Why I Ride: I like to describe my Nanny as a comet. She was rare, beautiful and truly one of a kind. She lit up any room she went into, she made you feel safe & seen, and when your day wasn't going how you wanted it to, she'd make something magical to eat, like a jello pie, and sit at her large dining room table and just listen. No one was a stranger to her, from the person who needed a helping hand to the deer in her backyard, my Nanny was many things but at the top of the list is selfless. So watching her whither into a person I didn't know anymore broke me. I watched as she forgot simple things like where she lived or her favorite candy. Then I watched her forget who her children were or who she even was. I used to be angry at my Nanny's diagnosis, I didn't understand how a woman who raised 6 kids alone and gave more than anyone I knew could have their life just ripped from them. But we don't get to know those answers. And while I wish more than anything my Nanny could have been the first person to beat Alzheimer's, she's not. So I made a promise to her and to myself that I'd spend my life raising money for research and advocating for those who both suffer from this horrible disease and those who are caregivers.
With each mile I ride, I'm going to think of all the memories I have with my Nanny. Thank you for cheering me on. I hope in our lifetime we can celebrate the first survivor of Alzheimer's and in my next lifetime, I am reunited with my Nanny to share the good news.
Cheer Me On!