Day 3 at Newark, Delaware! So far from San Francisco!I miss you mom!
Day 3!
Day 3The I4k rumor mill was churning last night as word of a 43 mile day spread about. The people simply couldn’t believe it…43 miles, it’s just too easy. Despite the weariness, we did indeed have a very short 43 mile ride from Philadelphia into Newark, Delaware. The cross into Delaware 20 miles into the day marked the fourth state we have ridden in; New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and now Delaware.Despite the laid back nature that a short day provides, the extreme heat did provide a challenge. With temperatures soaring throughout the day many teams were caught filling up water bottles consistently (as well as pouring the water all over their bodies). The rest stop was crucial and enjoyable as usual as Taylor Swift prominently sang out through the van’s speakers. Riders sang along and enjoyed donated bread from a market the day before. An aquatic war may have begun during the rest stop; eye witnesses confirmed that water guns and water balloons were purchased at a nearby dollar store (this also marks the third consecutive day that a dollar store profited from our journey).More importantly, the kindness that we have grown familiar to has continued in Delaware. Our gracious hosts not only gave us a place to sleep, but also provided a hearty meal that sufficiently stuffed the entire team (they even had enough food for our multiple vegetarians). A special thanks to Gerry, Wayne, Phil, Pastor Robert, and the other volunteers at Salem United Methodist for all of your generosity and help. Aside from our hosts, more and more people are coming up to us on the streets and in parking lots. A group of riders stopped for ice cream and left the employees mystified when they heard our story, and the same goes for grocery s shoppers at a Lion Food shop and the manager at a local pool that a few riders took a dip in. Tomorrow begins our first real challenge. A 77 mile ride with serious altitude changes en roué to Baltimore. Bring it on. Thanks for the continued support,Illini 4000
Day Two Updates!
Greetings once again. The team is now in the city of Philidelphia, Pennsylvania. We rolled out in the early hours of the morning from New Jersey, making our way through the state, finally crossing the Delaware River, into Pennsylvania. The day saw a great mix of urban and rural riding, through diverse communities all along the way. We also had to deal with quite a bit of tough hills throughout the day, getting well prepared for those mountains ahead. Towards the end of the day, the I4k rode into the amazing city known as Philidelphia. Once there, the team was greeted by the friendly people of the city. This is made evident by the enormous amount of food donations the riders received as they visited local stores and restaurants upon arriving in the city. We had a great dinner of pizza, salad and soup which was all donated, and was well deserved after our 70 mile ride. We are ending our night exploring the city and will end at our lovely stay over, the Arch Street United Methodist Church. As we roll off tomorrow, we will be heading into Delaware, for some more hills, flat tires and fun. Please continue to check in on the Illini 4000 as we continue our ride.Thanks again,The I4K.
What a Day
Through the entire time after finals, and the entire time after everything we've seen and done and all of that, I've said, "Maybe when we ride for the first day, it'll finally feel real." I was wrong. Today, while it has been AMAZING beyond all my expectations, still feels surreal. I can't process what it's like to be a part of this incredible organization sometimes.While I was packing up to get on the train to come, I kept thinking to myself that I felt like I wasn't really doing this. Like somehow, I would get to Chicago, and it would be like "Oh, whoops, no, this isn't legit. This amazingly awesome thing isn't actually happening, haha jokes on you!" One year ago exactly, I was standing on the stage at my high school's graduation, giving a speech about how there's a difference between life on the page, and life, which was the first time I told my community that I wanted to bike across the country. I think that today exactly exemplifies what I meant by that quote-- there's the life on the page (me telling everyone for so long that I've wanted to do this), and there's life (everything actually legitimately happening). I'm really excited to see what all of this brings for us!Before getting into the too serious stuff, the definite most interesting thing of the day was the supergroup hearing an ice cream truck, getting really excited, and then realizing it was the van next to us with the fully tinted windows, that then suddenly turned on a police siren and blew through the stop light. However, I think the second highlight (as far as entertaining things go) would certainly be riding alongside a group of male rugby players who were just really excited to see us. Then there was the time in the city, riding with Marcus and like 10 girls, when the guy on the street expressed clearly that they found Marcus to be a complete player, and of the ladies "they all fine! None of them ugly!" On a more serious note, we did our first portrait of the actual ride today, and it was amazing. Clinton Kelley, a homeless man from Lyndon, NJ, was diagnosed with colon cancer at 37, and is now 56. I really didn't know what to expect, but I certainly didn't expect the amazing amount of inspirational words that he gave. He spoke for a long time about the importance of never giving up. It's really easy to forget what the cause is, when we're riding through New York and New Jersey, and when we have our first ride day, and all of these amazing bike things are happening. So, even though I'm really tired, and this isn't nearly along the lines of what I'd normally be posting, a huge thanks to Clinton Kelley for bringing me back to the cause today. We're not just a bunch of kids biking across the country. We're biking for a reason, so that men like Clinton Kelley don't have to wonder if they're going to lose their lives at 37 years old. We're biking so that no one has to go through what his family went through, wondering if their father would live. It's really hard sometimes to stay connected to the fact that this is for cancer. This isn't a ride for us to have an awesome time (that's just a nice perk!). It's a ride to fight cancer. And that's something to be excited about!
