Thanks for all your care & support!!!
How did we become "Anne's Pool Crew?"
January 2003,I walked into the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club. I needed to learn how to swim efficiently because I had just signed up for 3 triathlons. If you threw me in the water, I wouldn’t drown since I did grew up on the Jersey shore, but I needed major help. Bike, I didn’t own a race bike, but I could borrow one and peddle. Run, that I could do!
The first person I met at the MAC was Linda Sullivan an enthusiastic swim instructor. She said, “I can teach you to swim." I was thinking to myself what have I gotten myself into. I told her that I didn’t have a bathing suit with me as I was looking at the gigantic ocean looking pool. I tried to think of any excuses, like I don’t have a blow dryer, it’s cold outside. Linda calmed my fears about swimming and showed me to the pool store. I bought a suit, goggles, jumped in and had my first lesson that hour. Linda helped by encouraging me through my first two triathlons. Then she sent me to Coach Patty to help me with my half Ironman that was coming up in September.
In the lake,I waited in the warm water for my turn to start swimming. I looked up at the sunset rising over the evergreens. I cried with a wave of emotions. Linda had died a few days before from breast cancer. I would swim for her.
The following year Coach Patty and I signed up for a full ironman triathlon. During our training we fondly reminisced about Linda and what a wonderful person she was to everyone.
October 8 2005, we were ready to take this day on full force. In September, I had just turned 40. The day before my birthday I found out my own Mom had breast cancer. Now, I was determined to finish for my own Mom. Thankfully, we finished and ironically the event benefited Duke cancer research.
Only eight short months later, the uninvited cancer chewed a quarter size whole in my own left hip. I had one litter of fluid in my right lung and a big old ugly tumor made a home on my once nice healthy smoke free lung.
May 18, 2006 I was diagnosed with NSCLC Stage 4. During this time, I have had surgery, radiation, chemo, and a hip replacement. Shortly after my diagnoses my dear friends at the MAC signed us up for the 24 Hours of Booty and that's when we became "Anne's Pool Crew." This is a 24 hour road cycling charity event that takes place in the notorious bike loop in Charlotte, NC known as the "booty loop." It is the official 24 hour road ride of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Since our team first started we have welcomed many other new friends to join.
Thankfully, as of today, my cancer is stable and I take a daily chemo pill. My Mom and I did battle our cancer's together making the best of the situations. She moved home to Heaven this past April.
I am living a happy and content life enjoying my husband and four children whom I cherish more than ever.
Anne’s Pool Crew is now a piece of a bigger picture, people’s life stories connecting, caring, and honoring loved one's we have lost. Our teams motto is "Best Day Ever!"Please be a part of the 24 Hours of Booty Event. Donation go to national and local cancer initiatives.To learn more go to www.24hoursofbooty.org.
Thank you and God Bless,
Anne Lynn
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Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.
-Anon.
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