I am choosing to ride in the Ride for Roswell to honor the memory of my mother Alice Verstreate who passed away from breast cancer in 1978. When I was a Freshman in college I received the news that my Mom had stage 4 breast cancer and was given just 6 months to live. Thankfully, she beat that prediction and lived to see me graduate but those were tough years filled with pain and suffering. She died at just 50 years old, in the prime of her life. She was in a nursing home in the months before she died. Hell, I am riding my bike across New York State in the Empire State Ride at 67 and my Mom was in a nursing home at age 50. Life isn't fair. We all take our health for granted until it's gone. I am blessed to be healthy enough to do this at my age so I am going to do it. I lived most of my adult life feeling guilty that I should have done more for my Mother before she died. And, now 45 years later this is my way of giving back and honoring her memory.

I also ride in memory of my high school buddy Herb Cooley who lost his life to glioblastoma in 2021; my friend from the Empire State Ride Melissa Delforte who lost her battle with breast cancer and in honor of my dear friend Cherie Gieschen-Mpelezos who fought and beat esophageal cancer.

You don't stop and think about cancer until it affects you or someone you love. But, why not think about it before it hits home? Why not join me and the many others on this site to get ahead of cancer and if not find a cure at least lessen the suffering.

Donate to my ride, not because of me. Do it for your own family, friends and co-workers that are fighting the fight or have yet to fight the fight against this horrible disease. Thank you for your donations. Working together is how we can make a difference.

Dave Verstreate