About my 2008 Ride

Dates:
3/6/08 – 5/2/08

Tour Start:
San Diego, CA

Tour End:
St. Augustine, FL

Average Mileage:
65 miles daily

Total Mileage:
3,098 miles

Click Here To See A Map

Arda's Dedications

This trip is my way of honoring 3 very important people in my life, I wanted to write this myself.

My Bike4Cancer ride across the U.S. is dedicated to 3 people who each died of cancer. My Mother died in 1998 from a brain tumor after a short illness of 4 months… she was 71. My Mother-in-law died at the age of 78 in March 2007 6-weeks after being diagnosed with leukemia. And my Aunt just passed away in September 2007 at the age of 92. All 3 women were very influential in my life.

My Mother who lived in the Netherlands (yes I’m very Dutch) loved to ride her bike... even up to the day she got sick. On a beautiful spring day she would not think twice about riding 50 km. She loved life. To her I would like to say I’m doing this for you, Mom, because if we had a cure for cancer you would still be riding your bicycle all over the Netherlands. It’s been 9 years but I still miss you.

My Mother-in-law lived in Canada. She was such a wonderful loving person. She always had a certain peace flowing from her. I could talk to her about anything (which was really nice since my own parents lived so far away). When I visited with her she always had such a calming effect on me. For you, Mom I am riding for the same reason, if we had a cure for cancer I would not be missing you so much.

My Aunt Toni lived in Canada. She was my Mom’s older sister, and when I moved to Canada from the Netherlands she was always there for me. She made me feel so much a part of her Family when I moved so far away from my own. For you, Tante Toni, I am riding to thank you for your part in making me the person I am today. As you told me the week before you died “I had a good long life”. However we would still like to find a cure for your stomach cancer. I will always remember you.

I have had so many wonderful people help me with everything from fundraising, writing, graphic design and webpage design, etc. I want to thank each of these people for all of their help. Kim, Paula, Katie, Petra, Amy, Dave, John and the people at St. Mary’s because without each of you, I could never have put together this fundraiser.

To all of you who read this, lets pull together and make this a dream that comes true…

To donate, please click here to give to Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary's.

Thanks and God Bless

Arda

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