Day 1!
Hello followers of all things Illini 4000,Today saw the 2012 Illini 4000 bike team kick off their summer journey in the middle of New York City's beautiful Central Park. The team rode through the bustling streets of New York to the famous George Washington bridge and took in the sights of New York and New Jersey as they rode on to a whole new state. Many diverse and exciting towns and neighboorhoods, such as Lodi, Newark, and Perth, were ridden through as the 2012 riders navigated through the busy streets of New Jersey.Along the way, the team broke for lunch in a small New Jersey town called Lyndon. As the team ate, several members were approached by a local homeless man, and they began to explain the details of what the I4K is all about. It was this man, Clinton Kelley, that provided the team with its first opportunity to conduct a portrait during the trip. He told the inspiring tale of his life, which has been marked with hardships; one of those hardships was colon cancer. This provided those involved in the interview with a new look into the way cancer impacts diverse people across America.The team ended its 68 mile ride in the town of North Brunswick, New Jersey, where they were warmly greeted and welcomed by the wonderful Thakkar and Sangankar families. They prepared an array of amazing food for the team. Upon its arrival, the team also made an apperance on a local news network to share the inspiring story of the Illini 4000. HUGE thanks to the Thakkar and Sangankar families for providing the team with an incredible place to stay for the night. Next time you hear from us, we'll be in Philadelphia!Until then, thanks for reading!The Illini 4000
A Day in the Big Apple!
Hello I4k fans, friends, and family! Today the team had a fantastic day in the Big Apple. For many riders this was the first visit to New York City (some confusion between the Chrysler and the Empire State Building, but we totally have that down now!) and many of us are official converters to the big city life! With all the excitement setting in today (we are definitely riding across the country tomorrow!), the Illinois Alumni of New York City invited us to a roof top dinner party overlooking beautiful Manhattan. The team spent the night eating pizza, taking cheesy pictures, and hearing stories from ’07 riders Allison and Mark. Thanks again to the New York U of I alumni association, and especially to Bruce and Kelley for hosting us. We are so grateful to these amazing people who made our stay in the city so enjoyable. And now the time has come! Every member on this team has worked hard this entire year for the moment that we are hours from experiencing. Tomorrow morning 28 diverse individuals with all sorts of life experience will come together to officially become the 2012 Bike America Team for Illini 4000. Tomorrow is both a day for us riders and for everyone who has supported us along the way. With our last words before we leave from Central Park we would like to say thank you Illini 4000 friends! We could not do what we do without each and every one of you. See you in San Francisco! Much Love,Illini 4000 for Cancer
New York, New York
So here we are on the eve of this “thing” with no school, work, or the like to occupy our brains. Much time, effort, and sheer determination has led up to this point but it really is only the tip of the iceberg. I keep thinking to myself; get a haircut, check; pack your life (at least for the summer) into a backpack, check; drive to New York City, check; bike across the country… I can only begin to imagine what this summer will be like for I know that we will not be able to realize the immensity, both physically and otherwise, of what we are setting out to do. So as I sit here poised on my sleeping pad and highly compressible sleeping bag, I want to take a few moments looking back because it is solely by the support of the people around us, (family, friends, and strangers alike) that we are able to do, what we do.To the people who provided us much room and even more hospitality at our stay-over in New York, the Alumni of U of I who provided us dinner on a fabulous rooftop in Manhattan, to the man who inquisitively called to us on the street and eagerly wanted to donate, to the people of New York who have taught me a whole new set of traffic rules, and to my teammates whom I have had the pleasure of exploring New York with and had the pleasure of beginning to getting to know; thanks.Also, a separate thank you to the people who personally supported me financially and in all other ways, I thank you immensely; it’s going to an absolutely unprecedented summer, and I truly cannot wait.
