The Ride for Awareness - The Beginning

Have you ever come to a crossroads in your life when the cold reality hits you that you cannot control the full outcome of life?  May you never feel it’s cold fist hit you. Unfortunately I have, and that day came Feb 28th 2012.  At the age of 38 years old, I watched as Ovarian Cancer took the last breaths of life from my amazing wife Wendy McEwen.

At 34 it was a mutual decision to start attempting to have children as there were none in our lives.  After 6 months we decided to engage the assistance of a fertility specialist.  The doctor was kind and guided us through the procedures.  At 35 we had still not had any success.  More advanced procedures followed.  Injections, pills, visits to the doctor’s office for more specialized attempts.  This went on for the better part of 18 months without success.  The next step was IVF.  But before we shelled out even more money on the procedure, the doctor ran some tests and saw something unusual, which she wanted us to have examined.  Extensive testing over a 2 month period revealed Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer.

Many questions swirled through our minds as the diagnosis sank in:
Why didn't the doctor talk to us about this potential sooner?
Why didn't we ever hear about Ovarian Cancer?
What signs are present to help detect Ovarian Cancer?
Treatment options?  What are they and what are the alternatives?
What can or could have been done to catch this much earlier?

There were more questions daily but I'm sad to say I can no longer have those heartbreaking conversations with my wife.  For as hard as the conversations were, at least we would still be talking. We never spoke about losing the battle to this disease, only beating it and marching forward.

Other families should not have to endure the pain and uncertainty that my wife and I went through.  What can a single person do?  How does one do their best to make sure no wife, sister, aunt, niece, daughter, grandmother or friend doesn't have to hear about this horrible disease when statistically their chance for survival is small?

The Journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step my friends.

To that I would like to introduce you to my journey which will be much more than 1000 miles.

The Ride for Awareness 2014

The Journey starts now!!!

It is projected that over 25,000 women will be diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2013.  These 25,000 women are the ones that are shouldered with fighting the battle in their bodies, but these women may have brothers, sisters, husbands, children, grandchildren, or friends which will walk beside them in fighting this disease.  Cancer does not just effect those it infects, it effects all that stand with the person battling for their life. 

There are some promising tests that are being explored.  To this day there isn't a routine concrete test primary or specialist doctors administer as part of a complete physical or examination.  Without a concrete routine test being offered to women, early Ovarian Cancer detection is far less likely.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. The survival rate has barely improved since the “War on Cancer” was declared over 40 years ago. Due to the lack of an early detection test, nearly 75% of ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the late stages. For these reasons, increased awareness and advocacy are critical.

But what if in supporting awareness, we are able to save more lives?  What if a routine blood test is accepted by the Medical community as a whole and more women are able to be diagnosed before advanced stages of the disease have set in?  Catching this disease early and fighting it before it has the opportunity to spread will save the lives of more women.  It will also make the lives of those the women hold close more comforting to know surviving Ovarian Cancer is far more likely the earlier it is detected.


I am partnering with the www.MIOCA.org - The Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance, a Partner Member of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance  Helping them raise funds for all the amazing work they do not only for those fighting Ovarian Cancer, but for those who have beat it, and those that love someone in the fight.  Marcie Paul is the Vice President and an Ovarian Cancer survivor.  She is also amazing.  If you choose to make a difference and help this great organization, in the 'special instruction box' please put "The Ride for Awareness/Wendy McEwen".
Your donation is tax deductible.

 

The Ride - I am a member of a wonderful organization bmwmoa.org which is composed of motorcycle riders of high caliber and discipline. They are a fantastic group of riders that take pride in their community and the adventure sport of motorcycling.  Logistically, I will ride with any chapter that is willing to help spread awareness.  A small fund raiser (50/50 raffle, Poker Run, Miles Run....Even a small donation jar at your clubhouse) would be great, but just giving a person that might not know about Ovarian Cancer the chance to spread the word is also life saving.  Be on the lookout Chapter Presidents - I'll be looking for your phone numbers to discuss your 2014 ride plans.

This ride will be self funded, which means no proceeds will be going to support my ride personally.  Any and all proceeds raised will go directly to the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance.  Any proceeds from any fundraising  from the MOA will be donated by the Chapter President, or anyone the Chapter President deems to replace them in the donation process.  I am by no means independently wealthy mind you, so if you have a washing machine or a sofa I could surf on for a night or two, it would be much appreciated!!!

A special thanks to my friends and mentors at Landmark for giving me the courage to take on this journey.  Without their support, this would still be a dream in my mind.

Whether or not you ride, whether or not you have ever heard of Ovarian Cancer, I urge you to donate to the http://www.mioca.org/donate Awareness of this disease is the key to beating it.
If you choose to stand up for the fight please put in the special instruction box "The Ride for Awareness/Wendy McEwen".

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheRideforAwareness 

Cheers to the road.

Email - mattmcewen911@gmail.com