Welcome to my fundraising page!
I am proudly helping accelerate cancer research and patient treatment initiatives forward at the University of Wisconsin through my involvement in Badger Challenge - an annual walking, running, and biking event which powers the brightest cancer minds, ideas and technologies at UW. We all have been affected by cancer in some way and more needs to be done to combat this terrible disease.
This will be my third Badger Challenge and I'm riding in memory of my dad, who passed away from cancer in 2023, and so many others I know who bravely fought this disease. I wasn't sure if I would be able to participate this year following a pretty serious mountain bike accident earlier this summer. Although I'm mostly healed, I missed a lot of time on the bike this summer - time I would have spent training in preparation for the Badger Challenge. It's a hard ride - we've always done 100 miles and it's hilly!
As I thought about how difficult this ride will be for me due to my lack of training, I almost didn't sign up. Then I realized how ridiculous that sounded. The ride may be difficult and I may not be up for riding the full 100 miles this year (but I'm going to try!), and then I thought about the difficulties and challenges my dad faced every single minute of every day. I also thought about how he put every ounce of energy he had to come and watch me cross the finish line the summer before he died. The struggles I'll have in those six or so hours will pale in comparison to the struggles he faced for years. Like I do in every tough situation, I'm going to channel strength and not give up!
Please consider making a donation to support this cause - 100% of your donation goes towards helping those affected by cancer. You can donate through this link: https://runsignup.com/TraciParker. Thank you for your generosity and encouragement. Together we can help write the story that ends cancer!
