Celebrate life!

[bric]

Greetings Cantinagoers,

I just got back from the annual local Ride for Kids - a fundraiser and awareness-builder for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in their effort to cure the disease and support families of survivors. More than 11 children are diagnosed daily in the U.S. with this condition.

It was a beautiful summer day with a nice breeze and the ride for kids is such a reminder to live, love life and support your fellow people! The camaraderie at this event is amazing - strangers in the heat of the day who have time for a smile, to share water or a chat - and are all there to support families and children in need. The stars of the day are the young people who are afflicted with brain tumors. Some of them choose to ride along on the back of the attendees' bikes to enjoy the hour-and-a-half ride through the backroads, then they all appear on stage at the end of the ride for an interview and to share a talent (a song, a poem or dance) and their thoughts. To say it is moving would be an understatement.

Despite their deadly disease, these young people have such bright spirits and positive outlooks that it really is infectious. They have the heart and wisdom that I can only hope to embody when facing eternity - whether it's the 22 year old who was told she wouldn't live past her first birthday or the nursing student who works in oncology and wants to become a motorcyclist before she's gone.

It makes me realize how thankful I should be and what a blessing each moment is, for fresh air and water, food, family, loved ones, and just the sun rising each morning. I had the privilege to give a ride to one of the stars today and the positive aura around my rider and the conversation we shared during the ride filled me with joy. These young people have such strength and courage, such kindness, generosity and an earnest zest for life that I wonder who benefits the most from the event. The awareness and the money raised will provide for families in need and for the research to hopefully end this disease, but to call this a charity event would not describe the half of it. This is a celebration and a thanksgiving. This is humanity.

 

[Steve Tall]

Well said.
Thanks.

 

[Gorog]

That is right. Some of the most powerfully optimistic, or at least, ideate optimism, are those who have, had, or will suffer in there lives. There is nothing quite like going out into, say, third world African countries, like my other entrepreneurial uncle did, expecting little hospitality, and instead of getting chased away, you find people with spears and shields...and warm smiles and wonderful laughs and a beautiful, exhilerating outlook on life that no amount of money can guarantee...yes there are bad apples among those people, just like everywhere else, but life is not about how low people sink, it is about how high we build. Peace
David

 

[sweetcostarica]

It's seems that when we are facing death do we truly live. I don't know who said this first but I thought of it after reading your words.

When I think of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and others I pray they get aid and hope to help myself. But I am not sad for them because I know people like you bric and charitable donators are supporting them in their fight. No I am happy for them because even if they lose their battle they are at peace. They have lived everyday to the full not taking anyone or anything for grated.

If their trust is in God there is no fear and they know they are loved.