Meet Tim Keheller. Tim underwent a 12-hour surgery for tongue cancer last month and is recovering at home. He has a long road ahead of him with treatments, but we are hopeful it will end well, with an expected 85% survival rate.
Tim is my neighbor. I met him when I moved in with Pat in 2015. Pat used to stand on a hunk of wood to look over the fence to chat with Tim, a la Home Improvement. We would chitchat if I happened to be outside while they were chatting about yards and such.
Tim and I became closer friends in 2022. Buddy and I showed up on his doorstep asking for help. Pat was in the ICU, and I asked if he could let Buddy out while I was at the hospital. For the past three years, Tim has helped me with Buddy while I've been at work. Buddy loves him. When he hears Tim say, “hey, Buddy boy” he goes running. We have both depended on Tim's kindness as we have navigated life with just the two of us. Luckily, Buddy can come to work with me this year because we need to give Tim the space to heal. We both miss him as he is on the mend.
Today, I rode for Tim. For his kindness. For his selflessness. For being one of the best neighbors I've ever had. We're praying for you every day and anxiously await hearing, “hey, Buddy boy” across the fence. Stay strong, Tim! You got this! ❤️
Meet Helen Carroll, or as I refer to her, Mommy. My mother had undiagnosed lung cancer. Her health decline began in November 2024 and ended on June 25, 2025. My mom was a badass; she was tough as nails in all aspects of her life. She had four kids in seven years in her early twenties. She went to work in 1968 when I went to kindergarten. She was a pioneer for working women in the 1970s. She started as a buyer for the China Department at Dey Brothers and held management positions throughout the rest of her 30-year career.
My mom was a fashion icon; she was always dressed in the latest styles, right to the bitter end. She wouldn’t even go to the ER without an outfit and her makeup on. She was always the hippest-looking mom around.
My mom was extremely intelligent. She read every encyclopedia edition from cover to cover as a child. Although she did not attend college, she was an expert on many subjects. My parents were the smartest people I knew.
My parents were married for 59 years when my dad died in 2015 after being diagnosed with leukemia. They were great role models for how to enjoy life together. They enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, traveling, jazz, eating out, cooking, SU sports, and were rarely seen doing any of these things without the other.
My mom taught me a lot about life. She taught me that I could do whatever I wanted as a career and should go for what I want. She taught me to be tough. She taught me the importance of family. She taught me about dignity. She supported me through many situations, particularly in losing my husband in '22 and getting through two total knee replacements on the same knee last year. I owe my mom a lot, and I am thankful and lucky to have spent the majority of my life with her. These last few decades of my time will not be the same without her.
Today, I ride for my mom, for everything she has done for me and my family, for being a positive role model and raising me to be a badass too. This ride is for you, Helen Carroll. I hope you and Dad are listening to jazz with all your cronies in heaven. 🚴♂️💪❤️