11th
My Commitment
Meeting Juff Rushton and the other volunteers for the first time is itself an experience. I never before met a group of people who were so absolutely committed to a purpose. They work as if life depended on it, and I realized… a life does depend on it. Most have been touched by cancer, often in a child, sometimes their own child. They work because the life of their child depends on it.
Jeff continues to let us know that it is not about the Ride. It is about what we are doing: raising funds and awareness of childhood cancer reasearch so that one day, no parent ever needs to hear the words, “Your child has cancer,” so that children being treated now can avoid the adverse side effects that can be so difficult.
Back home, Jacob Randell’s parents brought him home from Montreal’s St-Justine’s Hospital on June 6. They took down the Christmas tree now that Jacob came home. He is going through physiotherapy to be able to walk again. He is learning how to eat again. His parents are able to tuck him in to his own bed in his own home. They don’t know for sure how much time he has, but then none of us really knows how much time we have. They do know that every day at home will be easier than the treatment and they have a little boy again.
I am blessed with two healthy boys, Brandon and Josh. They have a health and vitality that I used to take for granted. Doing this Ride, meeting Jacob, and meeting the kids at the Children’s Hospital of British Columbia solidified my commitment for why I am and we are doing this Ride.
Tazo Chai Latte is one of my favourite drinks. One of the volunteers, Jamie, treated me to one. On the cup was written:
“The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.”
Anne Morriss, Starbucks customer
I am committed to completing this ride, to keeping it in perspective, to letting go of any ego involvement, to helping out as much as I can.
I am committed to helping children and families to live beyond cancer.
I am committed to my children Brandon and Josh.
I am committed to the love of my life, France, and her children Gabriel and Pénélope.
