One Livestrong Rider’s Month-Long Legacy: A Virtual Ride Across Iowa
Virtual events have become the new normal. Cindy, a teacher from Illinois, has ridden with the Livestrong RAGBRAI Team since 2006 and she continues to evolve with the times. This year, she challenged herself and turned Livestrong’s 7-day Virtual Ride across Iowa into a month-long cycling streak and is currently on track to ride over 1,250 miles and raise over $12,000!
After completing the initial seven days of Livestrong’s virtual ride, Cindy’s endurance and determination to fight cancer were just kicking into gear. So, her ride to honor friends and family affected by cancer continued on.
Despite a virtual event, Cindy still feels connected to the mission. “Livestrong provides services for people with cancer now. I still find a strong purpose in participating and fundraising.” Cindy says that when people see her “In Memory of __” bibs at stop signs, it gives her the opportunity to talk about Livestrong and connects her to others — all while remaining socially distant. On Day 17, while riding for firefighter, Jeff Webb, she brought local firefighters in on the mission by helping her capture the moment.
To people questioning if a virtual event is worth participating in or supporting, riders like Cindy would say, “Yes! Now more than ever, during these uncertain times, people are hurting. “Physical activity gives you something to care about and any small amount of donations count.”
For her 18th day of riding, Cindy created a unique course in memory of Katie Metz. Tina Anderson, a mother who lost her 13-year-old daughter, Katie, to brain cancer 12 years ago, is a close friend and fellow RAGBRAI teammate of Cindy. She navigated 13-mile routes along with three different golf courses — “Katie was a passionate golfer. Her 13 miles signifies Katie’s 13 years and battle with cancer.” Cindy uses even the terrain she is riding on to honor those affected by cancer and lives out Katie’s desire that “we continue to be the change.”
During the hottest part of the summer, Cindy chooses each day to hop on her bike and dedicate her ride to someone affected by cancer. This journey — currently Day 20! — she has embarked on is a legacy, not only to herself as a rider, but to every individual she rides for, as well as their families. Together as a Livestrong family, we can ride into the unknown arena of virtual events with riders like Cindy carrying the torch.
