My first CT Challenge took place barely a year after I had completed my treatment for breast cancer. Officially declared a survivor, the first thing I did was to go out and buy a road bike and my early morning rides became the highpoint in my day. The CT Challenge was to be the first fundraising event I had ever taken part in, and my goal was to get fit enough to ride further than I had ever done before – but the day was meaningful to me for a completely different reason.

First; there was the feeling of just being there. While I know I was just one of many riders, it all felt big to me because I had pushed myself beyond my comfort level, over and over again — both in training and fundraising.

Second, there was the excitement and energy of the riders, the volunteers and the spectators. Cyclists surrounded me, many in colorful jerseys, and all smiling happily. This cheerfulness was sincere and constant — before, during and after the ride. But most importantly, like me, they were doing something they love: cycling, and something they are passionate about: supporting cancer survivors. There were moments during the ride when the hills were tougher than I expected, but I felt strong and determined to finish. I felt lucky to be on my bicycle on a beautiful summer morning, surrounded by so many people that were there for the same reasons.

This brings me back to the beginning and how the Greenwich Associates Team got together. After becoming healthy again, I was stunned by the lack of resources available to the growing number of survivors, and the purpose of the CT Challenge gave me the resolve to make a contribution. Several weeks before last year’s event, I spontaneously sent out an e-mail to my colleagues at work asking if they were interested in joining me. The response was equally spontaneous, and went beyond my wildest expectations: within several hours we had a team of riders – and an ambitious fundraising goal!

I will continue to ride – not only in the CT Challenge but also on those early mornings – to honor all those who show unexpected and often heroic degrees of courage and strength to fight their disease to survive.

Our story began on December 17th, 2002, when Luke, our eldest son, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He had just turned 5 years old. After 18 months of chemotherapy, he relapsed and it was clear he needed a bone marrow transplant to save his life. Luke’s little sister Grace, our ‘gift from God’, was a perfect match and the transplant was carried out on my father’s birthday, February 1st, 2005, at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Now, three and a half years later, he is a healthy and happy big brother to Nathan (7), Grace (6) and Bobby (2), a loving son to Brenda and me (though no kisses in public, please), every inch the normal 10 year old boy full of vitality and life.

Eighteen months after the transplant, sitting in the Darien movie theatre with Luke and Nathan, I happened to see a short film that told the story of the first CT Challenge in 2005. As I watched, two things struck me. The first was that now Luke himself was considered a cancer survivor – something which even now seems nothing short of a miracle – it was time to give something back. The second was that the 2006 ride was only one month away and that, never having ridden much further than the dry cleaners and back, I had better go and buy a bike. During that first ride, with my lungs near bursting point, the pain searing through my legs and the rain stinging my eyes, I had only to think of my son’s unending courage and determination during the years of hospital treatment to draw fresh inspiration. Last year, Luke, Gracie, Nathan and Bobby rode in the children’s ride, and Luke even led the lap of honor before the main ride. You might remember him, proudly leading the survivors in his red Manchester United soccer shirt.

Why do we ride? Of course we ride to raise as much money and awareness as we can to help those affected by the disease. We also ride to honor those who have survived, those who have succumbed, those who are battling with it as you read this, those who dedicate their lives and their careers to treating people affected by it and one day, we believe, finding a cure. Finally, we ride to remember our journey, and celebrate with all the friends and family that journeyed with us. Remembering helps us come to terms with what happened, to find a place for it in our lives, and to appreciate all the good things that flowed from it. To borrow from Lance Armstrong, whose foundation wrote Luke when he was first diagnosed to urge him (and us) to stay strong, the CT Challenge is not about the bike. It is a celebration of life by those who have learned to appreciate it.

For me, the most wonderful aspect of the CT Challenge was the sense of community I felt that day.  One of the most moving moments was at the beginning of the ride when all the cancer survivors that were participating in the ride were asked to ride around the green we were starting from.  There was not a dry eye among us.  We were all riding for the same cause, and we were all participating in a fun yet challenging ride.  Even after my ride was over, I hung out at the event with my family and friends cheering on the people who rode the 50 and 100 mile distances.  It was festive and joyful!

On July 28th, 2007 I rode in my first CT Challenge and it was a day I shall never forget. Just seven weeks prior, I had completed my treatment for Stage IV Thymoma (cancer of the Thymus gland). Riding 50 miles that day with family and friends was a triumph against the disease and the experience was an enormous boost to my survivorship and what survivorship means to my family, my friends and me. Having cancer opened many new doors for me and in many ways, it has been a new beginning for my family and me. I am blessed to be able to get on my bike and enjoy such a great day after going through so much. Cancer is not an individual disease as it affects all of those around you. To celebrate survivorship is to celebrate family and relationships.

