As with the strength of being a woman, riding my own gives me my own independence and strength that I have in all areas of my life.
The camaraderie and friendships that you build with other like minded ladies, forms bonds for life.
We are an exclusive group of women who have a lust for adventure and life and take the bull by the horns. Not to be left sitting behind or on the back seat. (Unless we want to) The freedom riding brings, the wind in your face, the scents of nature and the beautiful scenery that is only that much better on a bike is empowering to me.
It is also a means of relieving your troubles and clearing ones head.
Whether it is a day long ride to destinations unknown, a charity ride or a short trip to the local shops doesn't matter. While riding, you have freedom, enjoyment and personal strength within yourself. We are lady riders and as a group we can come together to make a difference!
This is just a small insight into how I feel about riding and what it means to me. By joining the Conga ride for Breast Cancer, I am able to make a difference. No matter how big or small it may be. Personally, I have not been diagnosed with it as of yet, (touch wood) but my grandmother has been. She is a survivor and continuously reminds me about the importance of mammograms. I also have a few friends and fellow Conga riders that are survivors.
The Conga is a means of making a difference, having some fun, and not to mention the journey. I have also tested my own abilities on the first two Conga rides. We are ladies (and a few gents) that are on a mission, to raise awareness and money for Breast Cancer in whatever manner we can. Last year as with this, it was having as much pink on us or our bikes to bring attention to ourselves. Pink is not one of my favourite colours and I don’t own anything in that shade, but I still got behind the colour by wearing a neon pink wig and wrapping pink pool noodles around my headlight and backrest. And it worked! The numbers of people that honked and waved was amazing, as this pink ribbon on two wheels travelled down the highway. Or those that would stop and ask us what was up with all the pink? After explaining our mission, we always received praise and usually a donation to our cause. Many of those we spoke with had been affected in some way by Breast Cancer and were appreciative of what we were doing.
Last year, as I was heading to join the Conga and bring it home, I was flying down the I-5 and pulled into a rest area for a quick smoke, when another rider came tearing in behind me. He came over and said he had been following me for quite a few miles and that he had noticed the pink pool noodle ribbon on the backrest and my pink pigtails flapping in the wind. He had to find out what this lone rider was up to. I explained where I was heading and the purpose of it and that is when he broke down and told me that he had just lost his mother to Breast Cancer. He is a firefighter somewhere in the Seattle area and it was a special moment to have this man share his story with me, as I shared mine with him. He was amazed with me, that I was pulling a 1000 mile day to join the ride and in the process raise funds. We shared a coffee and a smoke as we talked, then he generously gave me a donation and wished me God Speed for the rest of my journey. This was my first encounter with someone so emotionally affected by the disease and it made me even more determined to do all I could to reach our goal. This was just the first of many stories we would hear along our way. Some just thankful for our efforts others were heartbreaking for all of us.
After being a big part of the first two Congas, both on the road and behind the scenes, I’m having a hard time coming to grips with only being a small part of the Conga this year. I am unable to make the ride off the island as I’m in school but will be there in all my “Pinkness” to see the ride off the island, as well as when they return. Besides collecting donations, I am also organizing a Show n Shine upon the return of the Conga. The tentative date is August 14, 2010 in the Nanaimo area. More information will follow as I hammer out the details. I am planning on having all of the usual categories that are generally at a show but also one special category for those that wish to participate but just do not think that their bike is show worthy. I am planning on having a PINK category, to dress your bike and yourself in as much pink as possible. All entry fees to the show will be donated to the Breast Cancer Society. We will also have the representative from the Breast Cancer Society there to accept our donation.
The Conga is in my blood, the friendships I have made, the fun I have had along the journey’s, and the power to make a difference will continue to keep me coming back, no matter how small a part I may play. It could do the same for you.
You can support the Conga III ride for Breast Cancer in several ways:
Be a part of it and join in for the ride. It doesn’t matter if you ride a mile or 1000 miles. For more information go to -
http://gowitheflo.com/
Attend our Show n Shine in August and your entry fee to the show will go directly to the Breast Cancer Society. Information will be announced.
Any and all support is appreciated, “Come on everybody, Let’s do the Conga!”
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