When you are in the business of farming, you understand tough times. You know that every day is a gift and Mother Nature, markets, natural disasters or more can change your future in a heartbeat. As farmers we must be tough, and ready to weather whatever adversity comes to be. But mostly we are optimists that have to set aside our daily worries and instead focus on hope, even in the worst of times.
That’s why we love hearing the stories of those we do business with and meeting others who live with the same sense of hope and the commitment to be Wholesome to the Core.
Meet Michael Strock…one of our customers who operates a multi-generation produce wholesale market in Boston. We’ve done business with the Strock family for years and we know this is a family who lives with the same sense of hope and commitment to the future as we live here at Rainier.
It was this same sense of hope and optimism that carried Michael’s Dad and family through 21 extra years of life after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor at age 37 and being given only one year to live. There’s no doubt that a serious and life alternating health condition is the epitome of tough times, but it is the tough people who look at adversity and say I will fight – the future is mine. Those extra 22 years gave time for Michael’s Dad to live – but for Michael’s story to begin.
Michael tells us he’s always been focused on a healthy lifestyle thanks to his Dad. From the earliest days of his brain tumor diagnosis, Michael’s Dad adopted the healthiest lifestyle possible and treated food as medicine. That commitment to healthy living shaped Michael’s future habits and helped him adopt healthy habits of his own.
One of his newest healthy habits is cycling. Although active in sports, Michael hasn’t always been a cyclist. He admits that cycling found him – with what was a means to a goal of making a difference when he committed to ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge. Having spent no previous miles in the saddle or clipped into the pedals, Michael purchased a road bike last year and has had about one year to get ready for the 192 mile ride and break in his new ride. Currently Michael spends his winter months training on a spin bike and gets in 2-3 rides a week during his Spring/Summer preparation.
Today Michael shares with us his goal and a new chapter in his Wholesome to the Core story. Come August, Michael will participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge. A multi day cycling event that raises funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in honor of his father who battled, won and ultimately succumbed to a terminal brain tumor. This is just one of the ways that Michael can keep his father’s memory alive and continue his legacy to live life fully.
Although his current focus is the Pan-Mass Challenge in August, Michael has logged one 110 mile ride, as well as a scenic ride up the New Hampshire Coast. Although cycling is often an individual sport, teams of riders often work together to support each other in training and provide camaraderie on the long miles and hours on the bike. Michael joins the Boston Bruins Foundation team as part of his personal fundraising quest to raise $40,000 – and as of publication he’s already 3/4 of the way there having raised $30,000. If you want to contribute you can click here.
But regardless of all we can tell you, it’s best to hear directly from Michael, in his own words, why he’s so passionate about this Wholesome to the Core effort.
“Each year in the US alone, more than 1,500,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer will affect all of us directly or indirectly at some point in our lives.
This hit home last year when I lost my father to a long, courageous battle with brain cancer. During my 30 years, Dad taught me that life is full of challenges and that troubles never end for any of us, rather they are part of the human experience. He taught me that by developing a great work ethic and holding onto a positive attitude, it doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down because you’ll always know how to get back up.
I will ride every mile with Dad’s signature Never Quit attitude, inspired to raise money for such an extraordinary cause. The annual Pan-Mass Challenge raises money for lifesaving cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, providing doctors and researchers the necessary resources to eradicate every type of cancer.
It’s time to put the pedal to the pavement and make this dream become a reality. Some of my Dad’s greatest life lessons would have never been realized had it not been for the doctors at Dana Farber; for that I am forever grateful. The researchers at Dana Farber are working around the clock to end cancer’s destruction, but they need our help to continue supporting such encouraging research. After all, tough times never last, tough people do.
Michael, your Dad is right. Tough times never last, tough people do and he would be so proud of you, just as we are. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story and continuing to show us how you are setting an example for others by living your best life through an active lifestyle, healthy foods and giving back, as you continue to fuel your body and your mind. May your new pastime keep you pedaling for years to come.
To learn more about the Pan- Mass Challenge, Dana Farber Cancer Institute or donate to Michael’s fundraising effort visit the links below.
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