So on July 25th 2009, I will, once again, be riding for my wife Lucille and my children AnnPatrice and Marie because they have been my rocks from the day I was diagnosed. I will be riding for my siblings, relatives, friends, fellow employees, neighbors, and well wishers as they have been such a huge part of my team that got me thru my treatment and got me on the road to survivorship. I am riding for the entire team at Yale Cancer Center that has treated me with amazing care and concern. I am riding for all my supporters at my employer as they have helped me to continue to work throughout much of my treatment. I am riding for the Survivorship Clinic at Yale Cancer Center because I truly believe in their mission to help all survivors live longer and healthier lives. Finally, I am riding for all survivors in order that they can be supported in their quest to become a thriving survivor.

I volunteer because as Lance Armstrong said, “Cancer may leave your body, but it never leaves your life.”  As a long-term survivor of multiple cancers, I know that psychological and medical support for cancer related issues are needed long after recovery from surgeries and treatments have ended.  The needs of survivors can be vastly different from those in the acute phase of the disease. Survivors need help adjusting to the “new normal” that comes after the treatments have ended and transitioning to living their new lives “post-cancer.”  The Survivorship Clinic at the Yale Cancer Center is here to serve this purpose — improving the lives of those who have survived cancer.  These services did not exist in Connecticut when I was a new “survivor” so, I volunteer for me.  But, more importantly, I volunteer for all the survivors to come.  No one should have to face survivorship alone.

When I was 17, my high school classmates of ’71 in Trumbull, were preparing for graduation, dancing at proms, learning how to put on makeup, and I was up on Hunter 5 (Yale’s Oncology floor), dancing with IV poles, having non air conditioned nuclear medicine scans, and learning how to fix my wig so it would not fall off.   Yes, I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, just after my 16th birthday, and got spun into a world I did not know and that I would not change a bit, thanks to the Yale New Haven Medical Center.  The Cancer Center had not even opened yet, but Yale was trying and on the forefront of the cancer trials. I was lucky to be part of those trials.  I just found out about the Survivorship Clinic about 5 months ago.  Until then – for the last 37 years – I thought that I have been out here all alone, speaking with the American Cancer Society, working as a Mammographer, specializing in breast cancer (I am also a Yale graduate in Radiography), not knowing that the HEROS survivorship clinic had been growing.  More so because I moved to American’s Finest City, San Diego, CA, when given permission, by my then GYN/oncologist, Dr. Ernest Kohorn (retired) and Dr. Joseph Bertino, transferring my health care to UCSD.

I’m volunteering to help the Connecticut Challenge because, not only is it always time to give back, but time to give back to YALE for saving my life, giving me a chance to live life, and live it to the fullest extent as a survivor, a “club” to which I feel a great privilege and honor to belong!  I think the Connecticut Challenge is a great place for me to start!

The Connecticut Challenge caught my attention for several reasons: I’d never thought much about what happens after someone beats cancer.  Surviving was the key.  It still is and thankfully, more and more people are surviving, including my Mom and Dad.  But I’ve watched them deal with some of the longer term effects of their treatment.  The CT Challenge gave me a way to respond to the helplessness I sometimes feel with some of the things they’re experiencing.  Plus, I am very intrigued by the idea that in exploring the effects of cancer treatments on survivors and ways to address them, doctors and researchers are in a position to discover treatments for other diseases.

Also, I loved that the CT Challenge was something I could do with my nine-year-old son. It was a great chance for us to connect while connecting with those we could help with our efforts.  It’s so important to teach our kids to give back to the world, to people who may not be in the same position we are to help, either physically, emotionally or financially.  On top of all this, the CT Challenge was a blast!

The simple answer is .. have you ever tried to say “no” to Jeff Keith, it’s impossible. Jeff invited me into his living room, outlined his vision for a premier Cancer Survivorship Center at Yale, explained why this center is so important to the people and cancer survivors in Connecticut, and asked for my help.  Jeff is a real hero with everything he has been through.  For me the ride is personal, I ride for Jeff and to help him fulfill his vision of building a world class survivorship center at Yale for the people of Connecticut.

In October 2006, our wife/mother Tama was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a shock at age 48 with no history of cancer in her family. She set a great example for all as she underwent chemo, radiation and surgery in the ensuing months with the related discomforts. We are all grateful that her prognosis is excellent. We have always been a close family, but this experience has made us appreciate every day life even more.

Coincidentally, just a few months before Tama was diagnosed, Tom Kottler made me aware of the CT Challenge, so we all decided to do the 50 mile ride in Tama’s honor in 2007. Tama volunteered at the event store. We want to support all who are touched by cancer, and thoroughly enjoyed our ride and the overwhelming support we received from friends and colleagues. In 2008 we hope to recruit friends and relatives to ride with us, and to once again raise significant dollars in support of the Yale Cancer Center. At least one team member is considering the 100 mile ride, and looking for a fellow rider for that distance. Any takers?