Erin Rooney

A blog about riding and other musings

[cyclingrooney]

Day 18 - the final day! Lower Sackville to Halifax (67kms for me!) Well, this is it...the final day of riding for the 2016 Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. Before we started we were told it will go fast, enjoy the moments, take it all in as best you can. I don't think it went by too fast, I did enjoy the moments, and I am thankful for what the journey has given to me. Today was a combined Team 1 and Team 2 ride. We were saddened to hear part way through Day 17 that there had been an accident with Team 2, and that half of their team would be unable to ride with us. We left Lower Sackville under the sunniest of skies, very cool temperatures, and swirling east coast winds. Today's dedication was for the 23 children that were mentioned during the introductions that we did while in Vancouver the evening before the first day of the ride, and in my heart in addition to Dom and the other 22 children, I also very much had Blake Miller in my heart ( I wore a bracelet given to me by her parents across the entire country). Unfortunately for me and a few others, the day was riddled with flat tires. It meant that I couldn't ride into Peggy's Cove - the first stop for the day and a majestic viewpoint that is one of the most gorgeous I have seen in my lifetime. I was able to get my tire fixed for the remainder of the ride, and put my disappointment aside to look at the bigger picture of the journey to get here. We had another stop at a #SearsCA store in Halifax, and then went to the IWK - children's hospital, where we had a lovely presentation, heard more stories, and I had the opportunity to meet a little girl Emma and her two sisters and one brother, and parents. Emma is not yet 2, and had a Wilms tumour. She was in her stroller, feeding tube in, bald head, sucking her little thumb, and made me think of Dom. It was my pleasure to spend a few minutes with her and her family and share with them the support that this event is meant to provide them along with the important fundraising to go towards research and in hospital programs. Uncle Jim - one of our amazing volunteers - gave out stuffed animals to the riders to give to kids at the hospital, and I met Ashlyn and gave her my seal. Apparently she had been offered an Olaf (Frozen) but wasn't too fond of him (or perhaps she already had one, lol), and was overjoyed with the seal. :) We then rolled down to Point Pleasant Park where we dipped our front wheels in the ocean (will all National Riders including those who were injured in the previous day), received our medals, enjoyed some champagne, and reflected on the impact that we have had on ourselves, the families and children we have met, the communities that have welcomed us, our friends, families and supporters. And then we celebrated. It is amazing to see folks not in spandex or in sweatpants! We clean up pretty well. A big thank you goes out to all of my supporters once again for allowing me to take part in this life changing journey. My boyfriend Greg who came from Canmore to Halifax to celebrate with me and the rest of my wheel family on the final day(s), my parents for the endless support and love and advocacy of their daughters in taking on this big hairy audacious goal, the sponsors that helped me with preparing for the ride (Apex Massage, ION Print Solutions), and my donors whom are too many to individually list. Thank you. The impact of this journey is still being felt and processed. I imagine that effect will continue in the coming days, as we integrate back into 'normal' society. I miss my wheel family already. Luckily, Greg, Shannon, Graham and I are all spending a few extra days here in Halifax, and will get to see some of our team again before we head for home. Here are the links to a couple of the videos that the Foundation put together looking back on our ride. :) https://vimeo.com/184156010 - Day by Day video https://vimeo.com/184155492 - Volunteer video Another SNKCR 2016 video will be released soon! Much love, Erin Xo

[cyclingrooney]

Day 17 - New Glasgow to Lower Sackville (121kms - ended at Enfield) Second last morning. We wake to light rain drops which sound like a Caribbean tin drum on the box of the trailer which is our home. Breakfast is in the parking lot, hosted by our team of awesome volunteers. We have several very special guests here including two childhood cancer girls who we give signed SNKCR 2016 jerseys to in hopes they grow up strong and ambitious enough to join this journey that we are wrapping up tomorrow. Our dedication this morning was for Jacob Randall. With light rain, we head out on the road for our last team as just Team 1 (Team 1 and 2 will be together tomorrow for the final day). The day is filled with climbs and some downhills as well, but for the most part it is gradually up - and you wonder how high Nova Scotia could be! For reasons unknown but welcome to me, my legs were strong again today. Continuous encouragement from my boyfriend, parents, and other friends and family has been so appreciated especially over the past couple of days where my confidence has wavered, my legs not cooperated, and my attitude perhaps not as positive as it should have been. Today everything clicked for me and I was able to keep up with the group and do some pulling (being at the front of the group acting as the lead block where riders then fall in behind to draft off of you) on hills. I even did some dancing to the fantastical Jeff Rushton's sound cycle (a little Justin Timberlake can turn almost anyone's day around!). The rain was unrelenting and we had our first break in a hall with hot chocolate and treats - I believe it was Brad our trailer driver's mom who was one of the hosts! We stopped in Brookfield for lunch - multiple school groups came out and had made several signs and were spread out along our entrance into our lunch stop. It was truly amazing and brought a couple tears to my eyes maybe because I was thinking that this is one of the final welcomes we will have, maybe because I was cold and soaking wet and the idea of a warm shelter was so comforting. Regardless, it was spectacular, and followed by a delicious lunch and some of the tastiest brownies I have ever had in my life, haha. A couple of local politicians thanked us for being there and one talked about his grandson who had been battling cancer at this time last year when SNKCR came through; and said that he is now doing well. He was touched and moved that we came to visit again and are committed to a cause that is clearly near and dear to his heart. We set out again in the rain for the next leg and the conditions continued to deteriorate. On top of the wind and rain (which as a rider, I only brought so many layers of clothes to change out, and had used my last option - a pair of arm warmers on top of my wet clothes - to put on before leaving Brookfield), the traffic got busier, the roads were not great, and a few riders were struggling. We arrived in Enfield and after little rebuttal, agreed that we should shuttle to our final destination, Lower Sackville. The local fire department hosted us and allowed us to clean our bikes before leaving. I was touched to learn that Chris Collins, one of our relay riders and whom we rode for his son Sean yesterday, had been a reference for an old friend of Sean's who had applied to be a firefighter in Enfield and who greeted us upon our arrival. It was a reality check to see the photos of Sean from his ambassador board and his book, and see what a young man he would be right now if we had better treatment and cures for the cancer he battled. We shuttled into Lower Sackville and met up with some members of Team 2; we all went to dinner for fish and chips, and my boyfriend Greg arrived from Calgary part way though as he's here to enjoy the last day and we will stay to do some sight seeing afterword. Much love. Erin Xo

