The Ride to Conquer Cancer - 2014

[Katiepie]

Update for those not following my progress on facebook...

Last weekend I completed my longest ride yet of 82km. For me it was a hell of a push, and I had to lay down with pain for the best part of the next day to get the weight of my head off my neck. But it was worth it to know that I am starting to push myself through greater distances.

As of today, with some amazing donations through this week, I have currently raised $6500 and sit in 4th place for fundraising out of over 600 entrants. I have another 3 fundraising events happening over these next 2 weeks and should raise a further $1500 taking my total up and over the 8k mark.

Pretty excited, pretty exhausted, training 6 days a week and trying to keep up with exercising my large dogs also. But with only 6 weeks to go, it's time to really get stuck in. Tomorrow I will attempt to achieve my first 100km ride. My neck pain from a working week has just kicked into full swing and the beginning of a migraine has started as a result (same time almost every week). So this should be fun to push through tomorrow. Hopefully the wind buggers off so I can just keep pushing.

Not long now, working hard to achieve this and support Cancer Research in NZ

[caseye]

Thinking of ya and what you are doing and why. No need to wish you luck, you're luck is your own making and I/we are absolutely 100% behind you Katiepie.
Thanks, a lot of people don't ever go on fb, I'm one of em.
Love to hear how you are doing and will be doing all I can for your cause.
You go girl.

[Katiepie]

Update:

Last weekend I completed a very long and painful 100km ride on my own! I wanted to push through and get past that mental barrier of cracking that number, and I did it. I was so thrilled, knowing just how much I was struggling with 20km 5 months ago. At the 80km mark I burst into tears from the pain levels, and didn't think I could push through as I was struggling to hold my head up. But I made myself keep going and was really happy to get home bang on 101km.

4 weeks to go until the ride, and I am super excited for a few reasons. One, this has been the most incredible challenge both physically and mentally for me. Two, because I look forward to honoring my father and laying him to rest on his Birthday one week after the ride. Three, because I am really proud of the money raised going towards to Research Centre which I personally believe in (we all have the different things we support and believe in - this one is something I honestly do). And lastly, because I can't WAIT to have my life back, get my dogs behavior and routine back on track with much less time tied up on chains and to not have to get up every spare moment I have to train for a wee bit. Plus I think this might just be the best thing I have ever achieved in my life when I complete it, and am so thankful I took the plunge to take this on.

Current funraising total is now $7860.00 - with one more full days BBQ this weekend at Mitre10 so I should be able to push through to just under 8.5k.

Thank you to all of those who have supported me in this, donated, and sent me words of encouragement. I am currently battling hard to keep depression at bay from the issues Im having with my diet, work place bullying and issues with dogs - but I have beaten it once before and know I will be just fine in the end.

I must admit though - I am so bloody exhausted!

But really, really excited.

4 weeks until the Ride of my Life.

Then I can climb back on my dearly missed R6 and feel that freedom once again.

[R650R]

Well done, keep at it. Apologies for not saying hi at the kiwi even though was practically camped next door to you, was quite a busy weekend that went too quickly.
You should speak to your employer about any issues that cant be resolved with 4x2 or hair pulling, they have a legal obligation to do something once notified, sometimes all that's needed is to tweak shifts so two people don't see each other etc.
I've seen one employer ignore another employees requests in a matter like this, it wasn't very good publicity for them when the other nutbar involved ended up pulling out a chainsaw...

[Katiepie]

Fundraising now sitting at $9200.00 and I'm thrilled to reach that total. So many awesome people helping me in many ways - have found some help with my "damaged" dog during the ride, Z Energy have donated $150 fuel voucher to help me get to Auckland and return, the local bike shop have just servived my awesome new bike for me for free, a bunch of friends have all chipped in to replace the fundraising cash that was stolen when my car was broken into and handbag under seat stolen... I have put the donations through online, but the cash was to go on my credit card. Pretty blown away once again by just how awesome some people can be.

My official ride shirt arrived today and I had a couple of personal touches printed on it. A good old typo on the sleeve with "English as a second language" barrier, but now feel ready for this ride - after working hard for it all year. Can't wait to give my neck a break and get my dogs back on track by spending more time with them. But also can't wait to achieve something I never thought I would be able to do, and something my dad would be pretty proud to see too post accident.

Just over 2 weeks to go. Officially excited now

[caseye]

You never cease to amaze me/us. Keep going Katiepie, you CAN do it. Enjoy the ride, the hard work has been done.
Spelling mistook? wheer!

[Katiepie]

Really thrilled to report that I've cracked my $10,000 fundraising goal. Up at $10,320 after some last minute generous donations, and just shy of the 4th place in the top 10 fundraisers for the ride.

Wrapped about that, and very supportive of the work they are doing at the Auckland Cancer Society Research centre. A very exciting drug to be put on trial next year that is a new approached that hasn't been used anywhere in the world yet. And some very positive views on how this might be able to help thousands with hard to reach tumours without weakening the core by peeling off the layers. This one works from the inside out of the tumor and only tackles the infected tissue, not healthy tissue. I hold hope that they continue this awesome work they are going. Too many people waiting for better treatments out there.

[Katiepie]

Final update...

Over the weekend 561 of us rode the Ride to Conquer Cancer. I raised a final total of $11,430.00 - and together we raised 1.5 million dollars for the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre.

200km over 2 days in some very brutal winds. Best weekend of my life, and my body has come a long was post injuries. Thanks to those of you who supported me and made donations. Back on the motorbike soon

[swtfa]

Final update...

Over the weekend 561 of us rode the Ride to Conquer Cancer. I raised a final total of $11,430.00 - and together we raised 1.5 million dollars for the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre.

You are amazing!!
Well done you!!

[R650R]

Well done.