This one's for Barb

If you knew her, then you loved her. She was the glue that held our family together. The smile that lit up the room, and the heart that filled it with love. Her hugs still warm me, and her laugh still echoes in my ears. My sister Barb was an amazing human being. And on the evening of November 27, 2025 - Thanksgiving Day - my sister Barb lost her battle with esophageal cancer.

To tell you that Barb's passing has motivated me to be part of C3 Challenge To Conquer Cancer's Ride To Maine this year - and to ask for your help in supporting cancer research - would be an understatement.

I've made this ride before. From Greenville, SC to Lewiston, ME. Around 1,200 miles, give or take. All to raise money for cancer research. Last year, knee surgery prevented me from making the trip so I rode my stationary bike in my basement each day in support of my C3 teammates' efforts. This year, I'm back on the bike training to be ready to make the ride north. And I'm back here to ask you to support the effort.

Maybe you think it's cool that we pedal our bikes all that way, or maybe you think we're just a bunch of lycra-wearing whack jobs with blinky lights slowing down traffic. To be honest, I don't care - as long as you help me fund cancer research.

I'm alive because of cancer research. Same goes for our son, Erik, and my great nephew, Braydon. But cancer took my mother, Edra, and now it has taken my sister Barb. And I am PISSED. I'm not a scientist or an oncologist and I can't fight cancer myself, so...I do this. I put in my money, my time, my sweat, and my energy, and I ask you to contribute every penny you can.

YOUR MONEY WILL SAVE LIVES. Is there a better way to spend it than that? No, there is not. Your gift will help fund the research that will slow and potentially cure cancer. And the lives that research saves could very well be the lives of people you know and love. Family, friends, children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, neighbors, co-workers - maybe even you. Most cancer research is privately funded, so this really is where the battle is fought.

PLEASE get into the fight with me and give with your heart. Give with anger. Give with hope.

This year, I ride for Barb. For her smile and her heart and her hugs and her laugh and her love. I ride because she deserves at least that from me.