Last night Kevin Sullivan hosted a group from the Ride to Conquer Cancer in his boardroom at GMP. We had Swiss Chalet Chicken (thanks Peter) and Steam Whistle Beer (we always support our sponsors!). We were gathered, about 15 of us, to talk about improvements and the future plans for the Ride to Conquer Cancer. I was discussing impact of the funds on our platforms, programs and people and also the need for “sustainability” of funding as an introduction. We need to have funds which we can count on because we can’t just “turn on and turn off” funding for our top cancer researchers. At the end of this I pulled out a letter written by the late and great Eric Innes. I have written another blog posting about him and his brave fight with pancreatic cancer and the sad loss of our friend Eric. Eric did the Ride to Conquer Cancer last year with his fine two sons and some friends. Although he had one short training ride and was in tough shape from his chemo and other treatments, he pulled through and finished the entire Ride. He was and is an inspiration. So I read a few passages from his letter to our Ride Advisory Committee last night. As I was finishing off one passage of one of his letters he sent out to his friends I got all choked up. Eric has been gone for months but the memory of him smiling on his bike is so powerful. I guess these memories we all seem to have of loved ones and great friends who have battled this disease are always there. I was surprised at how powerful the emotion still was, but then, if you knew Eric, you’d probably understand. The triumphs and good news from Princess Margaret fill us all up…..but we are all connected by the stories and people we carry around. When I’m out on my bike next I will be smiling as I remember Eric. I guess everyone who works for or volunteers for Princess Margaret is connected by powerful memories and powerful stories.