LIVESTRONG BLOG

Family, Attitude, Faith, Courage, Strength

Aug 10, 2010 by Guest

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My life has been all about those words as they appear on my team?s LIVESTRONG Challenge jersey logo. Together, these words intertwine and form the foundation of my life for the last two-and-a-half-years, and they are the reason why I expanded my involvement in the LIVESTRONG Challenge from participant to team captain.

I was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer in January of 2008?just a week before my twin daughters? first birthdays. At age 35, it couldn?t?no?it shouldn?t have been me. Luckily, I was blessed to be a part of a fantastic community of loving colleagues and families. Together, they provided me with access to some of the best Doctors and treatment options available. I consider myself lucky to have had such access without needing to dig around and beg insurance companies for coverage. It?s this kind of access and support that LIVESTRONG helps provide to cancer survivors worldwide.

Last year, I saddled up as a first time rider in the Challenge, and the love I felt as I crossed the survivors? finish line was one-of-a-kind, made only more special by the sight of my five year-old son reaching out to me at that line with my survivor?s rose. It is a memory that I will never forget. This year, I will be participating while leading over 120 riders and runners?all of them reflecting the attitude is everything portion of the LIVESTRONG mantra. They are family and friends, colleagues and students, bartenders and lawyers, neighbors and strangers?all united as a TEAM that has had a great time doing the ?work? of fundraising. As I personally prepare for what might be a difficult ride for me, I cannot say enough how proud I am of my teammates who have all taken their turns at the front to help us succeed. As the side effects of cancer have begun to take my voice and have made me so sun-sensitive that long distance riding in August is very difficult, I think of them as I saddle up for whatever distance I can to show this disease that try as it may, it will NOT take over my life; and, on August 20-22 in Philadelphia, hundreds of us will stand in defiance of this disease so that with our efforts, our children will not have to discuss things like chemotherapy and blood counts, and that the effects and ravages of cancer will be a thing of the past. LIVESTRONG Philly?..here we come.

-Marc Mandeville