Team 2012 New York City Departure Info
Hello to all of the wonderful supporters of I4K!The team has made it successfully to New York City and will begin their 74 day journey to San Francisco in less than two days! Everyone is extremely excited to begin the ride we have been preparing for all year. So far, we have been able to raise almost $115,000 for cancer research and patient support services this year!With that said, if you or anyone you know finds yourself in the NYC area this weekend, come out to Central Park to see us off! The team will meet around 7:30 am on Saturday, May 26th at the northwest entrance to park at 108th Street. We're planning on departing around 8:00. We'd love to see you there!Thanks again for all of the amazing support of family, friends, and donors throughout the year. We couldn't do any of this without you!
The East is Calling
So tomorrow's the day I'll pack up a few belongings, toss them into a rucksack, and head out of here on a train to New York City. I remembered when I first interviewed to be on the team I was asked what I would be most apprehensive about and I told them it would without a doubt be the traffic in NYC, because it's completely out of my element. Now, riding through traffic is probably not even on my list of concerns. Actually, I'm not sure what exactly is on my list of concerns. I think that list got thrown out the window a month ago. Small things like traffic or rain don't seem like much to worry about anymore. On our 60 mile ride we were in constant rain but I ended up looking at it sort of as a gift. It made things easier and almost helped me glide on the pavement. At one point I was asking myself if I would ever be able to ride without it. When things get tough I'm learning to push through the difficulty and convince myself that whatever obstacles are in my way aren’t even obstacles to begin with. The things I used to be worried about are extremely pale in comparison to the physical and emotional tolls that cancer takes on those affected. I think the last portrait I was a part of really helped put things into an even greater perspective. Gary, who suffered from pancreatic cancer, told us that through everything the hardest part for him was gong to chemotherapy and seeing other people in the waiting room. Even though cancer was taking an extreme toll on his own health, he was worried about the person sitting next to him. I wish everyone had his mind set.Now, when I wake up at 8:00 am for class I rise out of bed without a word and think to myself it could be 5am and I’m lucky to be able to go to class in the first place. I find myself biting my tongue when walking through the cold, and when we're riding on miles of jagged gravel I think to myself it could be hailing while we're on this road. Life’s beautiful when you look at it the right way, and I think Gary helped to teach me that lesson. I constantly think about the people I know who have gone through or are currently going through cancer treatments and those people are real heroes facing obstacles I couldn't imagine. I can't thank them enough for their strength which continues to aid my own when cycling. This adventure of a lifetime is soon to be started and I'm happy to say my list of concerns has been replaced with a list of things I'm excited about.Side Note: I'm still completely blown away by the support of my community and extremely thankful to the numerous friends and family members around me who have donated or wished me luck on my journey, you guys are amazing!
