Sophia Shankar
- National: 13th
- Province: 2nd in BC
I'm Riding For
Jonah Shankar
My Story
Twenty-four years ago, I got one of the best roles I’ve ever been given; I became an aunt. When I met my nephew, Jonah, for the first time, I marvelled at his tiny feet and how small and vulnerable he was. He changed something in me; he was the child that made me want my own one day. Until then, he’d be my buddy and the focus of my love.
In the early years, I packed him around and spoiled him. Later on, I was that crazy aunt, screaming from the sidelines at triathlons, track, cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball…
Eighteen years on, tall and dark and handsome, smart and hardworking, not only was he a fantastic athlete, he was an honour roll student and kind and just an all-round fantastic guy, far from small and vulnerable now.
He was moving to the city where I lived for university. He didn’t know it yet, but I was finally having that baby he’d inspired me to have, and they were going to be buddies, just like us. But Jonah got a headache, and then he couldn’t walk, and then he was in the emergency room, and then he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Three years later, he was gone.
It was three years of surgeries, of pumping his body full of poison and radiation, trying to kill the cancer without killing him. He fought so hard. He was just a kid, and he had so much to live for, but cancer is cruel, and in the end he was small and vulnerable again.
When it was time to say goodbye, I vowed I’d live a full life for two, so I take my buddy with me in my heart on every adventure. This month, we're raising money to pay forward the generosity shown to our family when we needed it. Our nightmare brought out the best in humanity; people did incredible things for us, and I want to put some of that back out into the world and help another family with a sick kid.
I’m not fit. I’m not fast. I don’t even own a road bike. I’m a middle-aged stay-at-home mom riding 1000 km this August on grit. To quote Jonah's favourite movie, “Life is short. Stunt it.”
My Challenge
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0.4 km ride - Love and Thanks to All! - Saturday, August 31, 2024
Logged this ride 81 days ago -
52.8 km ride - What Goes Up Must Come Down - Friday, August 30, 2024
Logged this ride 82 days ago -
11.7 km ride - Goodbye Whistler! - Friday, August 30, 2024
From Whistler Village to Green Lake
Logged this ride 82 days ago -
22.8 km ride - Making the Rounds - Thursday, August 29, 2024
Logged this ride 84 days ago -
28.0 km ride - And More Exploring. Getting It Done! - Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Logged this ride 85 days ago -
11.7 km ride - More Exploring - Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Logged this ride 85 days ago -
8.1 km ride - Exploring - Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Logged this ride 86 days ago -
4.0 km ride - Don’t Squish the Tiny Migrating Toads! - Monday, August 26, 2024
Logged this ride 86 days ago -
104.9 km ride - Took Jonah Here 20 Years Ago with Queen Greatest Hits III on Repeat - Sunday, August 25, 2024
Logged this ride 88 days ago -
24.3 km ride - Noontime Ride About Town - Friday, August 23, 2024
Logged this ride 90 days ago -
13.7 km ride - Morning Out ‘n Back - Friday, August 23, 2024
Logged this ride 90 days ago -
40.3 km ride - Racing the Light. I Lost. - Thursday, August 22, 2024
Logged this ride 90 days ago -
15.6 km ride - Mom: A Drowned Rat. Kid: Like Royalty in a Carriage. - Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Logged this ride 92 days ago -
6.3 km ride - Sneaking ‘Em In - Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Logged this ride 93 days ago -
15.4 km ride - Forgot Oranges at Till. Went Back. Kept On Going. - Monday, August 19, 2024
Logged this ride 93 days ago -
19.0 km ride - Towing the Kid. No Easy Kilometres Here. - Monday, August 19, 2024
Logged this ride 93 days ago -
29.2 km ride - And Again, But Less Light, More Wind, and No Recovery Lattes - Sunday, August 18, 2024
Logged this ride 94 days ago -
28.9 km ride - Grind to The Grind to The Grind. Will Ride for Lattes. - Sunday, August 18, 2024
Logged this ride 95 days ago -
14.9 km ride - Bike Trailer. Kid. Kid's Bike. Two Dolls. Bag of Potatoes. Slow Ride. - Friday, August 16, 2024
Logged this ride 96 days ago -
19.4 km ride - Back in the Saddle - Friday, August 16, 2024
Logged this ride 97 days ago -
8.3 km ride - 8K Rest Day. Legs On Fire. - Thursday, August 15, 2024
Logged this ride 97 days ago -
19.8 km ride - Did it Twice for Double Day! - Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Logged this ride 98 days ago -
$5,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just hit $5,000 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 98 days ago -
19.4 km ride - HALFWAY BABY!!!! - Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Logged this ride 98 days ago -
$2,500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved SUPERHERO LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 99 days ago -
$2,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved LEGEND LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 99 days ago -
12.7 km ride - Evening Spin Around the Spit - Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Logged this ride 99 days ago -
11.8 km ride - Morning Spin Around the Spit - Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Logged this ride 100 days ago -
25.0 km ride - Another One in the Books - Monday, August 12, 2024
Logged this ride 100 days ago -
13.0 km ride - Eat. Sleep. Ride. Repeat. - Monday, August 12, 2024
Logged this ride 101 days ago -
19.8 km ride - For Good Measure - Sunday, August 11, 2024
Logged this ride 101 days ago -
42.1 km ride - Crashed. Didn’t Die. 600 km To Go. - Sunday, August 11, 2024
Logged this ride 102 days ago -
5.8 km ride - Really Needed Soap - Saturday, August 10, 2024
Logged this ride 102 days ago -
55.5 km ride - Oh My Aching Cumberbum - Saturday, August 10, 2024
From Campbell River to Cumberland
Logged this ride 102 days ago -
27.4 km ride - OMG. This is Getting Hard! - Friday, August 9, 2024
Logged this ride 103 days ago -
17.2 km ride - Morning Rush - Friday, August 9, 2024
Logged this ride 104 days ago -
32.5 km ride - I Swallowed a Bug! - Thursday, August 8, 2024
Logged this ride 104 days ago -
26.0 km ride - No, the Water Doesn't Count! - Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Logged this ride 106 days ago -
$1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $1,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved WARRIOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 106 days ago -
$500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved GUARDIAN LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 106 days ago -
$250 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $250 to fight kids' cancer and achieved PROTECTOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 107 days ago -
86.9 km ride - Hot Hot Hot Highway - Monday, August 5, 2024
Logged this ride 108 days ago -
10.8 km ride - Conducting Investigations - Sunday, August 4, 2024
Logged this ride 108 days ago -
27.7 km ride - Greenways Trust Loop #1 - Sunday, August 4, 2024
Logged this ride 109 days ago -
51.5 km ride - Through the Woods to Grandma’s House - Saturday, August 3, 2024
Logged this ride 110 days ago -
12.7 km ride - Easy Evening Spin - Friday, August 2, 2024
Logged this ride 110 days ago -
6.2 km ride - Grocery Run - Friday, August 2, 2024
Logged this ride 110 days ago -
$100 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $100 to fight kids' cancer and achieved DEFENDER LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 110 days ago
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
“Here's your matched donation made possible by the generosity of long-time SickKids Foundation supporters, the Garron family. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$3,911.25Received this donation 98 days ago -
Jonah's Community
“Paying it Forward - Let's Kick Cancer's Butt!”
