TOP's Tuesday: A Two-Fold Goal

As a teenager it was normal to see me on bicycle. My friends, Von, Tab, and Pam, spent every available moment on our bikes. We rode back and forth to the lake, each other's homes, and to the New Haven Building Supply for penny candies. To ride my bike was normal and what I did. 

When I went to college, my bike came with me. I enjoyed riding my bike along Cazenovia Lake. It was beautiful and peaceful. When I transferred to SUNY Oswego, I didn't have as much time to ride between work and classes but still managed to get on my bike now and then. College turned to marriage and bills. (You probably thought I was going to say love, lol, my hubby doesn't share the enjoyment of a bike ride).

Anyway, it wasn't until our daughter, Mags was a peanut that I got back on my bike. Her favorite part was kicking me in the bum to go faster while holding her hands up over her head. It was a fun time and it kept me in shape. Somewhere in those first five years, the ride time lessoned and my poundage increased (go figure, but this isn't my point, or is it?) Fast forward to 2008, I attended my first Ride for Missing Children hosted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It was an overwhelming and positive experience. We've only missed one ride since then because we were in Boston on a field trip with my daughter. I'm not ready to set a goal to ride 100 miles in a day BUT to get back on my bike and ride, I'm ready.

To motivate me to do this, I've set a couple goals (using my new book, Goal Setting for a Renewed You: Because You Deserve It!, to put them into writing. Here are a couple of my goals and how I plan to reach them.

First I need to get my bike ready to ride by June 1st, I'm hoping to have this done before the beginning of the month. I went to our local bicycle shop, Murdocks Bicycle & Sports, to price bikes. One of their associates, Ben, helped me. I told him my goal was to one day (way in the future) is to participate in the Ride for Missing Children but for now and probably next year, I just want to get back on a bike and ride and I'd like one before June.

I'm not sure the RMC is a realistic goal at this point but I wanted Ben's best recommendation for a bike, hoping to save money down the road. He was sweet and translated bike language into a "just to ride", "commuter", or "enjoying time riding", and of course the top of the line which was no where in my consideration. He gave me the "sweet spot" of cost and once he revived me with smelling salts, I decided to dust off my 10 - 12 year old bike and start there. It's a good bike and was taken care of, if I stay serious about riding then I'll save up for one of the sweet rides but for now, ol' red will do great.

Why do I need a bike by June you ask? Well, let me tell you. For the month of June, 2016, I have joined the "Great Cycle Challenge", riding to fight childhood cancers. I set a goal of 100 miles in one month, which I know might seem small, especially to my cycling friends because you do this in a weekend, but I wanted to set an achievable goal. If and when I reach 100 miles, I'll set another goal throughout the month. I won't give up but will try to log as many miles as I can. I've set a $500 goal amount, all monies raised go to research of childhood cancers. Thank you in advance if you can help to support this needed cause.

Not everyone can donate and I understand this. If you can't donate, will you take a moment to lift all the children, families, and communities fighting the battle of childhood cancer on a personal level? Your prayers are coveted and appreciated by those affected.  To learn who encourages me and the reason I ride in June,
check out next week's TOP's Tuesday! Next month, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge and my goal is to pedal 100 miles throughout the month to fight kids' cancer!
Why am I doing this? Because cancer is the largest killer of children from disease in the United States - 38 children die of cancer every week. 
Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.

The challenge will be tough, but nothing compared to what these brave kids face every day as they fight for their lives and battle this terrible disease.

And so to show my support, I am taking on my own personal challenge
to support cancer research to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.
But I need your help.

Please support my challenge and join me in the fight to save little lives by making a donation through my fundraising page.

Here's the link to my page: 
www.greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/LisaBuske

All funds raised will support Children's Cancer Research Fund
to continue their work to develop innovative treatments
and find a cure for childhood cancer.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Thank you for lifting our kiddos with cancer in your thoughts and prayers!