KELSEYVILLE ? Next stop, Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. On Thursday more than 30 women from all over the globe will rumble into Lake County.
“This is our only stop in your neck of the woods,” co-founder and Director Megan Dwyer of Amazon Heart, said.
Amazon Heart Thunder is a ride that supports those suffering with, and survivors of, breast cancer.
Dwyer said the emotional aftermath of breast cancer is often the most challenging aspect.
This year women from Canada, South Africa, Australia and the U.K. landed in Los Angeles where they picked up complimentary new Harley-Davidson motorcycles on loan to them and put on a ride jacket to keep. That”s where they began their 1,000-mile run.
Dwyer said that “it”s such an international mix of women” and that it has made for an interesting ride, because even though the women are from different cultures, they have similar stories.
So far the organization has raised $63,000 on this run alone.
“We”re in our sixth year of doing this and we”ve raised more than $800,000 internationally,” Dwyer said.
Meredith Campbell co-founded the organization with Dwyer. Campbell was diagnosed in 2000 at age 33 in Australia. Dwyer 35, was diagnosed in U.S. in 2002. The women met in Australia at a yacht club and continued to have conversations via e-mail. Dwyer and Campbell both live in Australia now.
Campbell wanted to ride her motorcycle and decided she “didn”t need a mid-life crisis to do it.”
“If she could do this, I could too,” Dwyer said.
They started the run because they were young women who wanted raise the awareness of breast cancer and combat the isolation that goes along with it.
“After the shock, there”s a common reaction to suck it up and get through it. But I couldn”t go back to life as it was. Standards and expectations change. I learned to live in the moment, live for today,” Dwyer said. “Every once in awhile I lose sight of it. But every time someone”s diagnosed, has a reoccurrence, we lose one of our sisters or I head in for a check-up, I”m reminded to live each day to the fullest, the way I want to live it.”
Dwyer and Campbell co-wrote a book about their journey titled “Amazon Heart: Coping with Breast Cancer Warrior Princess Style.”
Dwyer said the ride brings people outside of their comfort zones and routines and it”s empowering. “We”ve had no accidents, no hiccups at all,” Dwyer said.
The run began in 2004 when 20 breast cancer survivors challenged themselves to a 1,000-mile ride on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from San Diego to San Francisco.
The first ride was called “Changing Gears.” It expanded in 2005 and became “Global Relay” with 1,000-mile rides in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia.
In 2006, the event name changed to “Amazon Heart Thunder” and rides were held in the U.S. and Australia.
Harley-Davidson sponsors the rides around the world by giving each participant leather riding jackets and loaning brand new motorcycles for each rider.
Participants pay for their travel to the event and a minimal accommodation and registration fee and commit to raising at least $1,500 in donations for breast cancer causes.
All riders must be breast cancer survivors, and riders of all experience levels are welcome.
Each year several women learn to ride for the express purpose of taking part in the run.
“Anyone who has ever been diagnosed, at any stage of their journey or treatment is welcome,” Dwyer said.
The oldest participant on this ride is 66 years old. The oldest participant in the U.K. was 73.
Those interested in greeting the women as they arrive, riding in staggered patrol formation, into Lake County, can follow their progress on amazonheartthunder.org.
They anticipate their arrival at about 3 p.m. Thursday.
Mandy Feder can be reached mfeder@record-bee.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 32.