$2,070Received this donation 98 days ago
Sophia
“And what a community it is. So much love.”
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Jim and Beatrice Saxby
$800Received this donation 96 days ago
Sophia
“Your generous donations to pay tribute to and honour both my dad and Jonah are tremendously kind. Thank you for the heartfelt words and for always keeping us in your thoughts.”
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David and Michael
“Jonah will always be remembered. What a remarkable young man.”
$517.50Received this donation 106 days ago
Sophia
“WOOOOWWW!! Thank you so much. Just awesome.”
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Judy Houston
“GO SOPHIE GO!!!”
$517.50Received this donation 84 days ago
Sophia
“You Houstons are some of the most generous people I've ever met. Thank you so much for everything you've done and continue to do. I'm very grateful.”
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AskerG Naesgaard
“Great cause Sophia! You are helping bring hope to a young person's future.”
$400Received this donation 97 days ago
Sophia
“Wow, Asker! Thank you! That is a lot of $5. Inflation is worse than I thought. I really appreciate your donation. Much love.”
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Adrian and Amanda
“I admire your strength and dedication in riding for such a meaningful cause, especially during this challenging time. Your courage and commitment are truly inspiring. Wishing you strength and success on your journey.”
$310.50Received this donation 99 days ago
Sophia
“Incredible donation! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
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The Shankars
“Grateful to you for being one AMAZING Auntie!”
$310.50Received this donation 98 days ago
Sophia
“Grateful to you for a lifetime of help. I love you guys so much.”
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Ernest & Tineke Naesgaard
“Thank you so much for doing this Sophia. Jonah was so brave and fought so hard and it will be so nice if in the future kids can win this battle. The other plus is your learning the joy of bike riding.”
$258.75Received this donation 99 days ago
Sophia
“Thank you so much for your generous support and kind words. I will think of you and ride with joy.”
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Daniel Naesgaard
“You’re awesome and absolutely going to crush this!”
$207Received this donation 99 days ago
Sophia
“You're awesome! So many thanks for this generous donation and kind words. Come back and give the lakes another go when there's more water in the lake than in the sky. It was great to see you in this neck of the woods.”
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Gurjot Mann
$155.25Received this donation 83 days ago
Sophia
“You were and continue to be an amazing friend to Jonah. It's not fair for you to be punished for being so nice, but I'm selfish, and now you have to be my friend. Sorry, not sorry.”
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Cattleya Oatrosser
$124.20Received this donation 95 days ago
Sophia
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am so grateful for all the help.”
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Debra Sheppard
“The sun came out for your ride today.. you are being cheered on from above I am sure .. today is the day!! Go Sophie! Bless you and your family.❤️❤️”
$124.20Received this donation 87 days ago
Sophia
“As always, you are so generous. Thank you for all you do for us and much love.”
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Doug Campbell
$124.20Received this donation 99 days ago
Sophia
“Thank you so very much. I really appreciate it.”
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John and Devon
“Fantastic job Sophia. 🩵”
$124.20Received this donation 97 days ago
Sophia
“Thank you for helping me spread some light and keep Jonah’s memory alive. I am very grateful for your continued support.”
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Rachel Harker
“Just when I thought our family couldn’t get any more nutty. Love you Soph, this is incredible (and crazy), but mostly incredible.”
$124.20Received this donation 88 days ago
Sophia
“Thank you for recognizing my contribution to family nuttiness. I hope to earn my title of Queen of the Nuts, not just inherit it. Love you!!!”
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Tia Mar
“You’re incredible!!!”
$124.20Received this donation 95 days ago
Sophia
“You're incredible and always a great friend. Thank you and much love.”
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Courtney Naesgaard
“Bike back for a visit again! Xx”
$120Received this donation 98 days ago
Sophia
“How about I meet you at the Denman Island ferry terminal (I'll haul the corn home on my bike)? Thank you and much love.”
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Kristina De Araujo
“Your grit and determination always amazes me. Keep it up! 💯”
$120Received this donation 98 days ago
Sophia
“Thank you for your kind words and donation. They mean a lot to me.”
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Tina Gonsky
$112.82Received this donation 104 days ago
Sophia
“Thank you, guys. You are incredible, and I appreciate all you've done over the years.”