Raining on My Parade

🚴‍♀️ “The rain may slow me down, but it will never stop me. Every drop fuels my drive. Every setback strengthens my stride. I will cross that finish line because purpose rides with me.” 🌧️

August Reflections: My Great Cycle Challenge Journey

As August winds down, so does another year of my Great Cycle Challenge ride. 🚴🏾‍♀️ This month has been filled with ups, downs, unexpected weather, and even some personal challenges—but every pedal forward has been worth it.

As I reflect on this year’s challenge, one truth remains: Every journey begins with the decision to start, but it’s the choice to keep going that defines the victory.

Thank you for cheering me on, for believing in me, and for joining me in this fight for little hearts and brave souls. 💙🧡 Together, we ride for hope.

My height✨️My Goals✨️My Victory✨️

Every pedal pushes me closer. 20km stronger today. Nothing breaks my stride. I rise with faith, with fight, with fire—for little hearts to keep beating strong. 💙🧡💛

Riding Through the Rain 🌧️🚴🏾‍♀️

We can never predict how a day will turn out... just like today with the on-and-off rain. It made it hard to know the right time to ride, but I took a chance anyway. That’s what riding and life are about. Stepping forward even when the conditions aren’t perfect. The rain eventually stops, and the journey always moves forward.

Every Kilometer Every Story

Every kilometer I’ve traveled holds a memory, a challenge, and a victory. Some miles have been uphill battles, testing my strength and willpower. Others have been smooth and peaceful, allowing me to breathe deeply and take in the beauty around me.

Honouring The Journey

They say don’t look back, but I say we should. Because those experiences didn’t hold us back… they pushed us forward. They shaped who we are. Remembering isn’t dwelling. It's honouring the journey.

-Carlene

Rising for Every Hill✨️

The true beauty of each journey is not measured by the distance covered, but rather by the consistency of effort.

It lies in the determination to overcome every challenge encountered, regardless of its size or difficulty. Rise to the occasion and triumph.

The core of this endeavor lies in the strength of one's spirit, the right mental attitude, and the power of dedication.

Whether it involves a 5K, 10K, or even a 20K distance or more, the focus is not solely on the distance traveled.

It is about the purpose that drives each push of the pedal. P.U.S.H.

Pursue. Until. Something. Happens.

-Carlene

“The Colours That Carry Me"

Colours are more than just visual beauty. They're emotional energy. They carry meaning, memories, and movement. Some days, I wear them. Other days, I sip them in a smoothie, feel them in a sunset, or walk through them in a field of wildflowers. Each hue whispers something to the soul.

💛 Yellow reminds me to smile, even on days when the clouds roll in. It’s my sunshine on the inside.

💚 Green brings me back to nature, grounding me like the roots of a tree I love so deeply. It speaks of healing, of growth, and fresh beginnings.

🧡 Orange fuels my fire. It’s bold, alive, and filled with purpose, just like my cycling journey.

💙 Blue calms me. It mirrors the stillness of Niagara’s waters and gives me space to breathe.

💗 Pink isn’t just pretty, it’s powerful.

It’s the colour of kindness that doesn’t shout, but still moves mountains.

❤️ Red reminds me to lead with love. To uplift, to encourage, to thrive.

💜Purple speaks to me in whispers, but its message is powerful. It’s the colour of deep reflection, spiritual wisdom, and healing strength.

🖤 Black is often misunderstood... reduced to shadows and endings, but to me it’s the colour of beginnings. It’s the seed underground, gathering strength before it breaks through the soil; the quiet night sky cradling a million unseen stars. Black holds every other hue inside it, reminding me that wholeness includes both light and dark.

🤍 White is peace. It's the pause before the music plays, the still breath before the words form, the untouched canvas holding endless possibilities. It doesn’t shout. It simply exists pure, calm, and full of quiet strength.

🤎 Brown is grounding… the very soil where roots deepen and trees find their strength. It’s stability, connection, and home.

Each colour plays its part in the mosaic of my life.

Let them speak. Let them shine. Let them light your way.

-Carlene Lee

Overcoming Adversities

Equipped with a bicycle that moves well... high-performance or not, and unwavering determination, I ride with purpose.

I am committed to overcoming adversities, embracing optimism, and fostering healing, contributing to a brighter future for every child.

