Fall 2012 Newsletter Extended: Tour De Pink
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GOLDENBERG BIKES FOR A CAUSE IN TOUR DE PINK
By Laurel Thomson (RPTA '15), Staff Writer
On October 12, 2012, Dr. Marni Goldenberg began what she refers to as "the most intense physical thing I've ever done." Dr. Goldenberg participated in the Tour De Pink, a nearly 200-mile long bike ride along the west coast of California for the Young Survival Coalition (YSC). The YSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the issues faced by those who are diagnosed with breast cancer under age 40. The organization makes it their goal to let young women with breast cancer know that they are not alone, and to raise awareness for their cause. In order to participate, Dr. Goldenberg had to raise a minimum of $2,500, which she did within a couple of weeks. She began the Tour De Pink on October 12, at Giant Bikes, one of the bike ride's sponsors, in Thousand Oaks, California. On the first day, she rode 68 miles to Manhattan Beach, and then another 71 miles down the coast to Dana Point on day 2. On her final day of Tour De Pink, Dr. Goldenberg rode the last 55 miles of the bike ride to the Oakley headquarters, another one of the ride's sponsors, in Foothill Ranch.
Dr. Goldenberg began her training for Tour De Pink in April, when she bought her first road bike. She'd train on the weekends, riding up to 30 miles with her training partner, Cal Poly alumna Brittany Tomasco. When it came time for the actual ride, Goldenberg rode in memory of two men who had recently died of cancer, and used this as motivation to push on. She also thought about all the people who had supported her through her battle against cancer, and used that as fuel for the long ride ahead. Dr. Goldenberg's favorite part about the race was the immense support of all the volunteers. There was one point when she got a flat tire, and one of the men who followed the riders on motorcycles stopped and changed her tire for her. She also enjoyed feeling like she was contributing to the awareness of young adults' breast cancer challenges. Throughout her ride, people on the streets and in the towns would stop and ask what they were riding for; this gave her the opportunity to answer their questions and spread awareness across the west coast.
If there is one thing Dr. Goldenberg wanted her students to get out of her ride in Tour De Pink, it would be to find a challenge, and encourage them to go for it! She truly wants students to appreciate the body's strength, and the amazing things it can accomplish. Just a year ago, she was going through chemotherapy; and now just a short time later, she's able to push her body to ride close to 200 miles in 3 days! She wants to challenge all her students to find a cause they are passionate about and dare themselves to accomplish something for it.
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