Juliette and I met Bambi Forsman in Los Angeles in 1996.  Bambi founded Garden of Angels, an "Oz" like preschool in Santa Monica where both our sons spent their early years growing up as "Einstein thinkers, Beethoven composers, Lewis and Clark adventurers"; Bambi cultivated spirit and passion within the bright eyes of her students and their parents.  Juliette and Bambi became best friends. Loving and laughing their evenings away from Paris to Cape Cod. Soulmates!

Bambi was special, she had a way of sticking to you.  She'd look all the way inside and stay there. She poked and prodded, dug her nails in, shook the trees, and squeezed really hard.  It felt good. having her in there. She plugged holes, patched leaks, and dusted the corners. She was a sower, leaving seeds in your eyes and ears. Some would grow instantly into smiles and tears, others would lie deep inside waiting to sprout. She set them there to surprise you, flowering on days you needed them most. I am happily inspired by them in my own life, in Juliette's, in our children's, in her friends. She was sticky and I'm so happy she stuck to us. 

Bambi got sick, CANCER hit her in the face, bare knuckled and hard.

In 2011 we traveled with Scott and Bambi to Europe, following Joan of Arc's divine path across the French countryside.  Having recently finished her first 12 rounds with CANCER, Bambi was inspired to feel the grace of faith that led this young girl down a path to lead an army and inspire her country.  The pictures I attached of Juliette and Bambi were taken then at Joan of Arc's childhood home.

It was on this trip I decided to ride with Fireflies, I'd heard about this amazing charity designed as a mirror of Cancer.  A bike ride over the French Alps, not a tour or a race, but a terribly difficult journey through the elements. A ride laden with pain and uncertainty, loneliness and fear, supported by riders dedicated to raise money and hope for those who suffer.  On my first ride I carried Bambi's Joan of Arc medallion with me, taking pictures on the mountain tops to send to her live.  It was a life changing experience where I met some of the greatest human beings you can imagine.  You can see some of those pictures here too.

Bambi continued to suffer.  One year ago she died.

This year I'm going back to the alps with her ashes and Joan of Arc's flag.  I am going to spread her ashes on the mountain tops and I'm going to fly her flag.  

Please contribute what you can.  Give me a name to ride for, I will write it on Bambi's flag and fly it everyday. Follow my ride on all things social and I will share the experience, I promise you will see great things.  I also promise that Bambi will stick to you as she has to me. 

See you in the Alps.  For those who suffer, we ride.