Riding in CTC 2005 was an incredibly enriching experience! I hadn’t ridden a bike in years, but when Jeff Keith invited me to ride, there was only one answer. I bought a bike and registered for the 25-mile ride. I dedicated my ride to a friend recently diagnosed with lung cancer, and I contacted my sponsors. Weekend training increased my self-confidence, Jeff’s incredible energy and spirit drove my determination, and I stepped up to the 50-mile ride. The mix of emotion during my ride, and approaching the finish line, is hard to describe — proud to be helping a worthy cause, blessed to be physically able, thankful for the support I had received. A few weeks later I attended the reception at Yale New Haven Cancer Center at which Bike Across America Connecticut Challenge presented a check for $300,000, and I can tell you there were many angels dancing in that room.

Tags: cancer fundraiser, cancer survivorship, charity bike ride, connecticut challenge bike ride, ct challenge, jeff keith, peter zarilli