Email Post #2 from the RTCC 2015:

[copy of the email posted out on 22 April 2015]

Dear All,

Last month I wrote my first email about my journey to (hopefully) participate in this year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting the Peter Mac Hospital. In that message I explained why I decided to enter again this year.

I've been touched again by the generosity of those who have sponsored me with a donation since I wrote that email. As ever, I need to make a target before I can participate in the ride and every donation helps me to this goal. If you can donate, please do.

Each year my personal motivation has been different, but the fundamental reason remains the same: the work done by the very good people at the Peter Mac benefits us all (wherever you live) and this event is the primary source of independent funding for their work.

The fact that in Australia 1 in 2 of us will contract cancer is daunting. By the time we reach an early adult age, we will already know someone who has been touched by cancer and in far too many cases, the experience will have been personal. The longer we live, the more likely that it will be us.

This event centres around a 2 day, over 200 km cycle ride that for many is a huge achievement. For many who are not cyclists, or who are suffering from or recovering from cancer, the ride itself is a mountain to overcome and they have my deep respect.

I've been lucky enough and healthy enough to develop a somewhat obsessive relationship with cycling. In my blog I've written up my account of my experiences of participating in this year’s Falls Creek 3 Peaks ride. A ride that covers 235 km and has over 4000m of climbing in a single day in the Victorian Alps. You can read about that in my previous post here:
http://petermacrtcc.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/the-three-peaks-march-8-2015.html

If you get a chance to read this, you’ll can see what I mean about obsessive! (there are pictures by the way).

An observation that I’d like to offer is that I was able to spend months getting ready for this challenge: I was lucky to be able to spend the time, not to get an injury, not have any accidents, nor have bad weather get in the way on the day. People who are diagnosed with cancer have no time to prepare for their challenge, their mountain climbs start the moment that the diagnosis is given.

Cancer research is finding why cancer occurs and grows. Its about finding ways to get earlier diagnosis and better treatment options with better quality results. Someday the researchers hope that we won’t have to face the challenge of cancer, right now it improves the chances of more of us overcoming the challenge.

Wishing you and yours the very best of health

John.