[cyclingrooney]

Day 16 - Moncton to Charlottetown (164km) After the wonderful day yesterday on the bike I was looking forward to today's journey. We had breakfast and thanked the #SearsCA Moncton store, got our picture taken with little miss Chloe, a childhood cancer fighter, and then rolled out under sunny but windy and a little cooler temperatures. Unlike most mornings we didn't do a dedication before our departure, but instead, a few kilometres up the road we pulled over - at a cemetery. There wasn't really any warning about this, to emotionally prepare ourselves... One of the relay riders Chris Collins lost his son Sean a few years ago after his battle with cancer. Chris and his wife Lisette took us to their son's gravesite (and the future site of each of their's) to share a very private and intimate and heart achingly real journey that they went on with their only child. To read more about Sean's cancer journey and his life, please visit http://www2.coasttocoastagainstcancer.org/ambassadors/sean-collins/ After that solemn visit, we started to make our way east. We stopped in Cape Pele for a break after about 45kms to a group of excited school children, including a girl who is currently battling cancer. In addition, friends from Florida (as mentioned previously, my folks winter in Maple Leaf, and have an amazing network of friends) Bob and Muriel(my apologies if I got that wrong!) Pierce drove over 2.5 hours to come and see us! I have had the pleasure of riding with Bob who is in his late 70's and an amazing rider (as is his wife) while in Florida earlier this year. It was a lovely visit and I'm so flattered that they travelled so far for such a short visit. Hope to see you in MLE on my next visit, Bob! The next 60kms had us turning in and out of the wind, along side the Atlantic Ocean! Yes, today was the day that the smell of the Pacific was replaced with the smell of the Atlantic. What an amazing realization to have come across our Country largely by pedal power and smell the two oceans and have created a lifetime of memories of our great country in between! The team shuttled over the fantastic Confederation Bridge (I learned which two provinces it connects today!) with gorgeous views given the sunny conditions. Lunch was hosted by a local legion on the other side (in PEI!) and then we set out for the last 50kms around PEI to Charlottetown. This part of the ride was some of the hardest yet for me, and I think I complained more than I should have. I have just really been struggling to keep up with the group, and today was more of that. The hills on this segment were pretty epic, most of the 1200m of climbing was concentrated in this 50km... Our arrival into Charlottetown was a huge fanfare organized by the amazing folks at the local #SearsCA store! They rolled out the red carpet for us and we felt so honoured. I had been told that dinner here was previously a very generous affair and today was no different. They had the biggest box of cooked lobsters donated so generously along with so much other amazing food. The team/crew were given goody bags when we left, and our hearts were so full. We had the opportunity to meet Harrison and his mom shared their story about his diagnosis with Hodgkin's lymphoma just 2 short months ago. Harrison was 5 and has since had his birthday, and his mom poetically shared the raw emotions around what is still very much in the depths of their cancer journey. Harrison was given a signed Team 1 SNKCR jersey, and a team photo was taken with the whole group. It was an inspiring day. The team then headed for showers a short distance away before our shuttle to New Glasgow. Just 2 days left of this epic adventure. Along this journey, and during the the month of September (childhood cancer awareness month) my social media has been filled with unique kids cancer journeys. One example is a touching video with cancer survivor Mason (and his mom Jennifer) in which they talk candidly about Mason's diagnosis, how it affected the whole family, and the support of a community including the Calgary Flames Foundation, and Kids Cancer Care. Mason talks about my nephew Dom in the video - please take a moment to watch: https://vimeo.com/182897083 Fellow National Rider Graham Tait (Team 2) has built an adorable relationship with a little boy back in Calgary named Foster who is currently battling cancer. Yesterday, Foster's mom Candace posted a video of Foster sending well wishes to Graham on his journey. It was the cutest thing ever, and I asked if we could get a second one today. Foster didn't disappoint and asked that we enjoy some Halifax lobster, and look out for Theodor the tugboat. I will have to make it my mission to go look for him in the harbour when we arrive on Saturday/or before we leave! Much love, Xo Erin

[cyclingrooney]

