Guess who is the newest member of the HPD Bike Relay Team?.... Yep, ME!.....Even though I've donated to the Team for several years, I'll be joining them for the 2022 ride to Nashville, TN. WOOHOO!
Why now? Because the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society needs funding to continue their research and fight again blood cancers. We need a cure and we need it now!
Who inspires me to ride and raise money for LLS? SHERI, CREW, NAKOA...
Although this is my 1st year as a member of the HPD Bike Relay Team, I have been a long-time supporter of LLS (and have either done fundraising or donated $). In fact, I got into long course triathlon as a proud "Team in Training" member at the 2011 Ironman Texas 70.3. My Honored Teammate, Sheri, survived lymphoma and has been one of the best friends my life has been blessed with. We met volunteering at an AIDS hospice, and we have laughed together, cried together, vacationed together, and I admired her brave fight against lymphoma. I am also a proud "Battle Crew" member and am a "Nakoa Warrior". Both of these kiddos are sons of HPD friends and co-workers and am so inspired by their courage, positive attitudes, and the way their family has dealt with their fight against, and victory over, leukemia. Crew was 2 when he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2015. His parents, Erin and Kyle, chronicled his journey on social media, and "Battle Crew" was born with the mission of "Kickin' Leukemia in the Face". (As you can see in the picture below, in June of 2021, Crew was 30 months NED!) Nakoa (or Koa) was 5 years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019. His parents, Kim and Matt, chose the right name for him, as it means "brave one" in Hawaiian. Nakoa's Warriors rallied in support of him and when I spoke with Kim yesterday, she said Koa recently had his final treatment. My inspirations will be with me every mile I pedal.
Each member of the HPD Bike Relay Team must raise a minimum of $5,000. Fundraising isn't my favorite thing to do, but this isn't about me. This is a noble cause and I am proud to raise money for an organization that is dedicated to curing leukemia and lymphoma; those exact things that have impacted my friends and chosen family. That is why I ride and that is why I am asking for your donations. I may be a 20 year veteran of HPD, but I'm a rookie member of the HPD Bike Relay Team. Please help this rookie meet (or even exceed) that goal! Thank you very much for any support you can give.