heather Miller

From Personal Loss to Purpose: Why I am Cycling 400 km This September

Over ten years ago, my family’s world changed when my Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She endured intense chemo treatments for 6 months before ultimately losing her fight. Watching someone you love act with bravery while feeling afraid, and endure so much through treatment, gives you a very real, personal understanding of how heavy cancer is for a family.

For families with children who survive cancer, the hardship often continues long after treatment ends—47% of childhood cancer survivors never pursue higher education due to the lasting physical, financial, and emotional toll.

This September, I’m putting my decades-long love of road cycling toward something bigger: the Randstad Ride for Myriam, a 3-day, 400 km ride through Quebec. Tackling 400 km in three days will be a tough physical challenge, but it’s my way of honoring my Mother’s memory and giving these brave kids a fighting chance at a real future. Overcoming cancer should be the start of their story, not the thing that limits it.

If you’ve been impacted by cancer, or know a family that has, any amount you contribute genuinely helps, and would mean so much to me—and even more to these resilient kids!