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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, September 22, 2016 | 14 Survivor pedaling to Miami in Peloton Challenge by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver Surviving cancer was tough for Oakville's Mary St. James, so this weekend's Peloton Challenge may feel easy. One of two Wellspring Ride for Cancer Support events, the Peloton Challenge is a sevenday, 24-hour relay cycling expedition from Oakville to Miami, Fla., starting Saturday, (Sept. 24). The Peloton Experience, a single-day cycling journey through southern Ontario, is Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation's second trek taking place that day. St. James will ride with five others on a collective 28-member team to support Wellspring, which provides programs and services to help men, women and children overcome the emotional, social, restorative and practical challenges of living with cancer. "I finally felt I was at the point where I wanted to do something to give back in some capacity. I received help when I needed it, so it was a point of readiness physically, emotionally and needing a challenge to look forward to," said St. James. The former high school teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2010, and after several treatments and procedures, was in remission as of June 2016. The day St. James was diagnosed, she took a group of her students to a Me to We Day event at White Oaks Secondary School (WOSS), that raised money for the Pink Ribbon Campaign. "I walked into the school and I was accosted by all these pink ribbons. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. That was the beginning of starting to understand where my reality was moving," said St. James. "I'll never forget October 2010 because October is very much a pink month (for breast cancer awareness)." When St. James learned of her prognosis, it brought up "raw emotions" from her dad's death, which happened 18 months earlier, she said. The then-43-year-old had been leading a "pretty pure lifestyle" and had no history of the disease in the family. "It was more of the shock (of being diagnosed). After everything I've gone through, I'm still processing that it actually is my reality. I look in the mirror and know it's my reality," said St. James. Fortunately, the Oakville resident had plenty of support from family, friends and Wellspring. "I can't tell you how lucky that makes me feel. Between family, friends and a resource like Wellspring, I have taken advantage of any and all supports. It has made a huge difference for me, that I didn't go through it alone," said St. James, noting she used Wellspring's programs for a year. While she felt relief and joy Oakville's Mary St. James is a cancer survivor who is riding her bike from Oakville to Miami to support others who have been diagnosed with cancer. She has fundraised more than $10,000, just to be part of the Wellspring Peloton Challenge ride this year. She will ride for seven days and nights and journey 3,000 kilometres, as part of 27-member team in the challenge. | Nikki Wesley/Metroland Now Open! The biggest & BEST selection of all your favorite British products and hand made, award winning butchery & bakery items in store! Oakville's only British store when her cancer went into remission, she will remain cautious and always be "looking over my shoulder," St. James said. Today, the sports enthusiast calls her health "physically excellent," while her psychological state is a workin-progress. "I appreciate how lucky I am, but I'm hyper-vigilant now. I used to ignore being tired or things that a lot of people push through. I definitely have a little more understanding of how quickly things can change," said St. James. The idea to participate in the Peloton Challenge came about while hiking with her friend last year. She wanted to do something to mark the fiveyear anniversary of completing of radiation treatments. "My friend, Robyn (Arseneau), with whom I was hiking with, is also participating. We challenged each other and dared each other to commit." A novice cyclist, the 49-year-old St. James spent her summer training for the endurance and high-speed ride. She noted she has taken approximately 10 rides covering 90-120 kilometres per outing and "many others" for 40-80-km distances. The Oakville woman spends five to 10 hours on her bike every week. "I'm relying on some of my cross-training to help me get up those hills and through the flats when I'm feeling tired," said St. James, whose team of six riders' total distance in the Peloton Challenge will be 700 km. When St. James and her companion riders aren't on their bikes, they will be driving approximately 480 km to keep up with the other groups of cyclists, who will be travelling 120 km per day, she noted. "I definitely look forward to seeing how it all happens because the logistics right now are beyond my comprehension. It's starting to come together in my mind," she said. St. James has raised more than $12,000 for the ride, surpassing the minimum $10,000-goal to participate, and will reach Miami on Friday, Sept. 30. GPS tracking for the cyclists will be available at www . wellspring.ca/2016challenge. Track their progress on Twitter, using #RideForCancerSupport, or on Instagram at @WellspringCAN. "I absolutely would not have been able to get through (the cancer) on my own. I made good use of Wellspring then, so it makes sense to do this ride as partial thanks." To donate to St. James, visit www.wellspring.ca/marys. For information on the Peloton Challenge, visit www. wellspringride.ca. 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