Making A Difference
Today I left U of I as a graduated senior. Driving away from campus knowing I was not going to be back next year was as bittersweet as it gets. The bitterness portion is obvious as to why, but the sweet portion is usually harder for people to focus on. For me, however, it was not. I only had a few minutes to be sad because we leave for NYC is 11 days to ride our bikes across the country to raise awareness about cancer and spread hope. Graduating is not something I have time nor need to dwell on because I am riding with the Illini4000 and will forever be connected to the University, in the most positive way, spending the summer with some of the most dedicated and kind-hearted people.When someone asks what I am going to do now that I graduated, no one expects the answer I give them. Today in-particular, however, was extra special. While getting a tetanus shot at McKinley, the nurse asked me this question. It was absolutely uplifting to witness her reaction. Most people are interested, ask billions of questions, give us praise but still think we are all a tiny bit crazy. But there was something about this total stranger being so genuinely excited for the trip and the cause, going as far as to write down when we would be in Champaign so she could come support us that day that gave me hope and pure inspiration. I will be blessed this summer if we have this effect on even one cancer patient/caretaker/or survivor because then I know I am spending the summer after I graduated, instead of getting a job, doing something even more amazing; making a difference.Beyond initial reactions, I had a fellow nursing student come up to me and sincerely thank me for what I was doing; that it meant more than I knew to her. I was taken aback because so far for me most people tend to focus on how impressed they are that we can do the actual riding all summer long and sometimes forget why we are riding. I was speechless for a few seconds not really sure how to respond. All I could say was "Of course and thank you", because I know now whenever I am having a rough day on the trip I will think of her and how much it meant to her that I was doing this. That is what will keep me going. I like to think about it as a circle of strength.So thank you to the nurse at McKinley and my nursing peer for reminding me about the impact we are about to have on many lives this summer and for impacting me in a positive way. This whole experience so far has been so inspirational and we haven't even left yet! So here's to looking forward in life and not dwelling on the past because each new chapter in life is an opportunity to make a difference.
Thank You to Our Favorite Mechanics!
Over the past few weeks, the 2012 team has been learning a lot about bikes! We'd like to thank Axel and John, our two favorite bike mechanics from Champaign Cycle, who took a lot of time to help teach our riders how to fix and maintain their bikes as well as share their expertise by making sure everyone's bikes were properly fit and tuned up! We can't thank you enough for all of your help!We highly recommend that everyone in the Champaign-Urbana area come to these two next time you need any bike help! In the meantime, check out champaigncycle.com!
Realizations
As I sit in the education building trying to finish up my last two weeks worth of homework, I can’t help but be distracted with the realization that in 25 days I will be biking away from New York City headed to San Francisco with the rest of Illini 4000. Within those 25 days I am overwhelmed with the amount of school work, student teaching, actual work, preparation, fundraising, and training I have left. Additionally, as I sit in the education building trying to do homework I can’t help but creep Facebook and see multiple statuses about Derrick Rose’s torn ACL which brings upon a whole new realm of realizations. With today being May 1, I have broken what I call my “April Curse”. On April 30, 2009 I tore my left ACL/MCL/meniscus. On April 19, 2010 I re-tore my left ACL/MCL/meniscus and chipped my fibula. Sometime around April 8, 2011 I tore my left hip labrum. But this April, after making it through our 90 mile stay over trip during the last weekend, I can say I haven’t torn a thing in 2012.While biking 90 miles in one day is a great feeling, what I really took away from this weekend was our portrait we conducted at the church that night. I sat in on a portrait of one rider’s mom, and she told us how she lost not just one, but two moms to cancer. Her biological mom passed away of cancer when she was not even a teenager, and then more recently her step-mom (who she knew as ‘mom’ for the large majority of her life) passed away of cancer. Both of her moms had different forms of cancer, but eventually developed tumors in their spines which ended up taking their lives. Her stories about being so young and having to care for her mom because she could no longer care for herself were beyond moving. She told us that after a chemotherapy appointment, at nine and half years of age, she had to drive her mom’s stick shift home from the hospital, with her mom in the passenger seat, because she was too sick to do so. And another story about how other adults didn’t think she was old enough to know everything that was going on, so when everyone knew her mom was coming home because she was dying, she had made ‘Welcome Home’ and ‘Congratulations’ banners for her mom thinking she was coming home because she had beaten her cancer. Days later, she saw her mom pass away in her bed. I could not even wrap my mind around these experiences and the stories she told. They