Day 15 - Edmunston to Woodstock (183kms) Fog - we woke to a whole heck of it from the baseball diamond where we were staged overnight upon arrival. Plan was to ride out of here to start our longest day yet, and I was nervous. My legs felt very tired yesterday, I knew this day would be long and include a lot of climbing. I had to receive a couple of pushes up some hills yesterday, and didn't want to hold the team back, but also didn't want to take the RV instead of riding the kilometres. It's not that I can't do it, but it's the pace of the whole team that matters to get us to our rest stops and finish based on our schedule. As we started out the day, we did a dedication for a special young man, Grant Skalk. Grant is the son of Melanie and Jim, and brother of Ali who I have had the pleasure of meeting/spending time with through Tour for Kids Alberta, one of the little sibling events of Coast to Coast to this National Ride. While I never had the chance to meet Grant, his legacy lives on strong through his family, who have a mantra 'day by day'. Grant had ALL, AML, and skin cancer - what an unfair lot to be given. Grant had hope up until the day he died on September 16, 2011. Today we rode for Grant. The first hour we were shrouded in fog - and I was in a dark place not having confidence in my riding for the day. I came up with the idea that the fog is a way for our loved ones who have died to visit us and be closer to us - it is like they lower the sky down to where we are to let us know they are with us. Then I thought about 'well maybe I should live somewhere foggy, so that I can feel their presence more often'. The thoughts that go through your head while pedalling thousands of kilometres across the Country... It worked for me to get me through. The fog lifted, and the team really worked well together today. We were back as one large team again, which was so nice as the energy we have together is special. We had several stops today including lunch in Perth-Andover adjacent to the St. John river which we followed for a large portion of the day. The scenery today was second to none, the weather was perfect, and the team rode as a unit; eliminating my fears and lack of confidence that I couldn't keep up. We visited a #SearsCA store, and went to Hartland for a photo op at the longest covered bridge in the world. We have had the chance to see plenty of amazing sights along this journey and today was no exception. The last 20kms was roller after roller (small hills) which were equally exhilarating and exhausting! We came into Woodstock ahead of schedule and treated ourselves to Dairy Queen after our awesome volunteer squad made us dinner. Off to Moncton, where we will ride... I don't know where we are going anymore - just a few days left of this journey and the anxiety is beginning for what the end will feel like. Living in the moment is key on this trip as it is with anyone diagnosed with cancer; it helps to change your perspective and approach on life in ways you can't prepare yourself for. Being open to how it can change you is an opportunity that shouldn't be ignored. :) Much love, Erin Xo

[cyclingrooney]

Day 14 - Maskinonge to Quebec City (157kms) After a very long shuttle last night, we arrived to the Sears Repentigny location where we had a full escort to get to the bathroom!(haha) This morning the employees hosted us upstairs for a delicious breakfast (eggs, sausages, toast, yoghurt, cereal, etc.). We did a thank you to the employees then loaded into the RV's for a shuttle to our starting point about 60kms away. Brooklyn Rushton led the dedication this morning and it was for Katie Wilson. Brooklyn has had the pleasure of meeting Katie's family several times, and in leading up to this ride was given a stuffed animal of Katie's which she has attached to her bike(s!). Katie was a typical teenager until one day in 2010 when after she had complained of knee pain, several tests showed that Katie had osteosarcoma (the same cancer as Terry Fox). Katie was told in January 2011 that there were no more treatment options, so friends and family planned and held an early sweet sixteen birthday party for her. Katie died February 10, 2011, just 8 months after her diagnosis. The weather this morning was foggy, and socked in. We rode in two groups again today as we had some relay riders for which this was their final day and our numbers were high making it safer to break into two smaller groups. We changed up the group from yesterday which was nice to talk to some new faces. Our ride was through the countryside and our first stop was in Trois Rivieres at the Sears store there! As the lead team we also missed the rain showers that started as soon as we went indoors. After a warm up there, we did another 40km to our lunch stop at St Anne de-la Perade which was in the parking lot of a gorgeous church. It probably doesn't come as a surprise that the architecture here is reflective of the rich history of the province which was a treat to enjoy today. Our team then carried on along the St. Lawrence River (so gorgeous) with our final rest stop being in Neuville. Our final destination today was the Louis Garneau facility just outside of Quebec City, and three of the staff including our buddy Mike Britten joined us for this last leg. It was around this time that the clouds and fog finally broke (it had rained on us after leaving the Sears store earlier in the day, we were a grimy bunch, so sunshine was refreshing!) for our ride up up up and then across and over into the Louis Garneau shop. I have never ridden so fast with a group for 40km in my life; I wish I had used my bike computer to calculate the average speed; I believe it would have been in the mid 30's - compared to our 28-30km/hr 'regular' average speed. It was very hard for me to keep up, but some of the LG guys helped with an extra push here and there to 'get er done'. Time as always is short around this ride, but we had time to visit the outlet store prior to going to the main office building for showers and dinner. It is an amazing company LG - they go for bike rides daily, they have a spin studio inside the office, and there is a great family atmosphere to the employees who work there. LG treated us to an amazing meal, and even had Louis himself share a video given that he couldn't be there in person to wish us good luck and congratulations on this journey we are on. IT was a lovely evening and huge kudos to Mike Britten for pulling it all together. So appreciated. We then loaded the shuttles to head to Edmunston, New Brunswick! So excited for a new province and to see some of the sights of NB! Much love, Xo E

[cyclingrooney]

Day 13 - Pickering to Belleville (163km)

After an exciting day yesterday, we woke up in the Pickering #SearsCA location to a breakfast prepared by their staff (always greatly appreciated). Today we had two Team 2 riders joining us - Damon Allen and Eric Lindenberg; both reside in Belleville and were excited to be part of the celebrations in their home communities throughout the day. Eric did the dedication and it was for Thomas Martin who was a boy who loved music, AC/DC, ball hockey and skiing. Thomas died after a battle with a brain tumour that wrapped like a spiderweb around his brain. Today we rode for Thomas.

