In July 2004, I was diagnosed with a 1.7cm stage one tumor that was very aggressive. My last mammogram had been 13 months before. I was treated with dense dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Lance was my role model. If Lance could do it, so could I. My husband and I joined Lance and 7,000 of his closest friends for the 100-mile Ride for the Roses in October 2005 in Austin,Texas to celebrate everyone’s success

So many people helped and supported me during my diagnosis and treatment. Now that I am a 3-year+ survivor, the desire to support others who are going through cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as the desire to help find a cure is an amazingly important part of my life. Being a cancer survivor is a gift, and something that should never be taken for granted. It reminds me of how wonderful life really is.

In 2005, as part of my recovery, I hired a coach, Linelle Northcott. She supplied me with the tools and motivation to have my best cycling season ever – three State Championships at the track and a Bronze Medal at the State Time Trial Championships. I am a fortuante person to have a wonderful husband who has been supportive during treatment, recovery, and training. Peter has not missed a beat as far as being there whenever I needed him, or my bike(s) needed him to be ready for a ride or event. Oh, he also helped make the radiation equipment that I was treated on. See this article from the Varian Medical Systems newsletter, page 1 and page 2.

Join me by making a secure online donation at the LiveStrong website. If you have any questions, please contact me at (650) 851-7621. On behalf of all those whose lives are affected by cancer, and there are many of us, I thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Patt Baenen-Tapscott

P.S. Your donation does make a difference – more than 80% of the Lance Armstrong Foundation's annual budget goes directly toward programs, grants, education, and advocacy. All donations are 100% tax deductible.