Recently I participated in a cancer research fundraiser put on by the Baystate Health Foundation. You could chose to walk/run a 5k or bike either 50, 25, or 10 miles. Now if you know me, you know your girl doesn't love to workout so I chose the 10 mile bike ride mostly because of how much my uncle loved to bike before he passed away from cancer a few years prior (and he was whom I was biking in honor of) but also because I thought those 10 miles wouldn't be so hard on a bike.

And honestly, the majority of the ride wasn't too hard. The scenery was gorgeous and the weather was warm and breezy but not hot. At one point during the ride on the last hill, the final hill, about halfway up my foot cramped. You know when you get a Charlie-Horse in your foot or leg? It was like that. I pulled over with the cars rushing by me and figured at first that I could just pedal through it but at first attempt realized that was not an option. Instead, I had to flex my foot to fix the cramp and then find the effort to make it the rest of the way up the hill. But the thing is, I did it with relatively no problems because I have that privilege.

Peep my dad finishing his 25 mile ride!

The thing about this ride is that the physical only contributes to half of the difficulty. During my ride, I was constantly remembering my uncle not only because he cycled but because of the person he was and the person I missed. The emotional battle of getting up hill after hill is something that should not go unnoticed. Post foot cramp I biked to the top of the hill because at the end of the day I can. And with all of my heart I wished my uncle could be there, biking alongside my dad, hugging his kids when they crossed the finish line, adjusting helmets and eating potato salad but that wish can't come true.

So for me being on team No Surrender means always staying strong even when you feel physically or emotionally drained. It means always loving your family and friends and providing support for them as well. I'm proud of the 10 miles I rode for No Surrender and the people who showed up that day to walk or ride in honor of their own family member or loved one or friend. And next maybe, just maybe I'll be able to do the 25 mile next year.

All photos provided by Ben Kimball Photography