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To Scott's and my faithful family and friends:

This is not just another copy & paste Facebook fundraising request. You know that would not be my thing. Please read on and, if you are moved, consider throwing some coin at Scott's and my Bike MS – Deception Pass fundraising campaign. This campaign meant everything to Scott, and now it means everything to me.

In July 2018, I met Scott Conklin, who changed my life. Scott was ridiculously optimistic, he devoured life every day as if it were his last meal, and he loved me openly and wondrously, and told me out loud in real words every day. He made the people around him feel great about themselves. I loved him deeply.

Scott was 6 years younger than I, an obvious athlete (7% body fat max), an avid skier and cyclist, and committed to a mostly plant-based diet. Imagine my surprise when shortly after we met, Scott disclosed he had remitting/relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.

My reaction was something gracious, like “s#+t.” Then something like, “You understand, don’t you, I’m a terrible nurse.” And then, “We better get good long-term insurance because I was planning on having YOU take care of ME in my old age.” Despite my complete self-interest in the face of this crappy news, I gradually accepted that I was signed-up to be Scott’s partner – as an advocate, fundraiser, and caregiver – in his MS journey.

Last August, I decided Scott, who was new to Seattle, needed to make his own friends. Scott had ridden Bike MS – Willamette Valley for years and was their actual poster child. I introduced Scott to my friends Randy and Jon who led their own large Bike MS fundraising team in Seattle. Naturally, Scott joined their Beautiful Bike team for last year’s Bike MS – Deception Pass, and unsurprisingly became fast friends with the rest of the team. Scott looked forward to introducing me to the Beautiful Bike team and having me join the ride this year.

According to plan, I’m joining the Beautiful Bike team this year. Scott will be with me and the rest of the team in all ways spiritual/metaphysical, but he won’t be a physical presence. Scott and I worried about the cumulative effects of MS on Scott and how it would shape our distant future, but Stage 4 kidney cancer was stealthily        attacking Scott’s beautiful body in the present and ripped him away from me, his family, and his friends this last February. While there was no direct connection between MS and Scott’s cancer, Scott’s underlying MS certainly delayed, complicated, and compromised Scott’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Scott’s proudest accomplishment was “sticking it to MS” by becoming a committed cyclist and advocate, using his superpowers to accelerate the search for a cure for MS in our lifetimes. The least I can do is get on my bike and help Scott push his work to the next level. I have set an ambitious fundraising goal for the Deception Pass ride because I know with support from people like you, we can get there. 

MS is a devastating, unpredictable disease. But money raised through Bike MS fuels cutting-edge MS research which breeds hope and critical services which ensure people affected by MS have the resources they need to live their best lives.
 
Please help me and Scott reach our goal by clicking here and donating.

Thanks so much and all my love,
Cheri