Woman Bikes Down West Coast to Fight Life-Threatening, Genetic Kidney Disease
July 13, 2010 |
Philanthropy , Foundation News
(Seattle) Tuesday, July 13, 2010 – At age 40 and living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), Vicki Shaver is riding her bicycle 1,850 miles – from Seattle to the National Convention on PKD in San Diego – to raise awareness and funds for PKD.
“Since I learned that I have PKD, I’ve been looking at life differently,” Shaver said. “Lots of people have a list of things they want to do when they retire. But, I want to do those things now. I’ve always wanted to do a big bike ride along the coast, so this ride to the Convention is just a case of the right place and the right time – and the right reason – for me.”
Shaver began her journey with a rally in Seattle’s Magnuson Park on July 11 and will end it 26 days later when the National Convention on PKD kicks off in San Diego on Aug. 6. She is well into her trip and has already been posting about her progress on her blog at www.rideforpkd.blogspot.com/.
“Cycling from Seattle to San Diego is by far the biggest ride I’ve ever attempted,” Shaver said. “But it’s also for something I really believe in. So I’m very determined.”
Riding to San Diego is not Vicki’s first stand against PKD. She is the volunteer co-coordinator of the PKD Foundation – Seattle Chapter. For the past three years, she has also joined other PKD patients from across the country to lobby for PKD research funding in Washington, DC.
Vicki plans to make stops in California at more rallies, including one at Sports Basement Presidio in San Francisco on Sunday, July 25, and one at Ocean View Park in Santa Monica on Sunday, Aug. 1.
Shaver is working hard to reach her goal of raising $5,000 and is accepting donations online at www.pkdcure.org/rideforPKD. To ride along with Vicki for any portion of her ride or meet her at one of her stops, e-mail her at seattlechapter@pkdcure.org.
“As long as I’m doing something to fight PKD, I feel like I have a little bit of power,” Shaver said. “Some days are depressing, but when I’m doing my part to raise awareness and funds, I feel good. I feel hope.”
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