the Mid south shares

The following was posted by The Mid South team to their Instagram and Facebook accounts on January 5, 2021. 
Very sweet of my husband write and very cool of The Mid South to publish.  Gives me the feels every time I read it.

The Mid South writes:
This story was shared by Jon from Manhattan KS.
2020 has been a challenge is an amazing understatement!  What a year it has been.  Ours actually started Halloween 2019 when my wife, Amy  was handed a real challenge.  That is when she received her cancer diagnosis.  After a little crying and hugging, I swear to God, the first words out of her mouth were "I'm not going to get my Bobby hug". 

COVID-19 hit just as she was beginning chemotherapy and we were advised to stay home. This was a tough decision as we had so many friends competing and wanted to be there to support them. 

As you can imagine the chemo and radiation were brutal, but she never lost her spirit or sense of humor, at least in public, even letting our girls paint her head like Easter eggs.  Her energy was zapped and simple walks were as tough as a 50 mile ride in a Kansas wind storm.

The pictures attached are from the Virtual Solstice Quarantine Ride 100k in Beatrice Ne., her first ride just a few months after chemo and days after radiation.  It was hot and extremely windy.  We took it in 10 mile chunks and just kept pushing. SHE NEVER WALKED A SINGLE HILL!

While recovering, she realized there just wasn't a support group for active people recovering from cancer and wanting to get back into competition.  Thus Pink Gravel was born.  She created a foundation to support, sponsor and encourage those recovering and trying to get back up and running, riding, whatever.  She finished 2020 off by providing SAG support at several events and even hosting her own, Just A Chill Ride with chili, cinnamon rolls and Lazy Horse Brewery beer for all who attended.

We deferred last year's Mid South entry, so we will be there with all of our Black Squirrel Cycling League friends representing the Pony Express Gravel Dash and Pink Gravel and ready to roll.  And this year will be even more special when she rolls over that line. 

Even if Bobby has to put on a hazmat suit, that girl deserves a hug!!!"

□ David Mayes Photography.