Because of the large numbers in our group today, we separated into two sub-teams. It was a treat riding with 10 or so riders; but we missed our teammates at the same time! The ride was absolutely gorgeous and took us along Lake Ontario with stunning views, and gently rolling terrain for the first ¾ of the day (The last ¼ was back into residential areas and was pancake flat!). We stopped first in Newcastle, then Coburg, then Brighton before our last stretch into Belleville.

More of our family and friends greeted us today including our Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tim (from Port Hope, a community we rode through!), our parent’s Florida Maple Leaf friends Don and Marjorie Jones, and two Aunts - Caroline, and Roseann (who drove 3 hours from Ottawa to see us!). We got ourselves another poster for our bunks made by our Aunt’s, and had quick but memorable visits with each of them.

Each community we visit has it’s own unique feel to it and today was no different. There was a big fanfare and entrance into Brighton including a police escort! The local Sears store and lawn bowling group put out a great spread including baked potatoes - Tracy (Spud) Rossetti’s FAVOURITE!

Riding into Belleville we went through Trenton first and passed the Canadian Forces Base which is an imposing and impressive sight to see. Eric was in our sub-team and led us to a meeting point with the other sub-team to ride into the finish for the day together. On the stretch of road leading to the Sears National Logistics Center a few little cyclists joined us - including a little girl (Brooklyn) on a pink tricycle! It was adorable and she peddled herself all the way (a few hundred metres!), ringing her bell throughout. So great.

After a very hot day with several re-applications of sunscreen (on top of sweat and a little road dirt), a nice shower was so appreciated. Given the size of this Sears location (2.4 million sq feet), a few of us got shuttled via golf cart to the showers!

We then enjoyed a special celebration with the Sears staff, volunteers, and local team members (Damon, Eric and Ken). We heard from a family who couldn’t be there today because their daughter Abigail is currently battling ALL. Ken spoke about his daughter Megan and the struggles that cancer places on the entire family. A little girl who is currently battling (Marlo) was also there with her mom which was extremely touching - she looked very sick.

After that presentation, our Team (spearheaded by Tracy Rosetti!) did a special Birthday surprise for our National Rider Frank Mollinari! Prosecco included!

Off to Quebec!

[cyclingrooney]

Day 12 - Barrie to Toronto (145kms) - only room for 10 photos in this post - sorry!

*blasting dance music* I wake up and think ‘I guess this is how they wake people up on the big exciting day when so many riders will see their family and friends! - I groan and make some comment about it out loud. My sister hears and she comes to respond from the bunk beside me - and falls out of bed while doing so. “It’s 4:10” she says. And we don’t speak another word and go back to sleep. Apparently someone was doing donuts in the parking lot of the Sears store in Barrie this morning. The novelties of sleeping in parking lots.

At 6 when we did wake up, until 10:30 when I sit in my bunk to write this post, it has been a very full day.

The day was dedicated to Nick Van Dyk - several family members of Nick are doing the ride this year both as National Riders (Tracy Rosetti, Laura Van Dyk and fiancé Stephen Hogan) and volunteers (M&M Mary and Margie). Laura’s brother was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and died within 5 months; the impact that his early departure from this earth has had on his family and friends is awe-inspiring. Today we saw that actions spoke louder than the words shared during the dedication, when dozens of the Van Dyk clan showed up for the ride along into Toronto. Pure awesomeness.

The Rooney sister’s also had our fair share of family and friends visit us throughout the day - at each and every stop! Many of our parents friends from Maple Leaf Estates in Florida including Margie and Lindsay Brannan, Dale and Lynn Struthers, Beth (and Don) Harvey, Warren (who I biked with in Florida and said I would sign up for this ride!), Jim and Bonnie McDonald and Pat and John Skeoch. I tried to get some of them to do a special Happy Birthday video for my dad’s 65th that Shannon and I were missing by being on the ride. :)

We also had our Uncle Ed ride along with us from Vaughn to Sherway! So much fun to share this with him. Aunt Nancy was there as well, and their son and my cousin David was there at SickKids at the end of the day. My Aunt Colleen, Cousins Nicky and Jody (and family), and good family friends Julie Schlosser (and family) and Bryan Hale. Many other friends of Shannon’s joined throughout the day and it was great to see her boyfriend Kevin and his mom and grandparents!

Greg (my boyfriend) and my good friends Mike and Rhonda Morissey also came to say hello in Vaughn and brought some goodies - wine and fresh apples! So appreciative for all the gifts and treats that our friends and family have brought for us each time we see them.

It was truly a once in a lifetime (well, never say never) experience to have a full police escort from Sherway into downtown Toronto. So exhilarating and a true privilege and celebrity inducing experience that I won’t soon forget. Both Teams 1 and 2 travelled down together, after founder and passionate volunteer Jeff Rushton did a crowd motivating speech and dedication to a previous rider who died after several battles with cancer, Adam.

We arrived at SickKids to what I imagine would be comparable to the paparazzi. More family and friends, and so many cameras and media! We had a celebration out front, learned that the Coast to Coast Foundation is on the third highest pillar of key donators to the research facility here which is a leader in the world for childhood cancer. We also met a young man, Jr., who has had his own battle with osteosarcoma - dashing his dreams of playing soccer ever again (according to his doctors). - now in his second year of high school, he was just appointed to his school soccer team - defying the odds and from listening to his speech - he will continue to do so.

After the excitement of the day, Team 1 shuttled to Pickering where we showered at GoodLife (have you tried their massage chairs - they are my favourite) and then dinner at Jack Astor’s adjacent the #SearsCA store we were parked at for the night. IT all felt so civilized - having dinner with friends, enjoying a glass of wine, and eating at a restaurant!

