Pedal the Cause

Cancer has touched my family in more ways than I wish it had. From the time I was little, looking at my cousins’ faces as they tried to process losing their mom to cancer. The fear in my uncle’s eyes as he fought lymphoma while they were raising three little girls. I’ve heard the tremble in my mom’s voice as she shared news of yet another diagnosis for someone we love. And I’ll never forget the sadness in my dad’s voice whenever he talks about losing his brother.

But mixed in with the heartbreak, there have been incredible moments of hope. The joy on my sister-in-law’s mom’s face and prayer of thanksgiving heard when she got to celebrate her daughter’s wedding after surviving pancreatic cancer. My uncle, crossing the finish line as both a survivor and a founder of this amazing cause. And my grandpa, my hero. When he fought cancer the second time, I was pregnant with the boys and spent many afternoons sitting with him during chemo. I’ll never forget the day he finished his last treatment…he stood up tall and proud with the biggest smile that said, “Alright, I did it… what’s next?” That moment is forever engraved on my heart.

My Grandpa Kerlick loved Pedal the Cause. For years, he proudly rode as one of the oldest cancer survivors, and he never quit…not even on the hardest hills. Whenever I ride, I imagine him just ahead of me with that shiny red helmet, steady and determined, reminding me that cancer didn’t stop him and it shouldn’t stop us from fighting for a cure.

This week marks two years since he passed. I miss him every day, but I feel him especially close during Pedal. Riding has become my way of honoring him, of carrying the battles our family has faced, and of holding on to the hope that one day my boys, and their kids, won’t have to know the heartbreak of cancer.

Seeing Zeke and Calvin’s excitement for Pedal now feels like a full-circle moment. Their questions, their enthusiasm, it’s a reminder that this isn’t only about the past. It’s about the future we want for them.

Our ride may look a little different this year, but the reason behind it hasn’t changed. Every mile is for our family, for your family, and for everyone who’s been touched by cancer.

Every dollar raised through Pedal stays right here in St. Louis to fund research that saves lives. That research gave my family more time and more moments to celebrate and it will do the same for others.

If you feel called to support our ride, I’d be so grateful. Every gift, no matter the size, truly matters. Together, we can keep pushing toward a future without cancer.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️