Our Inspiration

Like millions of other people, Matt and I have indirectly been affected by breast cancer.  Seeing a family member or friend endure a disease that does not yet have a cure, tears at the very core of who we are.  My aunt Rosemary was recently diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring of 2012 and like many other family members we wanted to help out in any way possible.  So we are fighting the only way we know how. We decided to take a seat, literally, on our bikes and raise money for the research of breast cancer by biking from Canada down the Pacific Coast.  Initially, we struggled with what aspect of breast cancer to raise money for, but after speaking with several breast cancer survivors it was clear, raising money for a cure was our objective.

My Aunt Rosemary and I

Why biking?  When we first started dating, Julie mentioned to me that she wanted to bike from Austin to her parents' home in Seguin, Texas, which is around 55 miles.  Why did she want to do this?  Solely because someone doubted she could make the 55 mile ride.  Flash forward 5 years and one day Julie asked me out of the blue, "Hey Matt, lets ride our bikes to Seguin."  I was honestly skeptical myself and not sure if we could do it.  The concern I had was our bikes.  Mine was an old 1985 Schwinn, Le Tour with a bent frame and a total of one gear; and Julie's, a rusted out, behemoth that I literally found.  I was over ruled and it was decided, with our dog in a borrowed baby trailer, we biked to Seguin!  From that fateful day a seed had been planted but only now we bike for the pure love of it.

Matt and Jet after our first "long" bike ride. May 2011