I first saw a promotion for the Big Ride in Bicycling Magazine. That was two years ago. I asked my husband if he cared if I went on a seven-week bike trip across the country. He said,"Go for it." Then I looked at the cause: the American Lung Association. My father died of lung cancer, and my mother-in-law died of emphysema. When I read that 90 percent of all pledges go to the ALA, I knew that it was a good cause.

Ceil in her tent

I signed up for the Big Ride in June of 1999. I started my planning then too, knowing I would need a new bike and numerous other items. I was like a little kid who had ordered a decoder ring from the cereal box, waiting not so patiently for my information packet to arrive.

When people ask why I am doing this ride, my flip answer is,"What a way to get out of doing housework for seven weeks." Or, "What a way to see America." Or, "This is a midlife crisis with a cause." But the real reason is that, as an emergency room nurse, I regularly see people with lung disease come rolling through the doors gasping for air. I have seen the look of terror in their eyes as they think this will be the last breath they take. I have seen children permanently disabled because of lack of oxygen during an asthma attack.

	Inspire a Big Rider The Big Ride cyclists are pouring energy into a ride benefiting those unable to do it themselves. Let them know that you appreciate them.

This bike ride comes at a great time in my life. I turned 50 last year. I have 4 kids, aged 1723. Three are in college, and the youngest will be a senior in high school next year. My husband and I have been married for 26 years. The kids are all self-sufficient. As mentioned above, I am a nurse. I have saved every bit of my PTO hours for two years, so I will still be paid while gone. I was granted a leave of absence, although my fellow associates said they would work my time off if I had not gotten the leave.

I started my fundraising in October of 1999. I got a great response. Not wanting to ask for money at Christmastime, I sent my second batch of letters out in February. Once again, I got a great response. My corporate sponsors have been awesome. My friends have been most generous. The media have embraced my cause. One radio station donated $4,000 worth of publicity and awareness. The local cellular phone company has donated a phone for the trip. With all of this I have raised over $21,000. If you told me in October of 1999 that I would have this much success in fund-raising, I would have said you were crazy. What really put me over the top was the donation of a car. Not just any car: a 1986 Jaguar. The Big Ride office said this was the most unique donation. One newspaper called me"Heller on Wheels."

I must thank the Capital Area Lung Association for all their help and support. The people of the Big Ride office have been my best mentors. What great people they are. I can hardly wait to meet them. This will be the hardest thing I will have ever done. But what a cause to do it for.

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