Goals:
The ultimate goal is to qualify and race in Ironman Hawaii. I got involved
in the sport of triathlon about 3 years ago, and it has taught me the enormous physical and mental capacity of the human body
and spirit. It is the ultimate endurance event.
My grandfather was diagnosed with ALS, which is a degenerative nerve disease, and became
completetly incapacitated. My initial motivation to exercise and ride my bike came from his situation. I thought
"I have these abilities to move my body, and I have to do this as a tribute to him and his suffering". This has prorgressed
into a love for the sport, and a love for training. I find myself enjoying the long days of training more than
the racing sometimes.
I truly believe in the mission and focus of Gilda's Club Grand Rapids. The importance
of developing a support structure, and the "human element" seems to be such an undersestimated piece to cancer coping and recovery.
Gilda's Club GR embraces these areas!!! If just by riding my bike, I'm able to bring one person affected by cancer through
the doors of Gilda's Club GR, then I feel it will all have been worth it.
