A New Chapter - One Month for a Lifetime

It's been quite some time since I posted here, but today I'm motivated to bring you all up to date on my health situation, and how the bike still figures prominently in the healing process.

Since I last posted, I made the decision to channel my fundraising energies into my own cycling event. After more than fifteen charity events and more than $600,000 raised for cancer research since 2012, I decided it was time to narrow the scope of where the money was being used. Too much of the money raised for large charity events gets gobbled up in operational costs and it was time to go grassroots and get the money straight into the hands of the people who need it the most.

in 2017, I took an interest in the burgeoning field of cell and immune therapy for blood cancers. My search led me to the wonderful people at the Cedars Cancer Foundation in Montreal, an arm of the McGill University Health Centre. I was interested in someone who was focusing his or her efforts on this area of cancer research.

I had known Jeff Shamie, the President of Cedars Cancer foundation whom I had met from previous charity initiatives. Jeff immediately took an interest in my "little idea" and connected me to Dr. Pierre Laneuville, one of the most accomplished hematologists in Canada and who was currently trying to raise funds for the creation of a first of-its-kind cell therapy unit at the Cedars Cancer Centre right here in Montreal.

Dr. Pierre Laneuville

In 2017, we hosted the first Cedars Ride for Hope and Gratitude in Lake George NY. There, 15 cyclists committed to raising money for  Dr. Laneuville and in the end this small but loyal group raised more than $55,000 for the cell therapy initiative. We had a most amazing weekend and the seed was planted for the following year with fifteen ambassadors all excited to help me promote and grow the ride.

At the summit of Prospect Mountain, Lake George NY

In 2018, we moved the ride back to Quebec and chose the picturesque Chateau Montebello on the Ottawa river as our base camp. The largest log structure in the world would be our home for the weekend, and the gentle rolling hills and by-ways of the Ottawa Valley our route for what turned out to be an amazing Saturday of cycling.  That evening, we were treated to stories by our special guest, British Cycling hall of famer Phil Liggett, and some captivating talks on cancer research and its human  components by riders Dr. Brigitte Barrette, Dr. Igor Jurisica and of course our very own Dr. Pierre Laneuville. In the end, we were thirty-one riders raising more than $130,000 for the fund.

A the start in Montebello. A wave of emotion

I created the fund in memory of my father, William Ewart Callard. Not because of any cancer connection but because he was my mentor. He passed in 1981, but not a day goes by that I don't think about him. The Ensign Ewart Research Fund of the Cedars Cancer Foundation is now building a coffer that will help to further advances in Cancer research for  generations to come.

Having the honour of riding with Phil Liggett

The Journey continues....

In late 2018, I was faced with an aggressive relapse of my 2009 lymphoma.  It was just before Christmas and I had been experiencing leg pain for a few months which to my Osteopath was classic sciatica. After several treatments and no progress, I ended up in the ER which led to a catscan and prompt diagnosis of the relapse.

I am now three cycles in on a tough but effective protocol used to treat non-hodgkins type lymphomas. In a few months, I will be using my own banked stem cells from 2012 to have a transplant which will hopefully allow me to put this setback behind me for good.

The world works in mysterious ways...

I had been followed by a wonderful doctor at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal since 2009, but shortly before my relapse, he was forced to retire  from complications from a stroke. Jeff Shamie suggested I talk to Dr. Laneuville for a second opinion and I am happy to say that he is now following my progress and is from my experience one of the best diagnosticians I have ever met. I credit Dr. Laneuville with my quick recovery and for saving my kidneys, which had come close to complete failure before his intervention and quick action to save them.

This year, we are moving the ride to beautiful Bromont Quebec for the third annual Ride for Hope and Gratitude.  Needless to say, this one has particular meaning for me on a personal level. My goal is simple. Recover from the stem cell transplant, be on my bike sometime in June, and in September complete my first big challenge.... the ride! I know I will be surrounded by the many committed riders and friends who have been fiercely loyal and supportive since the beginning. I am blessed in many ways.  

The stem cell transplant will require a hospital stay of one month. While I'm not looking forward to it, the payoff is immense.

Our slogan for the ride is "The Journey Starts Here"...  Mine starts now. "One month for a lifetime" is my motto.

Care to join me?

The Road Less Traveled Leads to Shangri-La

If it weren't for the places I have seen by bike, less travelled than those by car, I would never have happened upon an absolutely wonderful little piece of paradise, close to enough to home that within an hour and a short stop at a quiet border crossing, I am settled in with my small two-man tent, my camp gear, and, of course, my bike.

I don't want to tell anyone about my new discovery. We all have our own "best kept secrets"...

In one of my earliest blogs, I spoke of the allure of the rail trail, and how for a cyclist they have become a worthy alternative to riding on pavement, within reach and surrounded by rolling hills, green pastures and cornfields bringing to mind those in "Field of Dreams" and the mystery surrounding them.

My secret paradise is near one of these rail trails, but I still hesitate to give you its name. 

But perhaps a clue as to its location...

