There are only five training weeks left until the American Cancer Society’s Pan Ohio Hope Ride. I had a good week of training this past week, riding 134 miles in four days, but I was quite sore and realize I still have some work to do. The bike ride will be across Ohio covering 328 miles in four days beginning July 25th.
Thank you so much for those who have already made donations in support of this cause. I am currently third on the fund raising list out of more than 550 riders. All donations are given directly to the American Cancer Society and go mainly to support families working through the difficulties of cancer. I have included some general information below, which is also included on my main page for the event. Please visit the page and donate as you are able.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Steve_Troxel
Training for this ride will make it difficult to keep up with my running goal. I will post my total bike miles along with my total running miles at the bottom of each devotional message. So far I have run 691 miles and biked 553 miles this year, but I just recently began biking.
*******From my American Cancer Society page******
My name is Steve Troxel. Welcome to my page for the Pan Ohio Hope Ride. I will be riding 328 miles across Ohio along with over 550 other riders to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
On January 24th of this year, our twelve year old daughter, Kaylee, was diagnosed with an advanced stage of ovarian cancer, and since that time life has been a blur with surgeries and hospital stays, medication adjustments and emotional rollercoasters. Even though we can call this blur a New Normal and we are all learning how to adjust, it is still extremely difficult.
On the morning we were to enter the hospital to begin her second round of chemotherapy, the day which also happened to be her thirteenth birthday, after larger and larger clumps of hair began to brush out, she made the brave decision and asked me to shave her head. Of course, I have been telling people for years that bald is beautiful, but now I think everyone will have to agree. These little baldies are gorgeous!
Kaylee finished her final scheduled round of chemotherapy on May 6th and we returned for scans on May 23rd. We were quite anxious about these scans since they would tell us whether the cancer was gone or we has to continue with treatment. Praise God that the results came back clear. As of right now she is cancer free. We will return for another set of scans the first week of August. There will need to be ongoing tests for many years, and we will all need to learn to live with the constant threat of the cancer returning, but there is good hope that Kaylee will be able to live a long, productive, and happy life. Others in my family have not been so fortunate.
Thirty years ago, my mother was diagnosed with an advanced stage of melanoma skin cancer and died within six months. She was 43 years old and left behind four children; I am the eldest. Two years ago my sister was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer and died 10 months later. She was 43 and left behind three young children.
Cancer is a cruel, ugly disease. It crosses every boundary imaginable. It has to be stopped. As I watch my daughter suffer I feel I need to do something to help others who will face this same monster. And the best way to help is to find a way to destroy the monster so it cannot strike again.
This bike ride is my first step with raising money for the fight. Please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society through this page. Our whole family deeply appreciates your support in this effort.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries
