 7 hours of surgery, 5 plates and 50+ screws holding his face together.
I wiped blood off his face.
Helped nurses pull staples from his head.
Pulled stitches from his skin as they made their way to the surface weeks, even months, after surgery.
And since then, I?ve been on my (brand new replacement) bike a grand total of 3 times in 12 months.
Yep, that?s right. 3 times. 12 months.
We were both incredibly lucky and I know that there have been many, many other people more badly injured ? or worse ? after similar accidents.
But after 5 years of riding, I walked away from it. I didn?t want to get back on.
Even the lure of a snazzy new BMC bike couldn?t get me back on.
Until now.
On conquering cancer
In Australia, 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. That statistic shocks but doesn?t surprise me.
Nan was not the only one I lost to cancer. I lost both my grandfathers to it too. That?s 3 out of my 4 grandparents lost to this insidious disease.
Which is why I?ve decided to get back on the bike.
It?s time to ride again. In their honour.
The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a 200km, 2 day ride near Sydney in October this year to support the Chris O?Brian Lifehouse at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. This amazing organisation is working to revolutionise how cancer patients, their family and carers are assisted and supported.
This event puts me way outside my comfort zone in two ways ~
- I need to get back on my bike again and
- I need to raise $2,500 in the process.
I?m not sure what scares me more. The riding or the fundraising. The fundraising I think. But it?s a close contest!
But what the heck. Nan would approve ? and in fact insist on ? me taking a huge leap outside my current comfort zone.
In fact, had she been alive, I know I would be disappointed by the fact that I hadn?t ?got back on the horse? (so to speak). She was that kind of woman.
So in honour of my grandparents whose blood runs through my veins, I?m going to tackle this challenge and I would love your support.
If the statistics are to be believed, you too will know of many people who have been diagnosed with, and perhaps even died, from this disease.
I would be honoured if you would help me pay tribute to their memory by donating to my challenge.
As much, or as little, as you can afford would be greatly appreciated. Simply click this link and you will be on your way to improving the treatment and support that patients, their family and carers receive.
I thank you in advance x
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Source: http://sparta-pt.com/2012/07/riding/
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