by: Medjet Member ~ Chuck Wakefield
Last Year, I dipped the front wheel of my bike into the Pacific Ocean and embarked on a cross-America journey to the Atlantic on The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s “Road to Victories” fundraising and awareness ride. Over 50 days, 3,400 miles and a myriad of ups and downs (I was the only one of 6 full-trip riders actually fighting multiple myeloma), I had a lot of time to think about my life, my body, and my beliefs.
The lessons I learned are applicable to everyone:
1. There can still be peace in uncertainty
Living with cancer is unpredictable and cycling across the country is unpredictable too. When you live with cancer, you can’t control whether your body will respond to treatments. When you bike across the country, you can’t control the weather or the terrain in front of you. But no matter what happens with those external uncertainties, we can control our decision to find peace and joy in every moment.
2. You can fight pain for a bigger purpose
Whether undergoing chemo and a bone marrow transplant or biking through relentless rain and terrible elements to raise money for cancer research, pain can be endured for a greater purpose.
3. Our bodies are resilient gifts
I’ve always been a proponent of “caring for the one body we are born into,” but on this ride I was reminded: if we treat our bodies well, they will reward us by completing daunting feats of endurance. Even when we fall ill, the body is capable of healing and resiliency. We are lucky to have these bodies and should treat them well.
4. Our minds are powerful tools
Through meditation I have learned that our minds are the most powerful tools we have. Our minds can will our bodies up nearly vertical mountain passes and through grueling rounds of chemo. If we harness the power of the mind we are capable of surprising ourselves.
5. It’s not what we face but how we respond
We all face challenges. At some point, you’ll get your own diagnosis or receive your own upsetting call. In that sense, being handed bad news is nothing special. What is special is the way we respond to setbacks. How will you fight? What will you learn from your difficult experience?
6. Facing scary things head-on takes their power away
I have faced many scary things in my life. Standing at the starting line of a 3,400-mile bike ride is scary. Receiving a diagnosis of incurable cancer is scary. But the idea of something is almost always scarier than the reality of it. When we face hard things head-on, we strip them of their power. Action is the best balm for fear.
7. Support networks are powerful
In bicycle racing, the main pack of riders is called the peloton. Cycling close to other riders reduces drag and saves energy, making for an easier ride. No matter what life throws at you, from cancer to cross-country bike rides, facing challenges with a supportive group of people—your own personal peloton-- is key. In cycling and in life, it is easiest to get where you want to go when you have a robust support network.
8. Attitude is everything
During my cross-country ride there were times when I felt like a mountain pass would never end or the finish line might not appear. So, when negative thoughts began to roll in, I realigned my point of view. When I began to focus on the beautiful view instead of the challenging climb or the fact that I was strong enough to aim for a finish line at all, my attitude changed from one of frustration to one of determination. Many of life’s challenges become easier with a shift in perspective.
9. It’s important to be prepared
I laid down the base work for this trip for years, so I knew I was prepared for my ride. I also knew that I had crashed motorcycles and bikes all over the world and broken 30 ribs while riding over the years. So for this trip, I enrolled in MedjetAssist Membership, knowing that if something happened along the way I could get back to my own doctors and hospital without the hassle of claims paperwork, “medical necessity” or “acceptable facilities” clauses, or other surprise costs and small print disclaimers that most insurances have. $0 to get home seemed like a bargain.
ABOUT CHUCK WAKEFIELD:
Chuck Wakefield is a retired dentist and Army Colonel diagnosed with cancer in 2003. He has been featured in multiple national publications, and is one of Parade Magazine’s “Inspiring Athletes Over 50”. A former Pacific Northwest area resident, Chuck now resides in Grapevine, TX.