It's a club, within a club

So, just before Easter, I received a message from a Pink Gravel follower.   She informed me that she is a "late-to-the-party" cyclist, but loves road and gravel.  It was because of her love for her gravel community, she found Pink Gravel.  I am going to refer to her endearingly as Mrs. LTTP (Late-to-the-party).  For the record I am 46, so I think I fit into that category too. 

In Mrs. LTTP's message, she informed me that she has just begun her journey with breast cancer and is hoping she will be able to approach it with the same humor and grace that I displayed.  Mrs. LTTP was still in the discovery phase and just starting to have the hard conversations with family members about her diagnosis.  Mrs. LTTP thanked me for being here.  Her words warmed my heart.

It is odd how I now feel an instant connection to other breast cancer warriors.  You hear the jokes; but seriously, It is a club.  The club dues are freak'n high; but if have been diagnosed and are willing to look for us "cancer club members", you will open the door to a whole new world of instant friends.  It is a bit amazing considering the cost.  

And that is where Pink Gravel comes in.  I believe a HUGE part of my coping with cancer was through sharing.  Of course I could talk to anyone and/or post it all on FB but I also wanted to respect the fact not everyone is interested or maybe they have their own stuff going on.  I suppose traditional support groups would have fill this space. 

But guess what?  COVID is what. 

The one group I could find in my area that meets once a month, was not meeting.  But, you know who was?  Gravel cyclists.  Now, granted, I wasn't riding because of being physically drained from cancer treatments, but I was able to fill a water bottle, hand out some snacks and hold a bike while a rider pees in the trees.   So I pushed out Pink Gravel to the public and began a new cancer support group of one.  Since then I have been looking for others to join me and join in my support of others.

I want to thank all of you out there who take the time to read the blogs, who support Pink Gravel by liking the social media pages, who share this website, who wear or display Pink Gravel swag, who attend our events and those who welcome or advertise Pink Gravel at your events.  It is SO APPRECIATED!   It was because of you that Pink Gravel was on a Girls Gone Gravel Podcast!  How cool is that?!?!

So please know your actions help others, help people like me - like Mrs. LTTP - find some additional support within the gravel community that they may not have in their local area.

And you know. . . It's a gravel club within the cancer club. 
I would even say it is a cooler club -  because you don't have to get cancer to be in it. :)  #pinkgravel  #cancersucks