No matter the road ahead or the conditions around me, I remain steadfast in my mission.

Because courage doesn’t quit. And neither do I.

-Carlene

To My Fellow GCC Riders:

Today I want to speak directly to those of you feeling stuck, discouraged, or maybe a little unsure about how to keep the momentum going — I’ve been there too.

Earlier today, I found myself feeling disheartened. The donation dial hadn’t moved. I was putting in the rides, sharing the journey, showing up with purpose… but the silence on the donation front was getting to me.

So instead of sitting in that discouragement, I paused, took a breath, and did the one thing I’d been avoiding — I wrote an email. I reached out to my family and friends. I was hesitant, unsure of how it would be received. All the "what ifs" started flooding in.

👉 What if they’re tired of hearing about my ride?

👉 What if they judge me for asking again?

But then I remembered why I started this journey. This ride is not about me — it’s for the kids. It’s for the brave little warriors still fighting battles no child should ever face.

And do you know what happened next?

Within the first hour or so of sending that email, I received donations. Just like that. The dial moved. The energy shifted.

So if you’re feeling discouraged, I encourage you to shift your focus — not on what people may think — but on your purpose. This mission is bigger than fear or hesitation.

Send the email.

Make the post.

Share your heart.

Because someone out there wants to help — they just need a reminder from you.

— Carlene

Wheels of Hope

This journey continues to bring unexpected connections, beautiful moments, and reminders that we are never riding alone.

From Survivor to Supporter

Fueling hope and healing. I ride for every child who deserves to grow up. 💙🧡

Feet Grounded Heart Open

This isn’t just a T-shirt... it’s a symbol of hope, healing, and a mission far greater than myself. Every ride I take is for the kids fighting cancer and for the families holding onto hope.

I ride with heart. I ride with intention. I ride in honour of lives lost too soon, and in celebration of every donation, every prayer, every push forward.

“With every turn of the pedals, I embrace the journey. Feet grounded, heart open, and soul soaring.”

🧡💙💛

Carlene

Stay Hopeful Through Everything

No matter what life brings your way, stay hopeful.

Each day offers countless little moments filled with light if you're willing to see them.

A kind word.

A walk by the river or lake.

The soft, grounding sounds of nature.

These simple things have the power to shift your spirit and lift your soul.

Hope doesn't always come in big waves—sometimes it shows up in gentle ripples.

Look for them. Receive them. Let them guide you forward.

— Carlene 🌿

Love & Purpose Always Finds A Way

Every year, I take on the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer, and every year, without fail, my son supports me. Not with grand gestures or loud praise but with presence. With kindness. With heart.

Even when things aren’t easy for him, he still finds a way to give. Whether it’s a donation, a word of encouragement, or simply checking in, he shows up.

Thank you for giving from your whole heart. Thank you for standing beside me on this journey. Thank you for being a reminder that love and purpose always find a way.💙🧡

Love & Light

When the journey gets heavy and the road feels long, I ride.

Through the quiet moments, the storms, and the setbacks, I ride because I know this truth: even in darkness, light finds a way to shine through.

This year, as I ride 250 km for the Great Cycle Challenge Canada, I carry the memories of battles fought, the strength of survivors, and the hope of healing for kids facing cancer.

I ride... for the children, for the families, for the fighters still holding on.

I ride with heart, with faith, and with the promise that light always breaks through.

Survivor

Keep Going

I ride with heart, purpose, and intention because I know what it means to fight and overcome. As a cancer survivor, every kilometer means more.

This year’s goal: 250 km.

Even with time off in August, I’m ready to give it my all for the kids, for the cause, and for the journey I’m still riding through.

-Carlene Lee

Fueling Hope, One Dollar at a Time

This challenge isn’t just for the warriors still fighting—it’s also for the survivors who have faced cancer head-on and won. I know the journey is never easy. I’ve walked that path myself.

Cancer changes lives, but so can we.

Together, we can be the reason a child gets to live, laugh, and dream beyond cancer.

-Carlene Lee

Embrace The Journey

"With every turn of the pedals, I embrace the journey. Feet grounded, heart open, and soul soaring. The road ahead is an invitation to explore, grow, and simply be."

-Carlene Lee