A reality check for one of our riders

Over the past few weeks I have been suffering from a sore knee which I can trace back to the Warwick training weekend. I've tried to get it right through a combination of rest (not easy when you are training to ride 1600kms in 8 days), physio and massage so I'm hoping that it will come good in the next two weeks.

But this post isn't about my knee as I'm sure the other Cyc'd boys and others are tired of hearing about it. This post is about the reality check I got yesterday from my lovely wife Cathy who has also been hearing all about my sore knee over the past few weeks.

Last night as I was applying still more voltaren gel to my knee Cath gave me the reality check I badly needed. As I sat there feeling a bit sorry for myself and bemoaning how unhappy I was that all my training was being affected by my injury (I still got out for a 40km ride yesterday morning) Cath told me how she had just been to see a friend of hers who has terminal cancer. He's 55 but looks much older he can't walk as his knees are shot and he's in care with older men who are suffering similiar fates. How he wishes his knees were good enough to allow him to even walk let alone ride a bike.

Wow!! Here was I whinging about my sore knee when others are in far far worse positions than me. Time for me to take a reality check.

Sure picking up an injury this close to the event is disappointing but in the big scheme of things its nothing to what people suffering cancer are going through. It reminded me why I'm involved in the Smiling for Smiddy Challenge. Sure its great to take on a personal challenge of this magnitude but its most importantly about helping to fund cancer research so people don't suffer like Cathy's friend or like so many other people in this world.

My knee will get better and I have no doubt that I will ride to Townsville in a few weeks time. Sadly there are many many people suffering from cancer who won't get better buts its important to know that we can all make a difference in our own way.

Thanks for the reality check Cath.....just what I needed!!