Janna Levanto

The Story of Team One

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:45:00 -0400

Written by Heather and a little help from us, this story of team one’s journey is so fitting; our ups and downs; our tears our joys and a few little laughs too! I cannot believe it only took a couple of hours on Day 11, while bouncing down the highway in the RV, on our way to Lower Sackville, to create this:

Each journey began long ago.
to cross our great land by bike.
One on a team,
a common dream,
a cure for kids cancer we’d like.

“Were you dropped on your head?”
“You want to bike how far?”
250k,
average per day.
“I can’t do that in a car!”

Seven long months of hard training,
oh would spring ever come?
Cadence and speed,
eat, drink! You need!
The seat became one with our bum.

And then of course the fundraising,
25 grand was a lot.
Though funds are tight,
the cause is right,
kids cancer just has to be fought

Finally June has arrived,
Vancouver bound and unite.
Jeff Rushton guides,
group practice rides,
June 12th a short sleepless night.

7:45 sharp on our bikes,
was our timing ever that specific?
Toast of champagne
No hint of rain
We dipped wheels in the Pacific.

The ride has officially begun,
34 National Riders embark.
A spastic crew,
a downtown zoo,
somehow we escape without mark.

The mountains fly by in a blur,
‘til bang, bang, we awake in dismay.
RV has a flat,
Al can’t fix that.
Who needs sleep? Today’s just 305k!

Headwinds push back on the prairies,
where the deer and the antelope roam.
Thank you to Dene,
the man, the machine,
way past dark when he pulled us home.

We were gelling well as a team,
finally up to some speed.
Signal miscues,
chaos ensues.
Call 911, an ambulance we need.

Four riders down, four bikes to repair,
We forge on a quieter team.
Learn to relax,
staying on track,
Janna and Laurie okay, it would seem.

Ambassador kids are inspiring,
strength, courage, wisdom we borrow.
Smiles in with tears,
hope conquers fears,
never give up on dreams for tomorrow.

As a group our tan lines demark us,
long distance cyclists gone nuts.
Skin shorts built in,
grown as we spin,
from the spandex stretched over our butts.

Power bars fuse with their wrappers,
food on the road is a chore.
Patience is thin,
to get them in,
but to ride on we must always eat more.

By day three our best friend is butt butter,
need more cream where the sun doesn’t shine.
Love in a jar,
helps us go far,
bet yours isn’t as sore as mine.

At times we rode with great speed,
but we may have been overambitious.
Ride 401,
must not be done,
toss bikes over fences and ditches.

Directions are a bit of a problem,
Wilma’s not always our friend.
Do a u-turn,
Linda’s tires burn,
but we made Halifax in the end.

No small thanks to our great volunteers,
driving, laundry, and hours take a toll.
Best support crew,
getting us through,
they are crucial to achieving our goal.

Special thanks to our team leader Michael,
for keeping all our ducks in a row.
Hugs and high fives,
he owned our lives,
And not once did stress fractures show.

It’s hard to believe it’s all over,
Seven months of our lives at an end.
Newly forged team,
continued dream,
as a family our message we’ll send.

Coast to Coast brought us together,
united we travelled the distance.
Across the lands,
It’s in your hands,
go forward and make a difference.

"Thank you. To all those you donated, and all those you cared. To all of those rode and all..."

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:42:48 -0400

“Thank you.
To all those you donated, and all those you cared.
To all of those rode and all who’s stories shared.
To all of those who listened and all who to saw us through,
You’ve made a difference, this change is because of you.”

- ~me

deep in thought… only one thing on my mind; thank you.

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:54:47 -0400

deep in thought… only one thing on my mind; thank you.

We did it buddy! :)

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:49:53 -0400

We did it buddy! :)

Hello Atlantic! That smudge is a champagne drop in my camera;...

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:46:37 -0400

Hello Atlantic!

That smudge is a champagne drop in my camera; which is now no longer working.. but so worth the celebration shower!

Sexy Legs! At the Childrens Hospital; IWK Health Centre

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:32:25 -0400

Sexy Legs!