Tomorrow is Day 13 - home stretch is definitely here!

Xo Erin Www.snkcr.com/erinrooney

[cyclingrooney]

Day 11 - Sault Ste Marie to Blind River (145kms) A day that started out with wanting to climb into a ditch and suck my thumb (and shed a few tears) ended with shrieks of glee and statements of 'best day ever!'. We woke up in the Sears parking lot after a warm night in the trailer! So warm that neither arm nor leg warmers were needed when putting on our 'kit'. This has been a rarity on the trip so far with all of the very cold mornings; yet it instilled a different type of fear of 'what happens if it gets too hot' and 'I haven't trained in these conditions, how will I adjust'. Luckily it didn't get too hot today, just humid and sunny and warm. Stephen did the dedication this morning for Alexander Brown, a little boy from Calgary, whose parents I have met through different events. Alexander was diagnosed at the age of 2 with abundant neuropil and true rosettes (ETANTR) - just the 36th case in recorded history with this aggressive type of brain tumour. After 10 months of aggressive treatment, Alexander earned his angel wings October 23, 2010. Today we rode for Alexander. There was also a boy who the team met last year in Sault Ste Marie on the SNKCR ride, Tatum, who unfortunately passed away since our last visit; we rode for Tatum as well. The first section of the ride today was very difficult for me; it is a complicated task to try and get everything right for a ride of this magnitude; not only is it the physical training of the miles on the bike, but the cumulative impact on your body is something that is difficult/impossible to replicate given that I trained in conjunction with having a full time job. Nutrition and fuel for your body is imperative in order to allow it to be pushed through the kilometres we ride day in and day out; it appears that I didn't fuel properly this morning and as a result suffered until our first rest stop about 45km in. Things improved marginally after that, and more so after our lunch stop in Thessalon on the banks of Lake Huron. It was a majestic spot and the sun was shining. Our crew fuelled us up well with samosas, chicken, grilled veggies and then sent us on our way for the remaining 60kms into Blind River. We got to ride along the road which travels adjacent the river (which is my preferred grade - 0-2% haha) and was absolutely gorgeous. Reminded me a lot of the Bow River and back home. We finished early today (yay for staying on schedule!) and then shuttled to Spanish, Ont. where we showered and had dinner before our long shuttle to Barrie. Another gorgeous spot on Lake Huron/the North River, I went for a walk down through the marina by myself to take it all in. On our shuttle to Barrie tonight we stopped at the Tim Horton's in Parry Sound owned by Bill and Kim Janes - friends of my boyfriend's. Bill and Kim had graciously offered to feed our team for free tonight - which Team 2 took full advantage of earlier in the evening for their dinner. Our group stopped for a pee break (apparently we have the smallest bladders in the history of SNKCR teams) and then were treated by the manager there Deb to whatever we wanted from the restaurant. So generous and greatly appreciated! We arrived into Barrie to a boisterous crowd of Sears employees and other friends and family along with some new riders who will be joining us. As we are close to home for many of the riders the excitement will reach it's peak tomorrow as we ride into Toronto and make several stops along the way! Looking forward to seeing friends and family. Xo E

[cyclingrooney]

Day 10 - Marathon to Wawa (180km) The team woke this morning to our literal road side stop off the highway to warm temperatures and strong breezes. We got off to a late start which always puts more pressure on the riders and crew. This morning's dedication was led by my sister and favourite riding buddy, Shannon. It was for Kaitlyn who was diagnosed with ALL when she was little. Her twin sister and her both got sick, but then when her sister got better, her parents got worried about Kaitlyn. A happy ending to this story is that Kaitlyn is doing well now and entered Grade 5 this fall! One of our teammates received some very sad news this morning. Her friend and fellow school mom (where their kids both go to school) passed away after her own battle with cancer. Thinking about those kids being so young now (6 and 8 I believe) and mom's biggest fear is that they will not remember her. :( In addition to riding for Kaitlyn, we also rode for Jeanine and her family. The ride today was again through gorgeous country, with many rolling hills we covered a lot more elevation than we have been used to recently! The hill climbs are my definite weakness, but the team tries to function as a unit and we get through them together. We had lunch at White River - the birthplace of Winnie-the-Pooh!! Too cute. A group of school kids came by to see us despite our late arrival and ask us about our ride. One of the little boys is currently battling cancer himself. They were going to be doing a Terry Fox run later in the day, and a second one with the town on the weekend- another fantastic fundraiser in support of cancer research. Our last rest stop was adjacent a motel and gas station which wasn't super supportive of our presence. I guess not everyone feels the same way we do about our cause. From there we had another 45km into Wawa, and the weather till that point had been holding out (cloudy and windy, but dry). The rains started dumping on us shortly after this point and were unrelenting until after dinner! I was so impressed with the team finishing this ride in these conditions - I have had the 'opportunity' to do some training rides in weather like this (Golden Triangle May long weekend from Radium to Golden - 100kms of pouring rain!) and was uncertain how the team would feel safety wise. We could barely see out of our 'sunglasses' so stopped to remove them with about 20km to go. Luckily we didn't have to contend with the hills as much from that point to the end, just the rain, not being able to see hazards clearly on the road, and cooling temperatures. We all arrived safely into Wawa and went straight to the showers! Dinner was hosted by the local #SearsCA outlet manager and the local Rotary club! We were grateful for the dinner of spaghetti and meatballs (a personal favourite of mine) inside a nice warm venue before our 2.5hr shuttle to Sault Ste. Marie. And so, day 10 ends and we rest ourselves for Day 11 tomorrow!! Xo E

