As we count down the final hours before the ride begins, I am thinking about something I learned from my teammate, Elizabeth Sterling, about Hope.

There is hope with a small "h", which is hoping that things will turn out the way you want. Then there is the greater Hope with a capital "H" — hoping that no matter what happens, something good will come of it.

Karen Duncan, Lori Tilton, and Scott Martin were wonderful people in my life. They lost their battles with cancer since my Tour of Hope journey started with my application last spring. We all deeply miss them and wish they were still with us. All three fought hard and helped build a world with more Hope through their strength and courage. They have inspired me to train hard and to fight this disease on every front I can. In their memory, I ride.