At the Childrens Hospital; IWK Health Centre

It's all done!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:57:27 -0400

Wow. Its all done. I’ve just settled in to my hotel room in Halifax, sweet a bed and shower to myself! And I’m sitting here again still torn but not as much. :)

The beachy shore of Nova Scotia was our last stop. We began our short ride today with full force police escorts, taking us first the Sears in Halifax Shopping Centre. Here i ate my irst cookie in 2 weeks! sooo yummy, i fgured with less that 30km i was allowed! After a cheque presentation and a word from Hannah; a cancer survivor who spoke with amazing heart, realism and honesty we ventured on to the Children’s hospital. Here, more handprints were added to our T-shirts, forever imprinting us. Most of us also had the children ‘paint us too; some got handprints on their faces; Jason and Bryan, while most of us got our ‘large calves’ stamped! What a team! From here we geared up once more for the final leg…. Nova Scotia

Still rainy, but no longer gloomy the end was in sight. Champagne showers, family, friends shouts of joy and a real feelign of success surrounded us! It was amazing. Still bittersweet; but i’ve chosen again, not to dweel on that. The emotion was almost palpable in the air, it was simply AMAZING.

Once checked in to the hotel, I entered the room to find a beautiful vase of flowers from mom awaiting me with a congrats note; thanks mommy! And after giving her a call I’ve sat down to write this, i guess, last entry.

Weird. Its all done.

It’s been quite the ride. Quite the experience. For everyone I’m sure, but I know myself, I’ve come along way. I mean! 6 months ago I bought my first road bike! I am crazy lol! Ive learnt so much, seen so much, and felt so much these past few weeks. I dont think i’ve ever been a part os such an amzing team before.Together we’ve accomplished so much and for that I am proud to say that i was a part of SNKCR Team 2009.

SNKCR Team 2010 maybe? xoxo

Day 12- June 24th – Wow. We did it!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:41:06 -0400

Its about 7am right now and not many people are awake yet. We don’t depart until 10am from here in Lower Sacksville but i just couldn’t seem to keep still. I’m torn. I cannot believe its been 12 days already and that I have crossed Canada; breathed the mountain air, smelled the prairies, felt the east coast rain, stepped foot in the Atlantic & Pacific and ’tasted’ the highways in between. Wow.

But like i said, I’m torn. Another emotion i don’t seen to recognize is filling my head and heart. I think its a combination of disappointment and pride. I know, I know what we’ve done is amazing, but i feel like that ‘we’ should be a ‘they’ and that i don’t fully deserve the recognition or respect.

Suck it up, right?

Halifax here we come….

Day 11 - June 23rd Back on the Bike!!

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:41:51 -0400

We started today in Moncton and with the hard rain comming down my spirit fell again, I knew they would say no to me riding today. I could barely sleep last night with the excitment of getting back on the bike. Luckily my Shannon was there to cheer me up with her surprise visit so early in the morning! You know I think this trip has really helped me to learn the importance of friends and family and familure faces. Maybe I’ll consider dropping my indepencance levels now :)

Okay Shannon!!! here!! with me!! Kept me smiling while i packed my bike up onto the back of the RV, again. Love you girl! xoxo

Good new though, the rain stopped and they no longer had a ligit to keep me off the bike so off i went, the last 60km with the team! Cap Peele was where i picked up, and the people there helped raise my spirits even higher! I was so ready to ride I just couldnt hold back! We biked all theway to the Confederation bridge, overcomming a few gravel ’ recalculated’ roads and construction, but it was perfect.

The first SNKCR team to ever visit and ride PEI, i was so proud to be able to be a part of it! The sears store welcoming was amazing. We heard more great stories about the Look Good Feel Better Program. I also met Austin, a 12 year boy, son of the Sears store owner with a heart of gold. Asking his father what he could do to help. His love of drawing lead him to ‘set up shop’ selling drawings he had done for donations. Wow. Only 12 really? I hired him to draw my bike, unfortuntely, the schedule hounds were on us and he didnt have time to finish but we took photos, maybe oen day ill be back to see the finished product!

And onto Lower Sackville we rode. wow one more day….

Tim and I, kids at heart! Ice cream and teeter totters! FUN :)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:27:16 -0400

Tim and I, kids at heart!

