"Beat the Bastard" Overtones.

I just wanted to quickly share something which happened today, showing the effects of the efforts of those who organised and rode at "BtB" in May. I had to go to the local hospital today, and wore my "Beat the Bastard"09 OFFICIAL T-shirt.(I needed to do my washing, only shirt I had). While I was in the Orthopedics section, a Father of three small boys saw me, and came up and asked about the T-shirt. He had recognised the expression "Beat the Bastard", and wanted to know what it was about. I told him about who we are/our sport/s, and about the May free ride and as a group of athletes what we were trying to achieve. He listened intently, and then told me that his middle son was upstairs in Oncology, fighting Cancer, but the prognosis was very poor. He congratulated me, on "our" behalf, for what we were doing and raising as much as we did. He wasn't interested what type of Cancer we were aiming at, it was the fact that we were trying to help families like his and get something happening. I admit, I was on the verge of tears as I looked down at this sick young mans brothers, imagining the emotions they must be feeling. As we parted company, he turned and said, " If my son is alive next year, and it's(BtB) happening again, I'd like to bring him so he can see you guys riding". I told him he and his family would be more than welcome. All I could do was look at him walk away holding the hands of his very small children, feeling so emotionally sadened by this mans story, but also feeling extremely proud at being a member of such a brilliant fraternity as ours.
Cancer may come in many forms, but regardless, it's still a "Bastard".
Massive "ups" to EVERYONE involved at every level in "Beat the Bastard"09, your efforts do, and will, make a differance.