Team Remission at the finish line 2017

Team Remission 2018

WOW……….what happened to 2017?? My Dad told me how fast time would fly and boy was he right.

Well 2018 is upon us and once again America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride with Team in Training will be on the agenda. Through your support last year I was able to raise $10,600. My team, Team Remission, was the fourth highest team in the country with S88, 246. Not bad for a team of 6 guys. Each year I am in awe of hold generous people are and how they step up to the cause.

TEAM REMISSION is back, 8 strong so far and looking for new members. Our goal this year is $100,000.

This year my Honored Hero is Art Riihimaki. My first ride with Art was 2010. He will once again be riding by my side (or I might be behind him) with TEAM REMISSION. He is 74 years young and a triple cancer survivor. He has taught me the meaning of our team motto: GOT SISU?? To find out what this means, make a donation!!

Art Riihimaki 2017

I have once again set my personal goal at $10,000. Since 2014 I have been raising $5,000 for myself and $5,000 for my cousin Steve Gurnis who passed away in 2013. Steve became the Brother I never had and was a loyal member of the New Jersey Chapter of Team in Training. I will continue to do his fundraising and visit him every year in Tahoe. His ashes were scattered on the lake as well as on Spooner Hill. He will always be the wind at my back as I circle the lake.

I am proud to say that this will be my first year as a coach for the Connecticut, Westchester, and Hudson Valley Chapter. I am honored to take the position along with my two friends Paul Birck and Nat Connacher. We will be running the training rides in Connecticut.

 With the holiday season upon us I ask you to be generous once again. We are so close to a cure that every donation is cherished. Click DONATE NOW to make your tax deductible donation . For those who do not to donate on line, make the check out to LLS and mail it to : Billy Dudjoc, 180 Wooster Street, New Britain, CT 06052.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I look forward to hearing from you.

January 30, 2018

Well happy New Year a little late. I’d like to tell you all what a great December I had but I’d be telling you a fib. Getting sick before and during the holidays was not fun. There was a bug going around that just held on. I’m sure many of you had experience with it. The hardest part was it kept me off my trainer and out of my spin classes (Yes Elmer I miss you). So training came to a sudden stop.

On January 10^th after a totally sleepless night I told Cindy it was time to go to the ER. I was admitted in record time (Thank you UCONN). There was good news and bad news. Good News: I did not have the flu. Bad News: Pneumonia.

The hospital was packed and at first I was told there were no rooms. The ER Doctor told me that she wanted to admit me. I of course thought that was a bad idea. She said OK….If you can walk around the floor and feel OK I’ll let you go. Well my pulseox was 85 and pulse was 120. Maybe it was time to stay!!

They found me a private room. As I was there feeling mad and sorry for myself, I learned where I was: The oncology floor. An overwhelming feeling of gratitude came over me. What I had was nothing! I was going to be out of there and better in a week or so. The folks there……Who knows??

On day two my friend Tom stopped by to make me smile and my friend and teammate Holly, who works at UCONN stopped in to have lunch with me. She proceeded to tell every doctor, nurse, and CNA who came in the room about our ride in Tahoe to cure cancer. Most of them were looking at us and saying WOW. I even got a few donations out of it.

The entire experience was quite emotional. Seeing some of the patients on the floor as well as their families made me realize even more how important our fundraising efforts are.

That said, I again ask you all to please help out. I’m at about 40% of goal right now. 60% by the end of the month would be great!. Please give what you can. No donation is too small.Just click on DONATE NOW and help to save some lives.

TEAM REMISSION 2018

March 10, 2018

So March usually means the start of our outdoor training rides…..and so they started on March 3^rd with 25 miles and about 42 degrees. (See attached pic.). Susan, Tom, Mary, Coach Nat and I started off on our journey to train for 100 miles in Tahoe.

Bring on 12” of snow and that kind of stops outdoor riding for a bit. But like anything this too shall pass !

March is a month I dedicate to my cousin Steve Gurnis. As many of you know Steve passed away in September of 2013. He would have been 67 on March 5th and 2018 would have marked his 8^th trip out to Tahoe with the New Jersey Chapter of Team in Training. Steve can no longer make the trip…….and he does not need to.

In 2014 I rode with the New Jersey Chapter in place of Steve. I also did his fundraising that year. In addition, Steve’s ashes were scattered on Lake Tahoe  and a small amount were scattered on my second climb up Spooner Hill.

Every time I have visited Tahoe since them I visit Steve at the lake and stop on Spooner to say hello again. He will always be resting in a place he held dear to his heart. It is wonderful to know he resting in such a majestic place.

Since 2014 I have always taken care of Steve’s fundraising as well. This year is no exception. I have already raised my $5,000, now it’s time for you to help with Steve’s.  To date you have helped me raise $5,450. I only need $4,550 more for both of us. No donation is too small. Please give what you can.

For those who do not wish to donate on line, make your checks out to LLS and mail them to: Billy Dudjoc, 180 Wooster Street, New Britain, CT 06052