You Made A Difference

I spent eight days on my bike last week riding in my third Tour of Hope. We went over 900 kms from Hope BC to Jasper AB and spent two days riding in Jasper. I am always taken by the extreme beauty of the Canadian Rockies as I ride through them on the Tour. Seeing all of the streams, creeks, brooks, rivers, lakes and uncountable waterfalls leaves me with immense gratitude for the health and ability to ride these distances. There are the usual inner complaints and grumblings. My butt hurts from the bike saddle. Riding in the rain really sucks. Those are small inconveniences when I look at the reason for this ride.

The Tour of Hope is an annual ride that raises money for the Kids With Cancer Society in Edmonton. What really sucks is that children are diagnosed with cancer. The impact to them and their families is unimaginable unless you are actually living it. The Kids With Cancer Society helps these families in so many different ways. The fact that this Society exists is not ideal. But the fact that this Society is there to help, support, and be there for these families is why I do this ride.

For the past three years I have met and heard three families stories and how this ride makes a difference. I say that I can't cure cancer but I sure as heck can make a difference no matter how small in these families lives. Hearing the stories of the children that have to journey down this path makes my inside complaints about the ride very insignificant. Every year after I come home from the ride I wish I could bottle the immense energy and enthusiasm I feel after riding with my cycling family for the week. The hearts of these cyclists are beautiful and as people I am blessed to be able to hang out with them for a week. Each of us rides for our own reasons, However the common goal is to raise money for the Society, to make a difference.

I have a renewed passion for my pursuit of life.

I want to thank each and every person who contributed to my fund raising and came out to my 24 Hour Ride. You all made a difference. Together when we have empathy and compassion we can and will make the world a better place.

Blessings

Daniel