Monday, 11/27/06 at 1:22 PM
by Mari Holden
by Mari Holden
Tour de Pink!
Last month I attended the Tour de Pink. This was a fundraiser for the Young Survivor Coalition. The YSC is a group that specializes in patient advocacy for women who were diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 40. Breast cancer in this age group tends to be more aggressive, and there is less support for these women. The YSC helps these women get through all stages of their treatment and recovery. I found the organization to be an amazing group of women.
The Tour de Pink was sponsored by HERSHEY! Talk about a great sponsor! Hershey had made pink Kisses, pink York Peppermint Patties, and a pink Special Dark Chocolate in honor of Breast Cancer awareness month. They also donated $250,000 to the YSC. Let’s just say that I got my fill of chocolate that week if that could ever be possible!
The ride itself was 4 days. We started in New York City. The big kick off was in Times Square. We went to the press event and then took a ferry to New Jersey where we actually started the ride. I had been looking forward to spending a few days on my bike, but the morning of the start, it was raining and freezing. I couldn’t believe that I was heading out in a driving rainstorm with 50 of my new friends for 75 miles! I was one of the lucky ones… I have all the right gear for the weather. I was super impressed with the people in our group, because a lot of them are just learning how to ride, and they were such troopers. They just bundled up and off they went. There was hardly a complaint. There were a lot of survivors in the group, and their friends, so I guess that after what they have been through a little rain is no big deal.
The ride was really well supported. We had follow cars with spare wheels and mechanics, and we had great well-stocked rest stations every 10-15 miles. We didn’t always stay together as a big group, so people were finishing the ride at all different times. It was always amazing to see how happy people were to finish the day. There were lots of high fives and smiles.
The last day was the ride into Hershey, Pennsylvania. We all rode into town as one big group. My favorite part was the smell as we came close to the factories. It was right out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You could smell the chocolate and I kept thinking that this was like my fantasy land!
There was a big reception at the finish. I was really proud that Hershey donated an extra $5000 to the YSC in my name. It made me feel really good. I am looking forward to the next ride…
Best regards,
Mari
Admin: We'll keep you posted with details of the next Tour de Pink-- we'll be getting involved and we'd love to see you on the Tour too!!
The Tour de Pink was sponsored by HERSHEY! Talk about a great sponsor! Hershey had made pink Kisses, pink York Peppermint Patties, and a pink Special Dark Chocolate in honor of Breast Cancer awareness month. They also donated $250,000 to the YSC. Let’s just say that I got my fill of chocolate that week if that could ever be possible!
The ride itself was 4 days. We started in New York City. The big kick off was in Times Square. We went to the press event and then took a ferry to New Jersey where we actually started the ride. I had been looking forward to spending a few days on my bike, but the morning of the start, it was raining and freezing. I couldn’t believe that I was heading out in a driving rainstorm with 50 of my new friends for 75 miles! I was one of the lucky ones… I have all the right gear for the weather. I was super impressed with the people in our group, because a lot of them are just learning how to ride, and they were such troopers. They just bundled up and off they went. There was hardly a complaint. There were a lot of survivors in the group, and their friends, so I guess that after what they have been through a little rain is no big deal.
The ride was really well supported. We had follow cars with spare wheels and mechanics, and we had great well-stocked rest stations every 10-15 miles. We didn’t always stay together as a big group, so people were finishing the ride at all different times. It was always amazing to see how happy people were to finish the day. There were lots of high fives and smiles.
The last day was the ride into Hershey, Pennsylvania. We all rode into town as one big group. My favorite part was the smell as we came close to the factories. It was right out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You could smell the chocolate and I kept thinking that this was like my fantasy land!
There was a big reception at the finish. I was really proud that Hershey donated an extra $5000 to the YSC in my name. It made me feel really good. I am looking forward to the next ride…
Best regards,
Mari
Admin: We'll keep you posted with details of the next Tour de Pink-- we'll be getting involved and we'd love to see you on the Tour too!!
Comments
Sue
Add a Comment