[cyclingrooney]

Day 9 - Whitefish Lake to Thunder Bay (100kms) Dreams are made if people only try I believe in miracles... I have to... Because somewhere the hurting must stop (Terry Fox July 28, 1958 - June 28, 1981) After our late night arrival into Atikokan, we woke this morning to a gorgeous sunrise while being hosted for breakfast at the Friendship Centre. It is getting to the point that I have to choke down breakfast... I'm not sure if it is the early mornings and lack of sleep that my body is revolting against food so early, but I know that getting fuel into my body is key. Our dedication today was for Michael Jr (Leiter) and shared by dedicated volunteer and everyone's 'grandpa' - Jim. Mike had liver cancer and lived with his disease for 2 years before dying in 2004. http://www.coasttocoastagainstcancer.org/ambassadors/ Today we rode for Michael. We shuttled longer than originally scheduled to keep our timing commitments later in the day (we also lost another hour today because of the time change!) and started in Whitefish Lake/Upper Shepandowan Lake area. The terrain and ecology of this area is truly beautiful. I love seeing the vast forests interspersed with wetlands, lakes and rivers at almost every turn. The rolling topography and Canadian Shield rocks are so different from where we were just a day ago in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The diversity of our country is such a blessing to see from a bicycle. Lunch was at a quaint fishing and hunting lodge at Shabaqua (Ojibwe for green valley). Our volunteer crew put out an amazing array of food including... Kraft dinner! I had to eat some, this was Don's most favourite food and one of the only things he would eat for quite a while along with ginger ale. The owner of the lodge also made us fresh pie (I had wild blueberry) which I couldn't say no to. I paid for it later as we rode the final 50km stretch into Thunder Bay and I literally almost fell asleep on my bike. A brief stop outside Thunder Bay, we shuttled to the road that climbs up to the Terry Fox Memorial - Shannon and I were honoured to be the lead into the site. The memorial is set overlooking Lake Superior, having been moved to this site because of it's popularity, and to protect it from vandalism. As a childhood cancer victim, Terry is a strong compass for the whole Coast to Coast foundation. As a team rider this year, I am doing my small part to emulate what Terry was able to lay the foundation for - raising millions of dollars and also awareness about cancer. It was a special part of our trip and a moment to think about the two babies that I am riding for - Dominic, and Blake. Set to a backdrop of a sunny afternoon on our nicest day yet, it was an emotional visit. Our ride ended there today, and we shuttled to the nearby college for showers, pizza and then to jump on the shuttles and head to Marathon, Ont. Where we will head out tomorrow. We have now reached the halfway point of the ride - 9 days in and 9 left! The team is starting to get excited about reaching their hometown area (for most) around Toronto. Xo

[cyclingrooney]

Day 8 - Winnipeg to Falcon Lake (135 - supposed to be 155) We woke up in the Winnipeg Polo Park parking lot, another cool night passed. The day was dedicated to Hugh Maw, who was diagnosed in 2011 with a brain tumour (anaplastic astrocytoma) at the age of 4. Just weeks after his diagnosis, he went in for surgery to remove the tumour, and the amazing team of surgeons and nurses were able to retrieve 98% of it. The remaining amount was treated through radiation and chemo. Hugh is currently in remission. Today we rode for Hugh! We left the #SearsCA store at Polo Park Mall to a clear sky and sunshine which the riders were thirsty for. This was a true blue sky day - the first we have seen on the journey. We said goodbye to a relay rider, Mike, and welcomed three new riders, Megan, Simon, and Chris. It's an adjustment to have people leave and join, and requires an energy rebalance of the team. The team is learning that each province has it's own standard of road infrastructure which takes a little getting used to. We enjoyed our first rest stop in St Anne (Co-op) where we enjoyed some donated GORP (energy) bars, coffee, and hot chocolate (even though the sun was out, the temperature started around 5 degrees). Founder and passionate volunteer Jeff Rushton had his cycle sound speaker on his bike today, and I was luckily positioned right behind it for a good portion of the day. Music can really change your spirits, and after waking up with a sore knee, once warmed up and listening to some country, I was feeling totally re energized. We had lunch at the Riverside Motel in the sunshine, and then got shuttled through a dodgy-for-cyclists zone to ride the last 20km into Falcon Lake. We got to soak our legs in the cold Manitoba water, have a loonie shower, dinner at the golf course and then on the road for a 4.5 hour shuttle to Atikokan. Weather looks good for Day 9!

[cyclingrooney]

Day 7 - Glenboro to Winnipeg - 175kms

After our shuttle to Glenboro last night, we arrived in the dark and ready for bed. It was a chilly night, but our bunks in the trailer are pretty cozy, and I haven’t found it too cold - yet!

Some mornings we get changed/dressed in the trailer, but this morning we had access to a nice hall which had bathrooms and was open by the time we woke up (6am - like most mornings). It was a lovely treat to get dressed in +20 versus the approximately +4 it was outside. An amazing breakfast was prepared by a local group and then we did the dedication. Today’s dedication was for Briony, the daughter of SNKCR alumni rider Lynn Fast whom I have had the opportunity to ride with many times as she also resides in Calgary http://www2.coasttocoastagainstcancer.org/ambassadors/briony-cara-fast/ . Today we kept our eyes open for butterflies, Briony’s spirit shines through them.