were so emotional and can only make me think, “Why does something like this have to exist?”Before I signed up for this ride many people told me I couldn’t do it. They told me that my prior and current injuries are going to stand too much in the way, and that it would be too difficult. And I am not going to lie and say that the injuries I have dealt with have been easy on me. They have very strongly affected me physically and emotionally. Every time after being told something was torn I can remember crying and thinking, “Why does it have to be me, again?” The reality stands that due to these injuries I will be getting a third knee surgery, and a hip surgery all probably before I turn 24. And the very real reality is that this ride could make the tears in either my knee or hip worse by the time we arrive into San Francisco. But after hearing portraits like the one I heard over the weekend, it all seems so trivial.Every time I was told I tore something, I was immediately after told that it could be fixed with surgery. Those diagnosed with cancer do not get this luxury. They are forced to start the toughest fight of their life after being given their diagnosis whether they are ready for it or not, and I have been so fortunate to have never experienced that. Even if the tears in my knee or hip get worse, I still can arrive home knowing that two surgeries can help me with my problems. Cancer patients never get the convenience of not worrying. Even if their cancer goes away, years later it can come back, and that is just not fair. So when people tell me this ride is going to be too hard with my injuries all I can think about is how lucky I am in comparison to those I am riding for. When my leg hurts or gives me trouble, I just have think of the real reason I am riding and the future that I am riding for, where no one ever loses their mom, dad, brother, sister, or friend to cancer again. These portraits I know will continue to drive me all summer, and I look forward to hearing each unique story.And to my mom- No, I'm not going to ride when I am in a ton of pain and I know I am causing more harm to my leg, but I can give it my best effort until then. I already see that question/comment coming :)
Reconnecting with the Cause
We've been training for the trip for a long time. Trips to the ARC have been going on since November, twice a week since January, and we've been riding like crazy since we got back from Spring Break. For a while all I could think about was the trip: What type of bike should I buy? What snacks will I want eat? Should I get a rack bag? When are my bike shoes finally coming in? Will I be in shape enough when the trip begins? And so on and so on.This past weekend we did a doozy: a 90 mile trip. In fact, my group got lost and off track enough that we ended up going 104 miles, so I can check that off my list already! It was pretty brutal: the morning started out very cold and it didn't warm up much, the sun came out for only an hour or two, it rained for part of the trip, and my group got about 10 miles off course at one point. While finishing the ride was rewarding, it was difficult and sometimes frustrating, and my group ended up spending about 10 hours from start to finish.After we arrived at our stayover location, we had an event for the Portraits Project. I was tired, but I knew had to do it. The half hour that I spent doing that portrait had a huge impact on me. I heard the story of a father of three who fought acute myeloid leukemia, and the struggles that he and his family went through. At the end of the portrait, I had an entirely new perspective on the day. I worked hard to move myself 104 miles on a bike, and I was tired, but that night I got to eat pasta, chill with my fellow riders, go to sleep, and wake up well-rested the next day. And after returning to campus, I got to go to sleep in my bed, and by Monday morning it was as if nothing had happened.A cancer patient is not so lucky. They can't just go to sleep and wake up better; they go through chemo, and can wake up feeling even worse. It takes years to recover, if it all, and not just a couple of days. My ride was hard, but it was nothing compared to the ride of a victim of cancer.I complained a lot on last weekend's ride, and I really regret it. Whenever I was hurting on the short ride back home, I did my best to not allow it to get to me. Instead, I let it motivate me. My struggle was just the tiniest blip in my lifetime, and I let it remind me of the fight that others have to give against cancer. When I think about the ride, I no longer think about how hard it will be to bike every day. Instead, I think of the difference that I can make with this ride. My sacrifice is small, and if it means something to someone battling cancer, then it is way more than worth it.
Last Training Ride for Team 2012
This past weekend, the riders of the 2012 Bike America team had our last training ride of the year. After a windy 90 miles out to Kickapoo State Park and through Indiana, we spent the night at Faith Church in Fairmount, IL. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the people there who helped us out; we can't thank you enough for all of your kindness and generosity.This year was the first time that we had our a stayover for our overnight ride, and it was a great decision! The team was able to conduct four portraits of local community members. We really appreciate the openness of all of these people and their willingness to share their stories with us. It is these stories that provide the fuel for this ride - your strength and courage motivates us to keep going!
A Day In the Life.
