This was a weekend dominated by yellow. Yellow wrist bands, yellow tablecloths, a yellow light show wash on the walls within the Tiger Woods Pavillion on the Nike campus, yellow rain ponchos on the volunteers and of course Flowerbud’s own contribution: the beautiful yellow roses, fresh in from Costa Rica.
A lot of yellow to be sure but not a jaundiced moment as I stand at the finish line after my own ride, beneath the galloping neon horses at Delta Park in Portland watching the most determined and remarkable people cross the finish line, yellow Rose in hand. All are survivors or are surviving cancer and have just completed walks, runs or cycle rides of distances up to one hundred miles. The momentum to the day of course being given by Lance Armstrong himself, hopping on a bike and leading this most determined of pelotons eastwards into the breezy mouth of the Columbia River Gorge.
This is the year’s second in a series of events known as Livestrong Challenges. In 2006 they traverse the country as follows: Orange County in June, Portland in July, Denver in August, and Philadelphia in September, all culminating in Austin with The Ride For The Roses in October. The proceeds going to The Lance Armstrong Foundation which works to benefit those living with and through cancer.
It might have been a better weekend from the standpoint of weather but I suppose that grey skies with cool and blustery showers were preferred to the heatwave of a week earlier. The pasta dinner on Saturday evening took little regard of the weather being held on the sublime Nike campus within the impressive Tiger Woods Pavillion (we await Lance’s own). On the way to cocktails and conversation on the terrace there are many of Tiger’s trophies to admire and snapshots of a career that began young. Lance recognises the efforts of individual and team fundraisers in what are very emotional moments. This year the amount raised in Portland is in excess of one million dollars.
Sunday morning dawns as described, less than summery. There are fewer participants than I remember from last year, down perhaps by a half. Never the less, those present are enthusiastic and keen to go before the goose bumps and shivers overwhelm. I believe it is not the weather that has to do with the low numbers but more the rumblings I have heard for months about the far higher entry fee/funds to be raised that are a prerequisite to participation. An amount too steep by far for many individuals and perhaps in disregard for the ability or desire of some to ask others for money, no matter how worthy the cause. I can’t help but think that a reasonable fee followed by a request for further largesse at one’s discretion always produces better results.
Events such as these are far more rewarding for all participants if there is a critical mass. In the world of the Peloton some of us may be considered as merely “pack filler” but we do however serve a purpose and bring life and contributions to an event. The survivors crossing the finish line are all individuals as determined you will ever see. Throngs of well wishers lining the barriers would be a beautiful thing to see as they return to get another yellow Rose to wave, to cherish, to dry or to press inside a book. To signify that they rose to meet the challenge. That might just take “pack filler.”
Much as did Heath,who flew himself and his young family all the way from Louisiana so that they might not only see the Northwest but see their dad, a seven year cancer survivor, pedal his way through seventy miles of (far from flat) Clackamas county behind the legendary Lance Armstrong. No one he knew thought he could do it and there were times along the way that he shared their doubts. He had earned his yellow Rose riding in Texas in 2005 and he darn sure wanted a Rose for 2006. With a little cajoling and encouragment from a Chilean lady from Miami he flew back to Louisiana, stiff and sore to be sure, with his Yellow Rose. The very essence of the Livestrong Challenge had been met.