I was talking to my friend, Amy Becker, about her love for peanuts. She told me she just can't get enough of them -- she has to have some every day. She paused and then in a serious tone said, "Thanks to you, I cannot and would not bring them on a plane." She has become aware and empathetic to passengers with nut allergies even though no one in her family has a food allergy. I truly believe if we could each step into someone else's shoes, if only but for a moment, we would all act with greater empathy and the world would be a safer and better place for all of our children.
The Beckers became our friends when our daughters, then age 10, were put on the same travel softball team. This team of girls became inseparable both on the field and off. The parents also became fast friends spending countless hours together. When Sydney, at age 12, had knee pain that turned out to be bone cancer, every person on the team, child and parent alike, was devastated. Sydney started a 10 month chemotherapy regimen immediately, during which she also had limb salvage surgery to remove bones from her ankle to above her knee and replaced them with titanium. Although we could not truly step into their shoes, Sydney's choice to journal and chronicle her fight to "kick cancers butt", as she put it, gave us a window into her world and into her heart.
Now many years later, Sydney has had her 4-year cancer free check up and the Beckers continue to support cancer research. They are tireless advocates and one of the ways they invite us into their lives is to support them by joining Team Sydney at Cycle for Survival. Cycle for Survival was founded by Jennifer Goodman Linn and her husband, David after Jennifer Linn was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare cancer. She underwent multiple treatments before passing away in 2011. She was passionate about spinning, and while fighting the disease, spin classes provided her with relief. The relay race style spin marathon was formed to raise funds for research for rare forms of cancer. I should note that 100 percent of the money raised goes toward research, and it's all distributed within six months.
To quote my friend Jeff Becker, " We are biased, but we think Team Sydney is a pretty special team. We carry with us the spirit that Sydney showed all through her long battle against osteosarcoma which began almost exactly 5 years ago -- she was strong and determined in her fight, having fun along the way was important, and she succeeded in kicking cancer's butt. So, by joining Team Sydney you are vowing to do all the same this next month via Cycle for Survival."
I am grateful to have good friends like the Beckers who are part of my support network of friends and family that are aware and help keep my child and others with nut allergies safe. I am proud to support their efforts to help others afflicted with cancer, not just survive but thrive. On Feb 6, along with others (including some former softball parents) on Team Sydney, I will slip on my spin shoes and ride. We will ride in honor of Sydney, but also for all the other people in the world battling cancer. We will step into their shoes, if only but for a moment, and act with greater empathy and the world will be a safer and better place for all of our children.
Picture of Sydney Becker shared with permission by Lianne Mandelbaum