This morning we completed our 'day in the life ride'. We headed off of campus at 7am yesterday, rode some 90 miles throughout Indiana, ended the day off at the Fairmount Methodist Church, and rode some 25 miles back this morning. Although we still had our directors with us, this was the closest we have ever been to a day comparable to one on the ride.It was tough. All of the training we have done has been relatively close to Champaign, so we have only encountered mostly flat land. This ride had some tough hills, which just kept making me think of the even tougher mountains we will be facing during the beginning of the ride. There were also some pretty strong headwinds although I am sure they are nothing in comparison to the completely flat states in the west. I knew this summer would be tough, but after this ride I have a much better grasp on what to expect and what will be expected of us along the ride.Once we got to the church we had the opportunity to conduct portraits with some of the members of the community. Tory Cross set this up, and she did an absolutely perfect job! Interviewing these patients, survivors, and caretakers reminded me of why I am riding. Those headwinds and hills were going to stop in 90 miles. When I get off my bike at the end of the day I can relax. These fighters don't get the chance to stop after a long day. They cannot just take a break. They are in a constant fight, and what they do is much tougher than what we do. These fighters are my reason to ride.This weekend was spent entirely with the team and we spent a lot of time bonding. (We even have a hand motion indicating just that.) The riders on this team are undoubtedly some of the best people on this campus. They are happy, energetic, caring, and strong. What else could you expect from an organization this great?! I am so fortunate to be able to spend my entire summer with these folks, and I really cannot wait until it begins.I know this summer will be insane. There will be tough days. We will be tired, hungry, and exhausted. But I will have the support of the incredible 2012 team and a legitimate reason to ride. With this ride we can make an impact, we can spread stories and hope, and we can accomplish something great.26 days until yesterday becomes just like my everyday. I am not sure I could wait any longer!-AY
It's for Cancer!
My friends are probably ready to smack me every time they hear the phrase "It's for cancer!" With all the super successful events we've had lately, everyone who has heard me speak in the last few weeks must have heard this phrase at least once. Between the super successful date auction run mostly by Jaime and Ashley (Way to go Kristen, going for $100!!), the team's favorite night ever with the 24 hours of cycling (which included everything from learning Alex Massey is ridiculously photogenic to watching Bradford completely beast the rollers to multiple rounds of singing Mr. Jones), the upcoming underwear mile (where Buddy the Elf will be making an appearance!), to setting up the stayover for the ride where will be doing 120 miles in one weekend (team, get pumped!), to listening to Connor Ramsey sing in pure excitement during the first training ride that was long enough to feel like a real I4K ride, to trying to convince ALL of my guy friends to shave their heads, to basically every conservation that I have every single day.On a slightly more serious note, Saturday was our alumni ride, which was a lot of fun! Actually, it kind of sucked, because it rained the entire day, the entire team was cold and soaked down to the bone, and we probably owe Allen Hall a lot of newspaper from using all of it to try to dry our belongings out. Other than that, the ride was a lot of fun! I chatted for awhile with Cristian (I think, I'm awful with names!). He asked what I was most excited for, and I told him that I'm super pumped for Portraits, because I think it's going to make a really amazing impact. When I asked what his favorite part was, he said that my choice of portraits kind of reminded him that it's not just a bunch of kids riding across the country. It's for cancer. He told me a story about a little kid that he met, who was a complete inspiration to the team in his determination to have no fear about his battle with cancer. Cristian said that meeting the little boy was one of his favorite things about the ride. Stories like that are the stories that have me the most excited to leave New York in 38 days (38 days?!). Stories like this are also the kind of stories that have led me to the conclusion that I almost definitely want to use my double major of Psych and Bio to fight cancer to the best of my ability, either through research or as an oncologist. After all, it's for cancer. Peace, love, and tailwinds,Tory
Whoa!
Before joining the club, I had never ridden on a bike more than a couple miles. Not knowing what I have gotten myself into, I packed A cliff bar and joined 45 miles ride last Saturday.Long story short, I do not think I have ever been as tired as I was that day. After the ride, I could barely talk! I was very confident about my endurance as I have been through pretty tough stuff I thought. It turns out I am WEAK!To be honest, I am more worried about this journey than I am excited. When one day of 50 mile ride exhausts me this much, I cannot imagine myself doing 80+ miles everyday for three months!However, tomorrow is another day, and there is always another snack bar. I will survive this.Love, Peace and Cliff bar.
