Riding for Charlotte

TKK Visits the Casgars

Training began a little early this year due to the mild and dry spring we've had thus far in New England. I've logged 125 miles in the saddle in March and April. My upcoming travel schedule will make it hard to train like I usually do, so starting the training early this year is going to pay off in the long run. The PMC is 14 weeks away, and there is still plenty of time to ramp up to the necessary strength level,

Today I joined my team, Team Kinetic Karma (TKK), on a training ride with a very special purpose. 18 past and  current TKK riders and friends of TKK met at 9:30 am in Needham to begin a 42-mile ride through Boston's quiet suburbs. This was the annual TKK Pedal Partner ride, where we rode to the home of Charlotte Casgar, our 2012 Pedal Partner. You may remember Charlotte from a few years ago. In January 2010, Charlotte, who was 2 and a half at the time, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a childhood cancer. Since then, she has been undergoing cancer treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and has been TKK's Pedal Partner. We ride in honor of her battle.

It's a battle she's winning. When we visited with her and her family today, her father told us that she is out of treatment and they're waiting to see if it was a success. Seeing Charlotte playing with he two younger sisters and my teammates, it's clear how far she has come. She's an adorable *almost* five-year-old and seems to be thriving. She even took out her bike and showed off some sweet moves!

Seeing Charlotte's smile reminds me of why we ride. We ride so that children like her get many years of laughter. No child should undergo what Charlotte has at such a young age, and research at Dana-Farber, funded by you, is making a difference. Charlotte's form of cancer is very treatable because of donations like yours. She smiles today because of donations like yours.

Please give, whatever you can, in order to get one pedal stroke closer to a cure for cancer. Let her inspire you, as she has done for me and for many others. Make your donation today.