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Partricipant Bio: Cheryl
I was diagnosed with cervical cancer just after my 30th birthday. The news came 5 months after the arrival of my daughter and 8 months after the sudden loss of my father. I was immediately consumed by an overwhelming fear of dying, of not being there to see my daughter learn to walk and talk, much less grow up, graduate from school and have a family of her own. After 2 surgeries I was given the good news that they got it all, I would be ok. All I had to give up was the possibility of having the family I finally realized I wanted more than anything in the world.
My biggest loss has been a sense of innocence. I no longer have the luxury of believing that the really horrible things won?t happen to me. I?ve come to understand intimately how wonderful a gift that subconscious denial of death is, because I?ve lost it forever.
I look forward to the expedition as an opportunity to tell my story ? to myself, to others, and to my daughter. I want her to have a record of my life, my struggles, of my overwhelming love for her. I want her to know me and to know the strength and beauty in being honest and vulnerable. I want her to know that everything I do, everything I am is for her.
I want to live a fearless life. I want to admit to myself and others that I am afraid, I want to face my fear, live in it, find a way to push through it and truly live. I want to embrace all that life has to offer and to be grateful for all that it has given me ? the joy, the sorrow, the adventure. Everything that has happened in my life to date has brought me to this moment, and so I am grateful for it all. I am alive, I am loved and I will be fearless.
Our Mission
To help young adult survivors of severe illness or injury identify, process and apply life lessons through adventure activites.