Is this real life?
I have asked myself the same question for half a year now.. Is this real life?I am currently spending all my time working on my fundraising, keeping up with school, and spending as much time on my bike as possible. With all of this distracting me, I have not spent much time thinking about the reality of this summer. Sure, I am going to spend it on my bike with 29 other beautiful people. We are going to be doing great things, raising money, collecting portraits, and literally riding our bikes across the country. This is what I was expecting... But as school ends and summer approaches, reality is setting in.Now that the training rides are in full swing, meetings are becoming more focused on the summer, and we are spending so much time as a team, I can't help but think about how much my life is going to change in 45 days. I will be living in a saddle, with 29 college kids, and limited showers. We will be riding though big cities and small towns in whatever weather is thrown at us. We will be sharing everything but toothbrushes. We will have the opportunity to collect the stories of those effected by cancer and spread them with hope. We will make an impact across the country. This is what I am looking forward to most.I frequently question the reality of this, and most everyone questions our sanity. We all have our reasons for doing this though. I am riding for my family, friends, teachers... People who have made me the person I am happy to be and who have fought with positivity to continue to impact the lives of others. Although as a team, we can narrow this down to one solid reason: We hate cancer.So I guess this is real. My life will change for the better in 45 days. We will make an impact. And perhaps we all are a little insane, but at least we have solid reasoning backing us up.This summer couldn't come soon enough.-Ashley Young
Team Ride Across America 2012!
I4K '12!!You are working so hard, training and fundraising your way to the top! Just look at you all! Only a bit more and, before you know it, you'll be at Union Station, then Penn Station, then (come up with an insane word for The Ride and insert here (this one's mine)) Wahshwhooolowoooyaybiblneyness, and then, the Golden Gate Bridge.It's an unforgettable journey. It goes by fast. Live in the present always.Sincerely,Cristian E. GarciaI4k '11
Learning what life is all about with I4K
So do you ever think you are worrying too much about things that do not matter? I mean this is it; this is your life happening right in front of you, moment by moment. Time as it flows in the moment signifies your existence, not the past experiences you wish to relive or the future you actively try to create. It is, through the moments you live, beginning and ending simultaneously; a chain of moments that will unquestionably end. The actuality that time is not infinite is such a hard concept to truly grasp.I was able to help conduct an I4K interview with a student here at U of I. At my age she had become a caregiver for a fellow student and friend diagnosed with colon cancer. Twenty-two years old, and all these people around her are saying, after some stomach problems, that she has cancer. That was it; her life- and all the individuals whose lives, by chance, intertwined in this specific place and time with her- changed. I can imagine her experience: pain, physical degradation, surgery after surgery, financial strain, loneliness.She graduated from the university that same year, and decided she is going to travel, and do whatever she wants, rightfully so. Her friend that was retelling the story to us recalled an amazing moment: as she, now a cancer survivor, was flying over the endless rows of houses one can watch from the window seat of an airplane, she became overwhelmed with a sudden and overpowering emotion. Most of these people, with their unique days that come together to create their life stories, were probably worrying about things that just did not matter; things that prevented valuing the moments of their lives.I4k is much more than just a fundraiser ride. As we ride this summer and hear stories of how cancer has impacted the lives of others, we the riders, listeners, and learners, shape our understanding of ourselves, what we value, and how we want to live. Every day, eight hours a day in the saddle, time will flow in the moment. You do not have to travel to exotic places in the world to change your perspective on things; you have to open your eyes and ears to the people around you, wherever you find yourself.In the context of humanity, most importantly, we learn from the people that suffered in the past, and the people that continue to suffer today, that people do not have to suffer from cancer so we can all learn to live differently. All the people of the past contributed to the world by adding ideas and thoughts to the web of human understanding. Ideas in society are about progression. Cancer will be cured, and the ideas of the past preserved so that all the future will benefit.The moments chained together that create our existence on this ride, will shape the future of others, whether it be donations for cancer research, our Portraits Project, or giving hope. Cool, right? Thanks to this experience I think I have a better understanding of life, time, and suffering. Let’s learn from others whose experiences shaped ideas that are now imprinted on the world, and stop suffering in the future.From two wheels...