We anticipated a difficult day due to the cold temperatures, length of the ride, and potential winds; however the team is really figuring out how to layer properly on cold days, so we didn’t have any difficulties with the cold or wind! There was a section prior to our lunch stop in Elk Creek that had badly surfaced roads (a lot of bumps and holes which is really uncomfortable after you have ridden as many kilometres as we have), but otherwise we managed quite well through the day.

In addition to our lunch stop, we had a mid morning break and snack in Treherne, for which the Reeve showed up to greet us at the Town Hall, and a whole preschool/day care came to get their photo with us. I met several adorable kiddos including Maddie, Nixon, and Kaitlyn. :) I even got some hugs from these 2 and 3 year olds which was soul warming for me. To think that Dom could have been one of these children, or that one of these children could have been Dom is never far from my mind, so I try to love on them like I always did with Dom.

Arriving into Winnipeg, it was a stark and shocking contrast to the past 3 days in the Prairies, all of the traffic and urban infrastructure was a challenge to adjust to. The team arrived safely at Cancer Care Manitoba where we were afforded a very unique opportunity to go into the oncology ward play area and received a presentation from a very strong young man named Sandeep. Sandeep was diagnosed with ALL last year, and is currently going through treatment. He is now 14, and when I asked him what his friends at school think of what he is going through he said ‘my friends don’t ask me about it much, I guess they think I am sensitive about it. But I am not really’. He was a very articulate 14 year old, and as with most children I have seen battle this disease, shows a maturity years beyond himself. It was an honour to get to see the hospital and listen to the head of the unit who really explained exactly how the funds we contribute allow them to provide the children that come through their ward with the most groundbreaking treatments anywhere in the world.

After our visit, we went and showered at a nearby GoodLife, and then went to Sears #SearsCA for yet another delicious meal and time spent with the supportive employees at the Polo park location. This is where Team 1 and 2 will be sharing breakfast together tomorrow before we split up yet again on our way further east, our next communal location being Toronto!

[cyclingrooney]

Day 6 - Estevan to Melita - 164km After a 230 km shuttle from Gull Lake, we arrived in a parking lot adjacent to a recreation centre in Estevan. It gets difficult to remember where we are and what day it is. Breakfast was indoors this morning as the temperature was in the low single digits. The forecast suggested some strong gusting winds, and our direction while primarily east also had sections of northeast, and at the end of the day, north. Our dedication this morning was for three children - Corson, Natalie, and Jase. All three from Melita where we would finish our day, and all three currently in remission after their battles with cancer. Corson's mom had been in touch with our team and it was arranged that he would ride his bike with us to the finish. This was an enormous source of motivation and focus for me during the day, knowing we would get to be part of this special experience. Rolling through Saskatchewan - especially this southern route that the ride had not travelled before - you don't see much except farmers fields, native grassland, some oil and gas infrastructure, trains, and the road ahead. There are not any populated areas of any significance. Our first rest stop was in Frobisher where our volunteers secured an indoor location which was so appreciated. And hot chocolate! Lunch time was at Carnduff inside a hockey rink (luckily there was no ice!) as well. Sausage rolls, three different types of soup/chilli, brownies, butter tarts... Yum. Afternoon stop was at Pierson - population 220, but I found out through social media that an old friend of mine actually went to K-12 school there! Several kids and their parents joined us to welcome us into their village and we received a very warm welcome - complete with home made rice crispie squares! The last 30 km today were difficult as we headed north into the headwinds rolling into Melita to meet Corson and his family. We rolled into the parking lot on the edge of town where he was anxiously waiting for us, full with his new SNKCR jersey. Corson Was so excited to ride that he 'dropped' us and buzzed his way into the finish line with the the rest of Team 1 close behind. We then had an amazing dinner with the the families of Corson, Natalie and Jase and got to hear more about each of their stories and battles with their disease. The local mayor came and said a few words, before we headed to a nearby campground for showers. The team then shuttled to Glenboro where we sleep tonight before we ride into Winnipeg tomorrow. Teams 1 and 2 will be reunited tomorrow in Winnipeg and I'm sure share some great stories about our experiences so far! Xo E

[cyclingrooney]

Day 5 - Swift Current to Moose Jaw 174km September 11. A day that no one ever forgets where they were back in 2001. While getting our things ready for the day, I asked those in our trailer where they were when they found out. It added a somber tone to the morning. Today we started out with a sponsored breakfast thanks to a Swift Current local credit union at the Modern Restaurant. The local deputy Mayor brought his son Luke to breakfast, he wanted to see us roll out on our bikes. We did the dedication this morning to Ulana Lydia's daughter Taissa. She was born with the odds stacked against her if you ask the doctors, but she was a thriving and accomplished young girl even in her short life. Taissa "graduated" after a battle with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma March 29, 2001. Another thing many of the riders have done to remember Taissa is to paint our promise finger a vivid blue colour, to 'nail out cancer'. After the dedication, we rolled out into the rainy cool day. Today was a difficult one for me personally. I'm not sure if it was the cumulative miles on my legs, the unexpected hills in what we had convinced ourselves was a flat province of Saskatchewan, or the challenging weather, but I struggled to keep up with the group. But, like any child who is having a difficult day while receiving chemo, being in isolation because of a bone marrow transplant, or any other range of challenges, I knew quitting was not an option. We had lunch in Chaplin indoors, which allowed us to change our clothing out and get some delicious warm soup. We got a phone call from Ulana who shared how proud she was of us dedicating the day to her daughter. The Sears National Kids Cancer Ride has always stopped in Parkbeg - a very small village on the Trans Canada Highway that has a very old house which is visited by teams every year. They have the team captain inscribe 'SNKCR' and the year. This year our captain, Ken Cross, broke tradition. Instead of him writing, he said that because this SNKCR is full of families, which represents a lot of what the Coast to Coast Foundation is all about, he asked that each of the families write a letter or number. It was an honour to be included in this and I got to write the 0 of '2016'. A memory I will have forever. After a very long long day, we rolled into Sears Moose Jaw where several local councillors spoke kind words about our group, and then the Sears employees fed us some amazing food. They even gave us each a gift of shampoo, conditioner, etc., wrapped in a Saskatchwan Roughriders bandanna. The team then shuttled to Estevan, and on the way stopped in Dog River where Corner Gas was filmed, what a treat! Day 6 will be a good day. Xo E