Ice cream and teeter totters! FUN :)

Quebec Bridge and Pierre Laporte Bridge connect the city with...

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:20:57 -0400

Quebec Bridge and Pierre Laporte Bridge connect the city with the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River

Peter found a weight and contemplated putting it in his shorts...

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:10:52 -0400

Peter found a weight and contemplated putting it in his shorts to help beat the winds!

Day 10 – June 22st- Quebec Conquered!

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:55:57 -0400

Getting close!

We began today in Quebec City waking up at 6am in the parking lot of Sears. After a rather smaller than usual breakfast (which lead to the conclusion that all meal plates much be 9inches in diameter or more) everyone hopped on their bikes and headed straight into the wind, which was basically the direction all day today. I was, again, travelling with 4 wheels not 2, but I’ve decided to not focus on that today.

Our first stop was a quick 15km away at the Quebec Hospital (CHUQ) where we met Marie. At only 12 years old, her words were intellectual beyond belief. Currently undergoing cancer treatment she spoke about how grateful she was for people like us, raising awareness and funds for research. It is because of recent advances in research and diagnostic tools that Maria was able to stand in front of us today and tell her story. She spoke about how the diagnosis was not just a diagnosis for herself, but the whole family and how much cancer has affected their lives. Maria then closed her speech with a message that i found quite interesting; “We all have good and bad days. Push through the bad days, because they get you to the good days.” You know, i was standing there, bummed again that i knew i wasn’t fit to ride, and even although Marias and i have good and bad days on completely different scales, her words spoke to me. Perspective kicks in.

From the hospital we continued through Quebec to Levis, Montmagny and St. Alexandre de Kamouraska. Huge winds kept the team really battling and pushing hard. I wish i could help push them through this. But until then i’ll be the water girl lol. Jerry was our only community rider alonger today. A 7time dual ironman competitor, Jerry was an amazing 60 years young with not a negative bone in his body, another inspiration today!

Dont tell the gang, but while they were working against the wind, I got to have a little fun today. A few touristy photo opps, a trip to SAQ for a little beer and wine stop for Halifax and even a ice cream and teeter – totter break with Tim!

Long haul tonight getting us in at 430 am while ride out time is set for 6am. LONG DAY ahead and im going to ride!

Saw another Tbayer in Brockville! Random! We swaped tattoos :)

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:20:46 -0400

Saw another Tbayer in Brockville! Random! We swaped tattoos :)

Fun Photo shoot with the guys in Kingston haha thats about as...

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:19:29 -0400

Fun Photo shoot with the guys in Kingston haha

thats about as sexy as those shorts get :P

The Cross family

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:18:17 -0400

The Cross family

Day 9 – June 20th- barely on the bike

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:17:25 -0400

Okay so im feeling kind of down right now. Actually, really down. I tried to ride today more than yesterday but couldn’t do it. I start out fine, just you know nerves, but usually about 10 mins in, i start getting pounding on the sides of my head, and throbbing in my top back teeth and my neck starts to stiffen. I thought though, you know this is nothing compared to all the treatments the kids go through, i can suck it up. But when my vision started to blur and i began to feel nauseous i knew i needed to pull over. Again Carlo was there to cheer me up and sounding so smart said; priorities have changed, you have nothing to prove my hurting yourself. So again, ill say maybe tomorrow….

Regardless, the team had a good day. Hot and lost a few times but i had fun with the guys in the RV this morning, as you can see by the pics! And heard some more inspirational survivor stories. Ken Cross’ family, in Kingston, came out to share Megs story. How through her diagnosis and fight through A.L.L at a very young age of 3 she stayed so brave and so strong. Their story of course had me in tears. It was so great to see Ken and his girls together on fathers day.

Finished in Ottawa tonight now headingto Quebec City to start tomorrow off!

PS Happy Fathers Day, love you! Xo

Quinn!!!!

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:16:12 -0400

Quinn!!!!

Mike and I, i owe him so much for all the riding tips!

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:14:53 -0400

Mike and I, i owe him so much for all the riding tips!

Leslie and Aidan came to see me too!

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:08:38 -0400

Leslie and Aidan came to see me too!