SUPPORT MY RIDE TO CONQUER CANCER(R)

My name is Tamara Guerin and I am so honored to be riding again this year for an all Canada Route. First of all I would like to thank everyone that has supported me in the past it has been humbling to have so many supporters and well wishers.

This will be my seventh year and I am so excited to be joining Riders for Ryders again this year. When I started the ride I was not the greatest bike rider but this was always one team that gave me moral support every time I saw them or let me tag along the back of train to save my legs for a little bit. Jimi has become a friend and I am honored to ride with him and his team again this year. When I started the ride 7 years ago I started because my mom was sick and it was something I could do to support her. I got a bike given to me that my good friends at Corsa Cycles helped fit me better because it was a mens bike. I hadn't ever ridden a rode bike before let alone 240km and I was terrified. It was very physically challenging and took me a very long time that first day but I finished day one and I gained confidence on day two finishing with a smile on my face and a heart full of emotions. My mom was stuck in traffic and didn't get to see me cross the finish line which was an incredibly hard and emotional thing for both of us, however I know that I will never cross the finish line again without her by my side. She was so proud of me and all the other riders, she followed me along the route that first year and I can still see her at certain spots along the ride. It had rained very hard that first day of my first year and I was very tired because I was far from a seasoned rider I can remember my mom drying my jacket with a blow dryer while I recovered. As our journey continued my moms sickness got worse and she passed away before my second ride. It ruined me and although I had said I would ride until my mom got better or passed away I figured I couldn't give up half way through the year so I committed to riding that year. I then realized I was far too passionate about this event to stop before I earned my golden helmet. My daughter asked me if it was my last year and although I had said yes I could not resist the opportunity to ride with my new team and raise more money for a cause I feel so incredibly passionate about. It is an amazing journey that I am so grateful I get to be a part of even in the horrible weather and events that have happened. I am riding in honor of my mom this year. After battling cancer for 2 1/2 years she lost her fight on November 26th 2012. She was the bravest person I know after numerous rounds of chemotherapy and too many radiation treatments to count she still had her up beat personality and love for life. I will miss her every minute of every day but know that she is watching over me and my daughters. I also know that without all the money donated to research I would not have had even half of the time I did have with her so please donate today to prevent someone else having to go through what we went through.

Last year I raised over $7,000 and although I know it will be incredibly difficult to do so again I am setting my goal at $10,000 and five riders signed up to join me I already have two good friends joing me so only three more to go. If you have ever thought of doing the ride this year is for you contact me today and I will get you signed up. Your generosity over the past five years has been great and I hope together we can get closer to less and ultimately no one hearing the dreadful words of " You have Cancer"

Tamara.