22 miles

Today I rode 22 miles for Ronni, one of Clara’s good friends since K-5, who survived leukemia after being diagnosed in January of her kindergarten year.

She endured countless treatments and spent a great deal of time, off and on, at MUSC Children’s Hospital. Today, Ronni is a healthy, beautiful young woman, a senior in college, and will turn 22 at the end of October. Thankfully, she doesn’t remember much of what she went through, but I know her parents do.

We spent time with Ronni and her mother in the hospital many times and witnessed firsthand how her journey affected her entire family, especially her mother, who is a dear friend of mine.

Ronni’s remission and eventual healing are one of the reasons I ride every year. Her story is a reminder of why this matters, not only for the children battling cancer, but for the parents and families who walk that frightening journey alongside them. We need better treatments, and ultimately, a cure for childhood cancer, so fewer children and families have to endure what Ronni and her family went through.