Carmel Crock's Inspirational Story

As Little Red 2014 quickly approaches, we are reminded of the deep connection many women have to riding Little Red as cancer survivors or as loved ones of those battling cancers. The Cycling Sistas, featured on our blog previously, are a group of cancer survivors out of Boise, ID riding strong and celebrating the gift of life after conquering many different cancers. Their cancer experiences brought them together - their love of riding keeps them together. We hope you are as inspired by Carmel Crock's story as we are. 

From Carmel Crock

It was Sept. 23, 2008, I had just finished deep water aerobics, rehabing a right hip replacement from April.  I was at the downtown TVYMCA in Boise.  There was food on a table drawing people to the health fair. A warm face waved me in after I grabbed a couple pieces of bannana.  "Have you eaten today? Wanna have a cholesterol check?"- Sure, I hadn't eaten. "Would you like to have your bone density checked?"- Sure...I went out to the St. Alphonsus Mobile Mammogram bus and while they were testing my bone density, the topic of a mammogram and manual exam came up.  My only mammogram had been in 2006, when my sister, Teresa Stepanek, who was undergoing surgery and treatment for breast cancer, had pleaded with me to get checked. "So, great, you've got a baseline", was the gentle response from the nurse. "It seems the appointment scheduled for now is a no show, would you like a mammo now?"- I felt trapped so agreed.  LIttle did I know that that nurse was to become my angel- in her manual exam, she discovered a lump, deep in my breast- I'd never felt it.  I wasn't good about monthly self-checks.

I came home from the hospital Thanksgiving Day, after a mastectomy and removal of 21 lymph nodes The protocol recommended was chemo.

I had always been healthy- except for this hip that had worn out with osteoarthritis and needed replace in April '08.  The Y was a natural destination for me and riding my bike  had been recommended to me by my Orthopedic Surgeon, heck, I was on my sister's bike on a trainer in her living room, 3 days after my hip replacement.  So riding a bike, was a friendly exercise for me.  I had even gotten my husband, Ken, riding that summer up in Sun Valley..."feel the wind in your hair" and I got him hooked.

Soon in 2209 I was fully participating in the "LiveStrong at the Y" program in Boise. At the time there were 8 YMCA's in the nation in the program.  The exercise and being with other survivors was encouraging and it was something I could control.  When the idea of cycling training was offered, I was "ABSOLUTELY".  I loved to bike. As LiveStrong participants, we get to use the Tri-athletes indoor computerized  training room to do winter training.  So the lst night that we had a "fitting",  I of course, brought the bike I had, an Electra Townie 21 speed-- cruiser bike.  Antonio the bike tech, didn't blink... he suggested that a road bike might be better for my joints, and he explained geometry.."Ah, OK" was my response.  And I found a Diamondback 16 speed at a neighborhood yard sale. It had nubby tires. Antonio put on road tires for me.  I still ride that bike.

Today, I've been riding for 4 years on a real road bike. I've developed some incredible friendships with great women who, like me, happened to be diagnosed with cancer. I've recovered from 5 surgeries and a broken ankle on my bike during these years.So I have an ongoing affair with returning to my bike to strengthen & find joy!  I've road in charity rides in Boise, Bend, OR, Moab, Utah.  This year for the 2nd

year in a row, I will be riding with my sister Teresa, who has been the one who got me back on a bike to get fit and strong after surgeries. We have both been Huntsman Home Town Heroes. We share not only the diagnosis's of breast cancer (totally different kinds), but most of all, the love of riding our bikes and we bring our husbands along.  Last year we rode at Moab Skinny Tire in March. Teresa is 7 years cancer free this year and I am 5. We've changed our diets and increased our exercise! We plan on riding our bikes the rest of our lives and our lives are going to be very, very long!

This will be my 4th year riding LRRH- the ride is well supported and offers ALL women, young and old the opportunity to get out and ride a bike and celebrate living a healthy life.

When the Cycling Sistas formed we were coining "branding" phrases for our club- mine was "Live Long, Ride Strong".  It stuck and we have those words on our jerseys.

Get out and ride!
 Live Long, Ride Strong