A Message from Vanessa Underwood:
In 2003, I was being treated for anal cancer. It was a horrific experience and I was bed ridden for some time. One day my husband Tom called and said "Honey, put the Pan Mass Challenge on." As I lay there in pain, I thought, "I am going to get through this and I am going to RIDE!" Many months later when I was some what recovered, my hero and inspiration Lance Armstrong was riding The Tour of Hope. The timing was perfect, I decided to train to ride the last 40 miles into DC with Lance and his team. I felt so fortunate, (in more ways than one) to ride with the man that inspired me to fight this disease.
From that moment on, I was so impressed and inspired by Lance, and his foundation, I wanted to be a part of this incredible team. It was a privileged to work with the LAF and to witness first hand the incredible work they do. To see Lance in action, his passion for finding a cure, and educating the public, only made me want to work harder for their cause. I got involved on any level possible , volunteering, riding , advocating, and fund raising. I applied to be an advocate and it was my honor to go to Congress and speak with NH Senators on making cancer a national priority. Since that time it has been my goal to continue to help in some small way. For the past three years I have organized LIVESTRONG DAY for the community. It is a day to raise awareness and funds for the LAF. It is my goal to give cancer survivors, family members and friends , an event that they can call their own. An event that educates, motivates and inspires one another to fight this disease. It is a place to unite and share ones journey, giving hope and inspiration to many. |
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