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After 10 years of working in the non-profit sector as a marketing professional, it was the shock of my life to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 – after years of fundraising for causes, including cancer, suddenly I was the cause. At the time I thought this was just one of life’s challenges – after treatment I would be well and life would go back to the way it was. But what I found on the other side was quite different. Life wasn’t the same. I wasn’t the same. And the dealing with the physical side of cancer was nothing compared to the process of dealing with the emotional aftermath. Fortunately, 18 months after my diagnosis, I had the incredible good fortune to be sailing in a regatta in Sydney and met Megan Dwyer, a young Californian woman who was my age, and was competing just 5 weeks after finishing chemo for breast cancer. We became great friends over our common interests of motorbikes, sailing, travel and a thousand other things, and when the harsh realities of dealing with breast cancer arose, we were there to support each other. We became determined to use our experience with breast cancer, and our background and skills to make a difference for other women, particularly young women, who walk this path. Last year we established Amazon Heart and held our first major event, the Changing Gears 2004 ride in California, published our first book, “Amazon Heart – Coping With Breast Cancer Warrior Princess Style”, and created a project for a world first online peer support program to launch later this year. The Changing Gears ride in 2004 exceeded all of our expectations and I was blessed to spend a week in the company of such an amazing group of women. Inspired by that success, this year we will hold rides in three countries and launch a new adventure event, Amazon Heart Odyssey. I’d always wanted to learn to ride a motorbike – it was going to be my present to myself on my 40th birthday. Once I was diagnosed with breast cancer I decided life was too short to postpone anything, so a few months after finishing chemo I took lessons and got my license learning to ride on a Harley-Davidson Low Rider! Riding my bike gives me an incredible sense of freedom and joy – it’s a great stress reliever on those bad days as well! Amazon Heart Odyssey is also an event close to my heart. 6 weeks out of chemo I had the incredible good fortune to visit India to work with poor women and children in Tamil Nadu. That experience changed my life, and I am excited that I can now share that with other young survivors from around the world, and help people in need in Sri Lanka.
Australian Donors: Click Here to Donate Now! US Donors: Click Here to Donate Now!
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