Why I Ride
We can all fight cancer by standing beside those who are suffering. I can't personally contribute much to the front lines of scientific research--though I will help raise dollars to propel that work--but I can give an answer to the two greatest needs in this struggle: compassion and awareness.
The most insufferable part of this kind of suffering is the temptation to feel alone, as if the rest of the world were spinning off without that person who is suffering. But no cancer patient should feel isolated: we must support them and help carry their burdens in whatever way we can. Even more so, that patient needs to know that his or her suffering is not foreign to this hurting world, and that he or she has a valuable role in lifting up the heads of others. I have often been inspired by the courage of my close friends who have fought this disease. And everyone else in this country who is hurting internally or externally, physically or spiritually, needs their example, as well.
The effort to raise awareness of cancer is as important as the encouragement for those who fight for their lives. Everyone needs to know about detecting the signs of the disease as well as the need to raise funds and support the community of patients. In these tangible ways, even a simple college student like me can play a large role in the very real fight against cancer.