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Wendy Raditz Ivyland, Pennsylvania United States   Changing Gears: US 2004 Australia 2005 Experienced Rider

Photo Credit: Jill Karnicki 2004

My name is Wendy and I was diagnosed with BC in 2000. I had a young son and this was unexpected. But I dealt with it with the help and support of family and friends I found within myself a strength I did not know I had. I took it a day at a time (ok, maybe a bit more since I read nonstop about the illness to best figure it all out). We, the patients, the women, the people who get the cancer really end up making all the decisions for ourselves in the end.

Ok, so I found out that I was in the luckier group and was able to beat this illness at this time. I take it a day at a time right now but wow, each day is a gift and I try to remember that. A crucial turning point in my life with cancer recovery was getting connected with Megan Dwyer and Meredith Campbell and Changing Gears. I had just come home from a week-long motorcycle trip with friends and here was this strange email from women I did not know offering the trip of a lifetime to help spread the word (with the help of Harley-Davidson no less, can’t get much better than that) of young women with breast cancer. Oh my, what to do??? Well, sign up of course! I did not know any of these women but met the requirements. Then there was a group website set up and we all “chatted”. Finally the day arrived to start our adventure and well, I am not often without words but I still am!! It was and still is incredible. I met women that will be my friends forever. How often do women get to share this type of illness and the accompanying surgeries, treatments and then share it with each other? I mean, our scars were the same, visible and not. What a cleansing feeling! Didn’t have to hide a thing from each other and that was incredibly freeing.

I find myself often reviewing the various pictures everyone took and living the trip over and over again. Still going on the website and chatting with everyone. The Changing Gears adventure changed my life like cancer changed my life - unexpectedly and completely, and for the better. I would not be the woman I am now without having gone through cancer and I would definitely not be the woman I am now without having met the amazing ladies from Changing Gears. Wow, what an experience! Now I embark on a trip to Australia in 2005 to continue spreading the word with Amazon Heart and Changing Gears about breast cancer and young women. There can be hope after a breast cancer diagnosis! I realize this is not true for all women, but for those that it is – march on! For those that it cannot be – our hearts are with you and we will continue to raise money, continue to encourage research and continue to help to find a cure. We live it one day at a time too.

So ladies – do all you can do and then MORE! Cause you really do not know all you can do, do you?????

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