All Great Things Must Come to an End

On August 23, 2012, Jesse Frechione and I departed Anchorage, Alaska on bicycles, equipped and prepared for a journey to South America for the amazing HERS Breast Cancer Foundation (HBCF). We were determined and prepared to take on this lengthy trip to bring awareness to breast cancer, raise $15,000 for HBCF, and travel through land we had never seen before.

We cycled through Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, and stopped in Northern California for a visit with our honorary mothers at the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation. While we were here, we had the honor of attending the inspirational HBCF’s annual KEEP ABREAST 5K/10K Walk/Run. From the Bay Area, we continued to San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and San Diego. San Diego was the final stop before crossing the border into Mexico.

Mexico was a place like no other. From one city to the next, you would go from chaos, traffic and mass amounts of people to dead deserted highways. We made it to La Paz and decided to stay for a little bit. This is where Jesse and I went our own ways. Jesse decided to head back to San Diego and I changed my path to cycle east in the United States. I would miss Jesse, but was excited to embark on my new journey for HBCF.

Throughout my journey, I would have knee pain come and go. Once I arrived in Phoenix, Arizona the pain seemed to intensify. Fortunately, my father was flying out to Arizona to join the journey, so I took a few days off to visit and prepare with him. My father and I bought him all the necessary gear he needed for to continue our journey and within no time we were off, heading to New Mexico.

My father did excellent for a rookie cycler, but just as we arrived at our next destination so did the pain in my knee again. With my father’s suggestion, I decided to dial our family doctor back in Alaska to get a recommendation about my knee. After describing my symptoms, the doctor highly suggested I postpone cycling for a while. This news was crushing and my first thought went to the women at HBCF and how I wanted to meet our goal of $15,000, but I knew I had hit the end of my journey.

This journey was made possible through the large amount of love and support from our honorary mothers at HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, our family, friends and supporters. It was definitely a journey of a lifetime that I will never forget.

If you are interested, we are still hoping to get as close to our fundraising goal as possible. All proceeds go directly to HERS Breast Cancer Foundation. Donations are still being accepted here.