October marks the start of breast cancer awareness month. In honor of the month and all those who have fought the battle against this terrible disease, we asked our riders to nominate a breast cancer survivor in their life for a chance to win a limited-edition Pink XPedition eBike!
Recipient: Tammy McCanless
Nominated by: Heather deRijke-Getchell
I am nominating my best friend, Tammy, because she is the most extraordinary woman I know. I met Tammy my freshman year of college where she had a sign on her door that said, "knock if you need a friend." I knocked, and then became the journey of a lifelong friendship. We have navigated life together, and she has been through so much. Tammy didn’t just survive breast cancer—she endured it while navigating a heart-wrenching divorce, raising three young children, and teaching. Most people would crumble under that weight, but Tammy found strength even in her darkest days. She showed up for her children, her students, and everyone around her with a resilience that left us all in awe.
I remember the day she told me about her diagnosis. I rushed to her house, and we spent the entire weekend together—crying, talking, and just being there for each other. We shared every fear, every hope, and even in her pain, she refused to give up. Through every tear, she held on to hope, determined to beat the cancer and keep moving forward. She had surgery on December 20, 2012, and began treatment soon after. I will never forget the day she rang the bell at the treatment center, signaling the end of her treatment. It was one of the best days of my life, a moment of pure joy and relief. I’ve never been prouder of her strength and courage. On March 8, 2013, she became a survivor of breast cancer.
But Tammy’s journey didn’t stop with survival. Instead of retreating from the pain she endured, she used it as fuel to transform her life and the lives of others. She took her battle with cancer and made it her mission to help other women facing the same struggles. Tammy became a source of strength and comfort for women walking their own cancer journeys, giving them hope when they felt hopeless and reminding them they were not alone. She didn’t just survive—she became a light for others who were lost in the darkness.
Tammy now dedicates her time to helping other women navigate the emotional, physical, and mental toll of breast cancer. She listens to their fears, shares her own story, and walks alongside them through their battles. She’s taken the pain, fear, and uncertainty she once felt and turned it into an unshakeable desire to give back. She’s a testament to how adversity can be a springboard for incredible compassion and selflessness.
Tammy’s smile is like a beacon of light. She never asks for anything in return, even though she gives so much of herself to everyone around her. An electric bike would be more than just a gift for Tammy—it would be a symbol of how far she’s come and a way to keep spreading her love and support to even more women who need her light. She’s a warrior, a healer, and my hero.
Recipient: Nellie Kwak Chen
Nominated by: Ort Chen
A few years ago, after being out of the workforce to raise our children, my wife, Nellie, decided to return to work (Previously, Nellie worked with young autistic children for more than 6 years, providing them therapy to help them modify their behaviors such that they could interact in normal social situations.). As she returned to the workforce, she set out to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), an expert in the field of behavioral analysis (a key qualification required to be able to guide and create therapy programs for autistic children). This program would require 2 1/2 years of study and 1,000 supervised fieldwork hours. At the end of 2023, Nellie had completed 2 1/2 years of studying and was in the process of accumulating the required fieldwork hours. But in January 2024, we discovered that Nellie had breast cancer. The diagnosis was especially shocking to us since Nellie routinely had mammograms and regular annual check ups.
Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, Nellie had a mastectomy, followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy, and 6 weeks of radiation treatments (5 days per week). The treatments, which included the removal of a number of lymph nodes, have left Nellie weak and in chronic pain. It also left her with little energy and Nellie has spent the better part of the last 6 months in bed resting and recovering from her cancer treatments.
Today, just a few weeks after completing her radiation treatments, Nellie struggles to walk up the stairs in our home. Breast cancer has materially impacted our family and has permanently impaired Nellie's plans to return to the workforce. But more importantly, breast cancer has drastically affected Nellie’s ability to interact and engage in family activities with our two daughters, Emma (13) and Ellie (9).
At the current time, our focus is for Nellie to recover her strength and to be able to resume her pre-cancer activities. We're hoping that biking could be one of the first steps in that journey. I currently own a Lectric XPedition and it would be incredible if Nellie and I could ride together on her road to recovery.
Recipient: Courtney Gonzales
I am a two time survivor. First being diagnosed at the age of 33 in 2018 and two days later finding out I was pregnant. My little guy was the light at the end of my tunnel and was everything to me. He kept me fighting and doing whatever it took to meet him at the end of this battle. I had a partial mastectomy and breast fed him with one giant boob for 6 months before I had to start taking my anti cancer medications. I had gone through multiple surgeries including a 10 hour reconstructive surgery, all to find out I had a recurrence in 2023. The cancer came back in my pec muscle and I had some positive lymph nodes. This time it was even more real as I had to not only have surgery to remove everything I’ve already endured but also go through chemo and radiation. Again, my sons were my light. They kept me motivated to come out at the end of this so I could be their mom and be there to raise them. I have come out stronger. I have a whole new outlook on life. What’s important and what my priorities are. Namely, my health and what I can do proactively to better my chances of not having this happen again! Exercise has become so much more important to me than ever before. I do not have the same strength as before but am working every day to regain my endurance and having an e-bike would allow me to keep up with my husband and kids. I also have met some amazing women by joining a dragon boat racing team for breast cancer survivors who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Their positivity and encouragement has helped me through some very dark days and the type of workouts we do is great rehabilitation for the type of surgery we’ve had to endure. Having this experience has helped me prioritize my physical health through exercise and my mental health through my kids and my new paddler sisters!
Recipient: Mark Shipek
Nominated by: June Shipek
I would like to dedicate this to my husband. He survived leukemia 38 years ago and 10 years ago survived breast cancer. This is also something that can happen to men. This has changed me completely. It has shown me how strong and courageous he is. His mindset is different and he sees the world from a different perspective and angle. Living is life to the fullest and showing me every day how valuable life is. He loves biking…he repeatedly tells me it gives him a sense of freedom. The same freedom he feels now being a healthy man.
My dedication to him is endless. For me, my husband is a walking miracle. Thank you guys for giving people the opportunity to feel and enjoy that freedom that your vision allowed us to experience. Lots of love ❤️ The Shipek family