Survivor Story

  • Age when she did the ride: 57
  • Best scenery on her bike trip: New Mexico lived up to its state nickname, “The Land of Enchantment.”
  • Pointer for prepping for a long ride: Use your own bike rather than going to Spinning class. It’s important to spend time in the saddle you’ll actually be using for the ride.
  • Fantasy place to bike one day: New Zealand. (She intends to go within the next year or so.)
  • Advice when raising funds in fight against breast cancer: It’s not the way you raise money but the passion in the way you speak about your cause that moves people to contribute.
  • Nominated to be a Lifetime TV breast cancer hero by: Breast Cancer Action

Pedaling a bike across eight states leaves you plenty of time to think about breast cancer. Two dear friends whom I'd lost to the disease kept popping into my head during my cross-country bike tour: their courage and struggles, the children they left behind.

Breast cancer wasn't on my mind initially when I sought a cycling getaway; I simply wanted to escape my daily responsibilities. But I stumbled upon a 57-day, cross-country ride for women that doubled as a breast cancer fund-raiser. I was instantly intrigued, since it combined two things that I love: empowering women and riding my bike.

When I'm not cycling, I run Freshlife, Pennsylvania's largest natural-foods supermarket and wellness center, which I also own. I advise customers about healthy lifestyle choices, and I consider myself an educator and activist.

I knew that a cross-country ride would be challenging but decided to push myself. I wanted to honor my friends who'd lost battles with breast cancer. I decided to raise funds for Breast Cancer Action (BCA), because their message matches my philosophy. Their slogan is "Do something besides worry." They empower people to act, and so do I.

After signing up, I had two months to prepare for the steep terrain and long rides ahead. A friend bought me a bike trainer, which I stationed in front of my TV. That was the easy part. The real challenge was figuring out how to let go of my business for two months. In some ways, that was tougher than climbing the steepest hills.

The ride itself was wonderful. We were an enormously cohesive group of 24 women, all 50-plus. From March through May 2006, as we traversed the southern United States, we morphed from a group of strangers into a network of friends. My proudest moment was crossing the Continental Divide. It was a 116-mile ride that day, much of it uphill, and it took me 12 hours. Whenever I wanted to quit, I reached deep down and found strength to continue.

Devoting two months to the ride changed me. I learned that if you're hungry and tired enough, you can eat anything and sleep anywhere. More importantly, I learned to focus on the moment and appreciate beauty or succumb to sorrow. I realized that life is short and I should follow my dreams. So I'm building the retreat for women that I'd envisioned, and I registered to bike across New Zealand in 2008. Whenever possible, I share my cross-country experience with others. In the spirit of the ride, my presentation is a fund-raiser; I ask for a small donation for BCA.