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Riding to Survive & Thrive: Breast cancer survivors ride across America

BY Ana Mantica, Content Editor

Fort Wayne, Indiana (March 20, 2009) — Beth A. Goldsmith is a one-year breast survivor and in June will take the ride of her life in the Race Across America, the “world’s toughest bike race,” as a member of Team Vera Bradley.

“Breast cancer has affected the last four generations of women in my family. I lost my sister and best friend to the disease. My mother and aunt join me as breast cancer survivors. It is for these brave women in my family that I will Race Across America. I also ride to give my nieces and other young women hope that breast cancer will soon be cured,” says Goldsmith.

The over 3,000 mile race starts in Oceanside, California, and ends in Annapolis, Maryland. And this year, raising funds for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer is the focus. Goldsmith along with Lisa Friedman, another breast cancer survivor, and six men are coming together to form the eight-person Team Vera Bradley. The goal is to race across the country in six days relay style non-stop.

“By riding to survive and thrive, I will make a change in this world for the better, and for all,” says Friedman. “I will be riding across America, and I will do all I can to make sure we get research dollars in the hands of brilliant researchers.”

It will take two RVs, three vans and a 12- to 15-person support team to help the eight riders get to the finish line. On the road, they’ll make several stops, eating and drinking between riding shifts. During each shift, riders will go their hardest for seven to 15 miles, stop, rest, and get ready to do it all over again about five to seven times per shift.

The Vera Bradley team slogan is “Survive 2 Thrive” with the number two representing that it takes more than just one person to get through any battle with cancer, especially breast cancer. It takes a team!

“We’re celebrating the Survive 2 Thrive message across the country,” says Catherine Hill, Executive Director of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. “It’s one thing to be a survivor, it’s another to carry the lesson learned about living every day to the fullest and THRIVE in whatever your passion happens to be. Don’t just live… THRIVE!”

During the race, the team will stop at 53 time stations along the way, and for a donation of $100 (but not limited to), the team will dedicate a time station in the donor’s honor.

The team will blog and videotape the entire journey at the Foundation's Facebook page. “I hope that it invites people who aren’t familiar with Vera Bradley or the Foundation to learn a little more about us and to consider the power of our research dollars and the lives we could save,” says Heidi Floyd, Development Ambassador for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

These days, the team is averaging about 20 miles per day for base training and will increase over the next couple of months to up to 100 miles per day. “Now that I’m in the ‘survivor’ category, I will continue to participate in half-marathons, triathlons, and now of course the fantastic Race Across America tour,” adds Goldsmith. I survive, I thrive, and I know it’s a good life after all.”

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