[cyclingrooney]

Day 4 Medicine Hat to Gull Lake

Day 4 Medicine Hat to Gull Lake - 170kms 5 hrs Late last night Team 1 rolled into Medicine Hat, at the Sears store where the teams visit every year, and where last year I had the honour to ride in with Team 2, the day before my nephew Dominic's memorial service. This morning I was asked to do the dedication - I am the speaker between my sister and I when it comes to these things so I got a few memories ready to share with the team. Of course Sean and Trish were both there and it was so great to see them as it has been way too long. Trish is now 4 months pregnant and it was great to give big hugs and do what we do best together, honour Dom. Prior to my dedication, my brother did something so special and shared an interview with a local girl Kaila who last year during this stop along with her volleyball team, shared that she had just been diagnosed with cancer. The interview can be enjoyed here: https://youtu.be/WC1MUPFSGTI and it's so great to see Kaila doing so well and how she has matured in such a short time period. Next I did the dedication to Dom. It is hard to decide what to share about my nephew, because I have so many memories and want to share so much. So many of the riders and crew here already know about him, so it was just refreshing some things about his amazing spirit and personality. And how honoured I am to be doing this ride with my sister Shannon. We headed west into Saskatchewan today, blessed with warm, sunny and windy (tail wind!) conditions which had us finishing 170km in only 5 hours. We had lunch in Piapot which was a treat to visit the saloon! We also had my good riding buddy David Dale and his daughter (Bailey - sorry if I spell it wrong!) along as expert cheerleaders and helpful volunteers after Dave rode with us yesterday from Lake Louise to Calgary!! Sounds like we might have ourselves a future SNKCR rider in our midst Dave! After rolling into Gull Lake, we headed to Swift Current for the evening. After an exquisite dinner prepared by our crew, we received a great visit from family friends Bob and Irene Tretiak. It has been so fun to show family and friends around our mobile home and explain what a day in the life is like. They then helped us find a local ice cream shop which is something we have been yearning for for days! So great of our family friends to come down from Saskatchewan Landing. We unfortunately missed catching the drag racing going on next door to our campground, but alas, we are thankful that they aren't still running at 10pm! Time for bed, off to Moosejaw tomorrow! Xo

[cyclingrooney]

Day 2

Day 2 - Kamloops to Sicamous Started the morning @ Sears in Kamloops. The associates had done great with their fundraising, one staff member challenging her staff to reach a goal and offering to dye her hair any colour - they picked green when they exceeded the goal. Her and a colleague (aptly named Dominic) were also dressed as super heroes (Super Dominic!) for another fundraising incentive. Frank led the mornings dedication (see fellow SNKCR Team 1 rider, and captain, Ken Cross' Facebook post for many more details on James who passed away after a fierce battle with glioma). Our parents once again came to be lead cheerleaders and see us off. It was a damp morning, and throughout parts of the day, but with the showers also came some sunshine and through the Shuswap, and some amazing scenery. We stopped in Sorrento and got to meet a local school group of Grade 4 and 5 year olds who I showed my bike, told them why we were riding, asked if they had any questions - one boy asked me what is it like to have cancer - I said that I don't know, but that I do know one thing - it seems to me that kids are much better at dealing with the pain than most adults - they seem to be stronger. A woman came up to us and said that she has been living with brain cancer for 10 years and that her doctor said she should have at least another 30 ahead of her. We stopped again in Salmon Arm where the mayor came out to say a few words at the lovely shop we stopped at. Our team did so well today with our first hill climbs, and through very difficult road conditions with heavy traffic and almost no shoulder to safely ride. Aside from my flat tire, we had no other issues which we are grateful for. The food has been amazing every day so far, with each community group who hosts us offering up some delicious fare. We finished the day after a super fun fast and long descent into Sicamous where there were a couple more rain showers followed by a dream like rainbow. We saw a monkey today on the side of a building while leaving Salmon Arm - a reminder that our nephew is not far from our side on this journey. Showers were at the Sicamous hockey arena - who designs a shower with no curtain or door to be in the direct line of sight when the door opens? Lol, we had to 'man the door' while we were taking turns showering. Big thanks to our medic and crew mom Connie who has us on a regimented procedure of taking care of our bums. Yes, you can only imagine what it is like to be in spandex for 7 or more hours per day sitting on a hard bike seat. DEfinitely grateful for her and all of the volunteers on this journey taking care of us in so many ways. Tomorrow will be a highlight for me. We ride Lake Louise to Calgary, will ride with some excellent friends, see my boyfriend Greg, our parents one more time, and I'm sure a few friends in Banff, Canmore, and Calgary. Then finish the day in Medicine Hat in Sean and Trish's backyard! I haven't been to their house since Dom's memorial service last September; I haven't seen his room where they keep his ashes in the crib and the lights on... Not sure we will have time for a visit at the house, but Dom will be real close by then.

[cyclingrooney]

Day 1