Welcome to the Donation Page of
Kathy Shapiro

Riding In Tribute To
Virginia Tate

Please join me in supporting the fight against ovarian cancer!

Dear family, friends, blog pals (JCA's who know me as JCAUNCMom) and Cathletes (Cathe Friedrich fans who know me as TarHeelMom or Kathy S.),

On Saturday, April 24, 2010, I’m going to be participating in this year's Atlanta RIDE TO CHANGE THE FUTURE™, a "century" indoor cycling ride (that's 100 miles, and I'll be riding the whole distance) benefiting Ovarian Cycle, a wonderful 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of and funds for the fight against ovarian cancer.

Since 2004 Ovarian Cycle has hosted annual indoor cycling events just like this one in several cities. To date these rides have raised $645,500 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the Ovarian Cancer Institute and the Norma Livingston Foundation, all of which are working on the development of a reliable, early-detection screening test for ovarian cancer. This is critically important work. Ovarian cancer remains a deadly threat to women in large part because it's so often not detected until it is already in an advanced stage.

I'll be riding my 100 miles alongside some good friends from my weekly spin classes. We call our team the "Pedal Pushers", and we're riding our "centuries" together because, sadly, we've all watched friends or family battle ovarian cancer or a related cancer. Many of you, I'm sure, have also known and loved women whose lives have been threatened or taken by this terrible disease.

I'm going to cycle in honor and celebration of Virginia Tate, my beautiful Cathlete friend from the great state of Texas who recently fought a successful battle against fallopian tube cancer, a rare and frightening malignancy that's very closely related to ovarian cancer. That's Virginia you see smiling in the picture above. I'll be thinking of her radiant face all day long as I'm pedaling through a "virtual" Georgia!

My goal is to raise $3,000 for our team to support Ovarian Cycle's important mission and to honor Virginia's courage and the miracle of her recovery. In these tough economic times I know that's a pretty ambitious goal, but I also know that every dollar I raise will help bring us one step closer to important breakthroughs in the detection and successful treatment of ovarian cancer. So I'm asking for your help and I'll appreciate any contribution you can make, big or small. And if you're not in a position to donate right now, then just cheer me on, and please keep Ovarian Cycle in mind for future support when you're feeling able to contribute.

Thank you so much, everyone! Big hugs!!

--Kathy

***March 25th UPDATE***

I'm so moved, everyone, by your generous outpouring of support for my ride and this vital cause. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart and tired pedalin' feet!

I'd like to add here the Honor Roll of courageous women that you've brought to my attention -- women who, like my friend Virginia, have fought fiercely and bravely against ovarian cancer or a similar dreadful disease. It will be a genuine privilege for me and for Team Pedal Pushers to ride in honor of these women. Please e-mail me at jcauncmom@gmail.com if you'd like to add the name of your own loved one to this list.

Team Pedal Pushers Honor Roll:

Lois Alper

Beverly Collins

Rose Geller

Shirley Herstein

Betsy Singer

Virginia Tate

Thelma Van Eman

Brenda Zeigler