KELSEYVILLE ? Gail Koch, of Finleyville, Pa. didn”t deal with her breast cancer until she was riding a Harley-Davidson on an Amazon Heart ride to raise money for the cause, she said.
“My very first ride it just hit me, the sun on my face, water on the left,” Koch said. “I started crying. ?I have cancer, that”s why I”m here.””
Koch and 31 other breast cancer survivors rode around curves and into Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa about 2:30 p.m. Thursday during a 1,000-mile motorcycle trek from Los Angeles up to Lake County and down to the Harley-Davidson shop in Walnut Creek.
When Koch realized she had cancer, “it hit hard,” she said.
“It meant so much,” Koch said. “I called home and told my husband ?I have cancer.” He said, ?I know, that”s why you”re there.””
Koch joined Amazon Heart aiming to help other women with breast cancer but realized the ride was “soul washing,” she said.
Meredith Campbell, of Australia, co-founder of Amazon Heart, said breast cancer is a common language between the riders and they become instantly connected with each other and people they meet.
“It”s the best club you never want to join,” Campbell said.
Riders came from Australia, South Africa, the U.K., Canada and the U.S., Campbell said.
It”s “craziness” getting women to ride down roads they”ve never ridden, on bikes they”ve never ridden, Campbell said. In Australia, drivers are stringently fined for driving more than 60 mph.
“You get over here on the freeway and have to ride 75 mph just to survive,” Campbell said. “I tell the Australians, ?Suck it up. You will never ride this fast on a motorcycle again.””
Megan Dwyer, co-founder of the ride, lives in Australia but was originally from San Jose, she said she enjoyed the ride into Lake County.
“The roads are fantastic,” Dwyer said. “They”re perfect motorcycle roads, stunning views and trees. It”s got incredible energy.”
Dwyer, Campbell and the other survivors ride to provide breast cancer survivors support,. They”ve raised $63,000 on this run and $800,000 after six years, Dwyer said.
“It can be challenging emotionally,” Dwyer said of cancer. “You get through treatment and you expect everything will go back to normal. It doesn”t. It”s difficult.”
Shirley Crawford, co-founder of Sponsoring Survivorship, and Rachel Kelley, daughter of co-founder Julie Kelley, gave the survivors pink hats, bracelets and medals with Sponsoring Survivorship inscribed on them to help support them in their fight against breast cancer.
“Women from all over the world have struggled against breast cancer. It hits everybody,” Crawford said. “It”s kind of an emotional thing because you see all these women who have shared the same thing.
Vikki Wilson, director of sales at the resort, helped bring the motorcyclists to Lake County and cried as they rode into the parking lot as a cancer survivor herself, she said. When Wilson told Dwyer she was a fifth-stage cancer survivor in the summer when they planned the trip, both women cried, Wilson said.
“I”m pretty tough, but I don”t remember a time that I ever felt as strong as these women,” Wilson said. “Maybe because of the severity. But I never thought I could beat this.”
Wilson made a bucket list and has checked off the first to-dos to get a motorcycle, a black Yamaha V-Star 1100, and license, she said. She said she”s emotional and excited to join Amazon Heart next year.
“A lot of what we do isn”t coincidence,” Dwyer said. “It”s meant to be.”
Koch has accepted her cancer and plans to ride every year, she said.
“Amazon Heart has done so much for me emotionally and mentally,” Koch said. “I can help other people.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
