It’s always hard to get the body parts moving the day after
24 Hours of booty, it’s a Booty hangover. Joints hurt, muscles ache, there’s
that fog that lingers where you just can’t quite think of what next… or maybe,
that’s just because Booty is over. There is now nothing to do, right?
Sweet Rides is made up of some pretty awesome people. We
have the veterans and the last minute additions, casual and serious riders,
silly and adventurous. But all together, I think our team has a beautiful
spirit. Green, yellow, a splash of pink, glow in the dark… colors that I can’t
pass on a daily basis without a smile. A green purse? It’s a must have! Glow in
the dark paint, yes please! Our team is colorful inside and out, and they do
Booty with a purpose.
Kicking cancer’s booty is a phrase I hear often. I’m in the
middle of it kicking it’s booty, and have learned to do it well, means to stay
positive, active, and fight hard. This
weekend I watched 250 riders, a mess load of volunteers, a bunch or spectators
and cheerleaders, friends, family, strangers and the Booty organizers go into
overdrive, literally karate chopping cancer’s booty to the ground.
First was the fundraising aspect of it all. With amazing
donors, corporate sponsors, yard Sales, Kids 24 Minutes of Booty, 2013
BootyCrawl, Canyon’s Night, Friday Night Live events, and again amazing
donors, our team raised almost $17,000.
About $10,000 of that being only in the last two weeks. I personally came in a
speck under $3,000, Madison beat her goal of $500, and Skip raised over $1,000
in one week. Atlanta raised over $135,000 with a grand tour booty total of
around 1.8 million. Not too shabby! In Atlanta our funds raised benefit The
Aflac Center at Children’s Healthcare, where I personally know three patients,
and LiveStrong, one of the coolest national cancer support systems in the
world. Applause for those who have all worked so hard!
Second the riding. For those that know me well, biking is
kind of my thing. And the best part, my family loves it too. In past events
I’ve ridden the most at 122 miles, the first 24 Hours of booty and the first
time being on a road bike. This weekend, I set my goal of 5 miles. Having done
treatment 2 days earlier, it was going to be a little tricky. I couldn’t
over-do it. I went out for the first lap in the Peachtree Bikes pace vehicle!
It felt like I was in the car for a Tour de France team with the guys on the
radios. I got to hang out the window and watch my daughter and husband and some
pretty sweet survivors and top fundraisers, follow us through the course. You
could not get the grin off my face. It was awesome. I felt like I was the queen
of the world for just a moment!
My second lap was on a bike. I don’t remember too much
because I was concerned about shifting, breaking, taking it easy, watching for
cobbles, corners and holes. But I did get to ride with a few 100% amazing
people, had a few laughs and lots of shout outs to anyone who wanted to be my
Booty buddy. It always sounds wrong, clean people, stay clean. I pulled in to
complete my first lap and oooops, what did I do, I just kept right on going!
HEHE. I felt fine and honestly the walking back and forth to the bathroom was
much much harder. I wish I could have ridden with every single person out
there. I wanted to and it makes me sad that I didn’t so maybe next year that is
a goal… to somehow ride with everyone for at least a minute!
Now, that being said, I did get a WHOLE lot of pictures with
people. LOTS. I think like 60 plus the 400 I downloaded of my Canon. LOL. If I missed
getting my picture with you, I’m sorry, know I love you bunches! Everyone
there!
Third thing, awards. Friday afternoon, I got a sweet call
from Janet saying that 24 Hour of Booty would be awarding the Wall family
(that’s us) the Spirit Award. It goes to a rider, or group, that has shown lots
of cancer-fighting spirit. What an honor!! I love these guys! They did a quick
little interview where Madison got to tell about the cool bike her dad built
for her, and Alana, who said “itchy” over and over. She actually got nervous! Yes,
Alana. Skip reiterated the fact that so many people helped us during this crazy
time and that we could not have done it without them. From meals, to
babysitting, to paying for bills, this has been an overwhelming experience and
the LEAST we can do is go through it with a positive attitude knowing that God
does provide through family, friends and strangers, and that there is good that
can come out of such an ugly thing. This weekend was shining goodness and love
and I hope you could feel it even if you weren’t there.
Hitting refresh, refresh, refresh, refresh… Friday afternoon
was fun as always and it showed at 5:00 PM that we would also be the recipient
of the 2013 Top Fundraiser award. ONLY because of our INCREDIBLE donors we have
made it into the top three for all 4 years now. I have to be honest, the other
teams up there put up a crazy fight and competitive me had prepared myself for “butthead
Jay” or Brian to beat us, but once I gave it up, the donations poured in. I
prayed over every dollar a LOT of times, and I am confident that our donations,
our fundraising, are going to make a difference in this city! So way to go
team! Four years in a row, that’s a lot to be excited about! Huge smile!
Fourth, glowsticks. So what’s up with all the glowsticks?
For every $5 donation, you can honor someone you love that has fought or is
fighting cancer by having their name written on a glowstick. At sunset Saturday
we light them and remember why we are here. One friend said, “beautiful, but too
many.” And again, it’s why we ride. On Friday night, about 7:30 I’m writing the
remainder of the names and realize I had just run out of glowsticks! I ran to
Dollar Tree and they had none. I called the second store and wow did I score! 3
to a pack and though there were no green, there were lots of pink! What have I
said, “green with a splash of pink!?” It was perrrrrrfect! We wrote them,
strung them, hung them and at dark, we lit them. I think we still need to find
a good way to make sure everyone is there, like EVERYONE, because it sure is an
amazing way to honor survivors. I would LOVE to have 500 glowsticks next year,
strung all around both tents, symbolizing the lives that have fought. Mmm. It
was cool. (Oh and I still have to laugh, Tracy, Therese and I all could not
break the first stick. Always seems to happen that way!)
