How Bicycle Travel Transforms Lives: Cecile Gitter
How Bicycle Travel Transforms Lives: Cecile Gitter
Cecile Gitter shares a life-affirming experience of just how the sport of cycling can keep one fit, healthy and positive–even when faced with a life threatening illness or an unexpected “curveball” –as the amazing Cecile calls it.
Here’s her heroic story:
We’ve always biked, I can’t remember ever not biking. As a child it gave me and my siblings a new found freedom, in school it kept us from having to ride the bus. In college it got me to class on time and in adulthood, I met endless friends and it led to grand adventures. I also got to know my husband through bicycling.
When we were looking for the perfect honeymoon spot, it was easy. Both of us had bike Italy on our bucket list. We booked a trip with Ciclismo and the rest is history. The food, the guides, the incredible scenery. Frank & Dana were our first guides on the Bike Across Southern Italy . The routes they developed food stops, side trips, etc. I can’t say enough. We had so much fun we signed up again for 3 more tours. We decided we needed to sign up every year to continue these incredible bicycling adventure together. “If you play together you stay together!” We also met some amazing people on each trip.
But…all doesn’t go as planned. Its been two years since my last trip and I shouldn’t even be here. But thanks to that tour and incredible new technologies, I am writing this blog. Here’s how life throws curveballs.
We were on the Cinque Terre tour and I noticed an annoying stitch in my side every time I started a climb. I love to climb but this was a bit of a nuisance I returned home and had it checked out and found out I had a leiomyosarcoma tumor that was hitting a nerve and would have continued to grow unnoticed had I not been climbing every day. These dreadful tumors don’t even respond to chemotherapy. How fortuitous I had signed up on a bike trip!
I had radiation and surgery and they removed the tumor before it could do any more damage. We signed up for another trip in May and are thrilled our daughter will be joining us for her first tour.
I was told my recovery was sped up from all the bicycling I’ve done. Its a life sport, a great way to see the world and we are thrilled we found a tour company that offers such amazing guides and experiences.
Thanks Ciclismo Classico! You truly are a life saver!
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Come and join us on a life-affirming journey with Ciclismo Classico. Give yourself the gift of embracing the moment, beauty and the magic of every day life.
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