In August 2010, Terry Reszel received the call that no one is prepared for. She had breast cancer. One month later, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy.
“Post-surgery my emotions ran the gambit from emptiness, fear, dread and horror,” Terry recalls. “After months of recovery and pain, I returned to work and the world. I was afraid to leave the safety of my home, the strength of my husband and family support group.”
It was Terry’s husband, Al, who remained her rock throughout her diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Now seven years later, the pair continues to take on life’s challenges together while trying to make a difference in the world.
“To this day, Al still supports me,” Terry says.
Three years after her diagnosis, Al decided to honor her journey with breast cancer in a unique way. Driven by his passion for cycling, Al committed to train for a long distance solo bike ride to raise money for BCRF, with Terry as his support car along the way. They named the ride: Pink Pedals 4 A Cure | Terry’s Ride.
“As educators, we are strong believers in the power of research,” Al says citing his reasons for choosing BCRF as the beneficiary charity. “Scientific discoveries will save lives.”
In 2016, Terry and Al launched their inaugural ride from Minnesota to Chicago – a route that spanned more than 500 miles. With Al on his bike and Terry in a support car nearby, the couple averaged 75 to 100 miles a day. They experienced minor hiccups along the way, such as unexpected road detours and an automotive breakdown, but they made it to Chicago in five and a half days.
“In both our situations, we’ve had to adjust and move forward – together,” Terry says recalling the challenges during her treatment as well as those experienced on the road for Al’s ride.
With a warm welcome from family and friends as they rode up to their final destination in Chicago, the Inaugural Pink Pedals 4 A Cure raised over $4,000 for life saving research.
“We ended the ride with an overwhelming amount of love, “ Terry says. “We had family and friends there cheering us on as we accomplished all we set out to do!”
Terry and Al aren’t done yet. This year, they’ve organized the Second Annual Pink Pedals 4 A Cure where they will widen their horizons even more. Starting on June 3, the day after their school year ends, they will hit the pavement once more. This time their route will take them from Minnesota to BCRF’s office in New York City.
“We can’t wait to meet everyone from BCRF who has supported us,” Al says.
The ride is expected to take about three weeks. Terry and Al will cross through nine states, and are more determined than ever to push their limits to help BCRF carry out its mission. So far they have raised over $2,300 and will continue to fundraise throughout their journey.
Follow Along
Over the next few weeks, we will be checking in with Terry and Al to stay up-to-date on their progress. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to catch the latest from the couple’s journey east. Daily updates will be provided on their website.
Click here to make a donation to support Pink Pedals 4 A Cure!
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