Fifth, thank you’s. Skip. Madison. Tracy. Therese.
Skip is my love. My sweetest, cutest love. He has been there
these last few months in ways I honestly didn’t know possible. When you have
fluid oozing from your boob for weeks, it’s not all that flattering! “Hey
honey, can you change out the bandage?” CHEESE! He has seen it all folks, and
still loves me, that’s HUGE! Hehe! He’s also put up with my nervous tendencies
(I talk A LOT) and even shared a little Xanax with me! It’s been hard at times
and easy at others, but I think overall, he handled this ordeal really, really
well, like a rockstar actually. A pink-haired rockstar. He’s got this
silly/serious sense of humor that keeps me on my toes too. Not sure the In
Honor of Walter White was all to appropriate, but then again, I’m kind of really
drawn to that about him. When you can just shake your head and giggle… He’s
crazy. I love that he is as competitive,
if not more, than me, especially when biking is involved! I love that he dyed
his hair pink and that he didn’t shave it and went to work like that today. I
love that he waxed his legs to finalize last year’s fund raising debt. (video
coming soon) I love that he puts up with all my fund raising ideas though he
thinks we’re nuts, and I love that he is so generous. I loved riding alongside
him this weekend! I barely got to finish the last lap with him, but made it,
sprinted and stood up a few times to get there, but wouldn’t want to cross the
line with anyone else! (Well, maybe M, but she had another idea in mind) Skip
is pretty special to me and so happy God thought enough of me to give me him. Can’t
wait for the next 13 cancer-free years!
Madison is mini-me. My clone. However Spencer put it in the
awards ceremony, she’s it. But that just means I’m really cute, right??! She is
a precious little soul. She is quiet and a bit shy, but one determined,
competitive, sweet little girl. And really, once she get’s to know you, it’s
over. No more shyness. She rode 46.2 miles meeting and exceeding her goal, all
because at 10 years old, she knows what cancer is and how it can hit home. It’s
shaken her world and she fights on. She’s determined for a cure. I do love that
she saved her energy to be the first to cross the line during the last lap. I’m
pretty sure I was near dying trying to keep up with her and finally gave up.
Yes, Madison beat me. Whew! Lol. I loved
it when she came up to me and said, “I put three names on the Wall of hope” With
the little sweet grin… I knew who the three people were. It melted my heart. Way
to go my little Madison, could not be any prouder today of what she’s
accomplished!
Tracy, my co-captain Tracy! What a seriously insane year. I
am not sure I could fit in here what it means that she keeps doing this crazy
thing called booty with me, but I must same I AM SO glad she does! I love her
heart and her passion for fighting this ugly disease. I didn’t get to ride with
her until after the last lap actually, which was actually kind of funny and
pretty sure I won’t forget it, so hoping I will get to ride with her soon. She
has a gift of organization, generosity, hospitality, and serving and I love
that she loves to go over the top with everything. At the end of the day we may
be wore out and think “what in the world are we doing”, but truly, the
friendship we have is worth it. So glad we met, made this team and kept it
going. It’s been a blast. I can’t thank her enough for how she’s helped, I’m
truly thankful for our continued friendship.
My other new long-time booty friend and now co-captain
Therese… this is another partner in crime! This girl does a TON! Broken foot,
baby, 5th grade homework... Nothing stops her from fighting the
fight. I’m so glad she is a part of this. She’s creative, fun and I love that
she is always up for a challenge! She’s a great friend and truly blessed to
ride alongside her as well…
Last but not least, highlights, and probably more thank
you’s… (I’m going to forget something, I know it! Chemo brain is going to make
this hard… READY?) ~ I loved seeing Team MRI pair up with Sweet Rides at the
last minute, an amazing group of guys (and Cathy) that I wish I could have
ridden with more and gotten to know better this past race season! Definitely
not too late! ~ Rode with Mr. Dan Wagner as he made it down from Kentucky with
his amazing family and I got to meet his sweet wife Colette. She’s a trip and
I’m sure I got me another new friend for life! Can’t thank them enough, and words will never
give justice to how they have supported me and my family through the years. ~
Team Collin, holy moly, I just adore them. I loved seeing them ride by and
cheering for them. So glad I got to hug the neck of Vaughn and Melinda. Seeing
Vaughn in a dress a
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I have so many stories and don’t think I have the energy to
post them all, much less sift through the chemo brain right now, but these were
the first to come to mind. I do want to point out one more amazing thing. The
weather was iffy and a ton of people were talking about it. But do you know, it
was some of the most beautiful weather, and that the downpour waited for us to
unload, close the garage and head upstairs. Most perfect timing ever, as usual.
Thank you Lord for watching over us and seeing that the weather would not be a
worry and for me not getting too sunburned. Hehe. I always forget that
sunscreen!
We wrapped up the weekend with a great dinner with family at
California Dreaming. Even my grandmother came and her tears were just heart
wrenching. I can’t wait to heal up and visit with her more. I know cancer has
pierced her heart in an ugly way… that’s why I continue riding, for all the
people with chipped hearts, mine included.
Lot’s of love was shown to my family this weekend and it made
my heart grow in ways I didn’t know possible. Cancer isn’t easy, but it sure is
fun “thinking” it is. So keep positive, and if you or someone you know is in
it, find a way to laugh or make them laugh today! And if you see the color
green today, whisper or shout up a ‘thank you’ because it’s my color, I’m
cancer free, and God is really good!
