First and foremost, I ride for my parents. They have taught me how to love, laugh things off, and give to others. One of the most important things they have given me is knowledge. Throughout my childhood, my parents role-modeled healthy habits and ended up bestowing an abundance of cancer-preventing knowledge to me. I was raised with an intrinsic sense of living a healthy lifestyle. What really solidified my understanding of my upbringing was my dad’s prostate cancer diagnosis and my mom’s melanoma a few years ago. Luckily, neither were greatly impacted by their diagnoses and I still get to live and learn with them, but theirs (and my) outcome might have been different had my parents not been educated, not trusted doctors, not known cancer-preventing tools, been proactive in their health, etc. The power of knowledge is what motivates me in my journey across the US. Being able to take the knowledge I have and share it with others, the way my parents shared with me, is the best way to give back to the people who love and support me the most. I love you both with all my heart.

The other major reason I ride is for my friends I have met at Camp CAMP, a wonderful camp in the Middle-Of-Nowhere, TX for individuals with disabilities. For friends who time and time again are facing the tribulations of living in an exclusive, ableist world, including the realms of cancer and medicine. There already exists an inherent gap in cancer prevention and treatment, it's why most of us are here, but this gap we first think of exists for those who are able-bodied, neurotypical people. The reason I ride is for my friends who are not neurotypical, who are not able-bodied, and who are nonverbal. For friends that can’t express pain or sickness the same way you and I do. For those with mobility challenges that make checking their body difficult. For those who are often overlooked and not able to add a voice in their own healthcare.
I am riding for my best friends, Abbie and Ava, who encourage me to become the doctor I want them to have- someone who uplifts and values their differences, not diminishes them. For a future where Abbie and Ava are prioritized. For a future where we can have a better grasp on cancer prevention in all the Abbies and Avas of the world. I will always have room for these girls in my life, and I am riding to make sure they always will be. Thank you to you both for teaching me love does not need words.

I ride for those who have had cancer themselves, for those impacted by it, and for those who fear it.
For Grace, Peter, Teddy and their families.
For all of you. For Abbie and Ava. For mom and dad,

To Alaska and back.

p.s. If I can ride for you or anyone you know, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'd love to hear yours, or another's, story!

daria.locha@gmail.com