This is a detail of my bib from the Tour de Cure a couple weeks ago. Participants were encouraged to write the name of a relative or friend in whose name they were riding. I didn’t fill mine in, partially because we were a little short on time, and partially because I was riding for Tom, who was riding right beside me.
But this bib has hung on my RACES board ever since, and the fact that it’s blank has kept me thinking. What do I run, and ride, and lift, and strive for? My own improvement, sure, and definitely because I enjoy it. But what else?
The fact that I’m attracted to charity events is something I’ve known for awhile. It just seems to add substance to the experience, when the point of your time, expense and effort is not entirely yourself. I’ll even choose a race that’s further away over one that’s closer, just because the former supports some charity I hold dear.
And then it all came together in my head the other day at church, when one of our elderly members leaned on me for support as we filed back to our pews after communion. This is what I’m supposed to be doing with what I have. It’s not glorious, it’s not particularly great, it may not change the world and it won’t make me rich or famous, but it’s what I can do.
So I have a new mission.
Soon, I’ll be choosing my next charity event, and will likely be fundraising again. I hope that, if you have enjoyed reading this blog so far this year, you’ll continue to read and support me as so many of you already have been. Thank you.