I witnessed amazing human beings come together and create an atmosphere of joy, happiness, love, and conquering. In 2015 I had an idea and a community has created a movement of perseverance in an attempt to make a difference. I believe as humans we all want to make a difference, to know we are making a difference. When we can raise a cause up and carry it with our energy, hearts, and within a community that understands the power of a group united and lovingly caring about one another we all transform. It's a transformation built around helping people we may never know. That doesn't matter, they are in our hearts as they battle an ugly disease. We hope that you felt us as we carried you in our hearts and minds.
I hadn't told anyone going into this year it was going to be the last 24 Hour Ride. For personal reasons I felt that I had accomplished what I set out to and this would be the crowning accomplishment. However when you surround yourself with amazing people who are loyal, magic fucking energy happens. If I were to list all the names responsible for the way this ride went down I would run out of room here.. The truth is my job is easy on a weird level. I show up and ride a bike, the organizing committee and so many others make the atmosphere that creates the success of this event. I get to drink it all in from a surreal vantage point on my bike. I can't tell you the love I was able to witness and experience because of these people. I know the meaning of being blessed and this year my Tribe carried me along on a wave of extreme loving energy.
The last two hours of the ride this year were simply a monumental experience in energy, enthusiasm, and human beings driving vibrations to higher levels than I have ever felt. The Disc Jokey had us signing to YMCA, Bohemian Rhapsody, Rasputin, Sweet Carolyn, and many more great songs. I have images seared into my mind and onto my heart from hose two hours I'll never forget. As I was taking it all in I realized I couldn't give this up. This community of people had built such an incredible means to raise money for The Kids With Cancer Society I had to keep this ride alive. The movement I was witnessing was bigger than the idea I had come up with. It was bigger than the low energy I felt coming into the ride. This movement was flowing through all the people that had come to support us by riding, volunteering, and being there for the event. In the end it was epic.
I can't cure cancer, but I can make a difference. And with the help of this community of people who come to Exist Fitness once a year we have now raised almost $60,000 in five years. Money that goes directly to families who have a child battling cancer. I've met some of these families and heard the stories of kids who have received help from the Society. It's why I aligned with The Kids With Cancer Society. They don't have huge operating costs, they use the funds to make a difference. And by the end of this year's ride we had changed the shape of energy. We had made a small dent in cancer the way we know how to.
The fact kids get cancer is sad enough.This year we rode in memory of MacKenzie who passed away in November 2018 after fighting her cancer. Mackenzie's dad Jake had ridden the Tour of Hope with me for several years. I got to spend one memorable afternoon with MacKenzie I will never forget. Seeing her immense wisdom and vibrant energy even while having the ugly disease cancer attacking her was life altering. MacKenzie was a bright star and I'm certain she still shines as an Angel. We were honored to ride for you MacKenzie. The extra six hours were not pretty, not fun, and not something I'll do again. However it was worth what I was able to experience, what we accomplished, and how amazing the community I live in came together to make a difference.
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