The Mississquoi Rail Trail in upstate Vermont is a wonderful trail that meanders through fields and small villages, slightly inching North and East from St. Albans in the West to its conclusion in Richford in the East, just south of the Quebec border.

My secret Shangri-La is perfection in its simplicity. I can't tell you exactly why I feel this way about it, yet it continues to draw me in thought, even during winter when I am unable to access it.

Morning..

Evening...

I only recently discovered it, but in a short period of one month last autumn, I visited three times...

I yearn for the late Spring when I will surely visit again...

Within its borders, I could spend the day on my bike meandering at a quiet pace,

or perhaps just strolling and listening to the light whisp of leaves falling gently to the ground.

I have discovered as well that within my secret paradise several things called

 Geo-Caches which I have set out on foot and discovered quite by chance,
and perhaps a bit of logic.

A Geo-Cache map...

 For those uninitiated, the Geo-cache is worldwide phenomenon of hidden caches whereby participants use GPS coordinates to locate caches nearby. Once discovered, the object is to record your find, take a small gift inside the cache, replace with one of your own, and finally to record it online with commentary for others to surely enjoy.

Roots of Hope and Gratitude...

Timmy and I have enjoyed taking on camping as a new pastime, with credit given to my sister who gave us the bug a few years back. This coming summer, I have repayed the favour by making reservations for my sister and her family to camp with us at Shangri-La...

Rich fall colours..

A view from our campsite..

Lean-tos are predominant in the park..

I am not yet prepared to share my secret.... although I surely should not keep this all to myself...

and Timmy... and a few friends... and my bike...

And within its limits, there also lies a bog, and an ecosystem dating back hundreds of years...

They say that in Spring, the bugs are scarce due to this bog, while just a few miles down the road, the mosquitos are unbearable for a few weeks in May.

The Bog of Shangri-La

From the main road, they constructed a wonderful elevated walkway over the bog,

 which Timmy and I spent many visits riding up and down on our bikes.

We hid this walking stick for our next visit...

A bold statement...

A spot to read a book, or ponder the word gratitude..

I will give another clue, but shhhhh... keep it to yourself...

The colours change minute by minute throughout the day. Blink and the lighting has dimmed as evening nears. It is a most wonderful place. Simple with few amenities, except for an abundance of firewood for cool fall evenings and the friendly welcome of the park Warden, adding to the warmth and sense of comfort during our stays.

The hidden path to a boat launch..and a nearby Geo-Cache..

Lake Carmi State Park near Enosburg Falls, Vermont is my Shangri-La.

... but that's our secret...

Until next time, I will continue to enjoy the road less traveled...

...Can you keep it a secret?...

Vermont State Parks

http://www.vtstateparks.com

Search Lake Carmi State Park

For more information on Geo-Caching, visit http://www.geocaching.com

Hello Again

It dawned on me the other day that some time had passed since my last post. I had to think about why so much time had elapsed and simply chalked it up to other things taking precedence.

 Like most things in life, we need inspiration to produce creativity,

 and sometimes our inspiration comes from other sources.

Having said that, I was inspired today to bring my readers up to date on the progress of these two great words, Hope and Gratitude (which as you can see I choose to capitalize).

I thought it would be fun to do a small pictorial of the things that have offered me hope and gratitude in the past year, a snapshot of how the past months have filled my days.

My readers have always enjoyed and let me know how much they appreciate the photos that accompany the text of my blogs. Perhaps the visuals give more context, 

and for whatever reason, it works.

So, hello again, it's nice to be back....

Gratitude for sharing my rides with Timmy and giving my son Chris

 the gift of a bike for his 18th birthday...

Gratitude for being fortunate enough to ride my bike

 to work, and for the view along the way..

This was featured on the back of my 2013 Ride to Conquer cancer

team jersey. There are over 100 names of people touched 

in some way by cancer in this image.

Hope for a cure...

Gratitude for my team of fundraisers,

Team Hope and Gratitude

Hope for the future and it's endless possibilities...

Gratitude for being involved with a wonderful cause.

Team Ian Ride 2013 in memory of Ian Van Toch

raising money for cutting-edge cancer research

Reflections from one of my rides..

Gratitude for a business that people appreciate..

A collection of my fundraising jerseys that for me represents hope...

...and let us not forget the bracelet..

It has taken on a life of its own. Many who wear the bracelet

now document its whereabouts. This was taken in one of my favourite

places in the world, Lake George, NY at the top of Prospect Mountain.

Gratitude to be able to share a special moment with a friend and

fellow cancer survivor, one who defied many odds to get

to his special day..

Proud and grateful to see my son Chris achieve his goal of going to the 

Junior pan-Am games

My amazing team... an incredible group of committed individuals,

of whom I can also call friends

and one of my many valued donors all of whom deserve

my heartfelt thanks..

Gratitude for family...

Friendships...

Happy moments..

and not so happy moments..

Meaningful causes..

Memories of a great dad..and hero..

33 years since his passing..

Some people say I look like him.. I like that compliment

Hope and Gratitude...

See you soon...