Why I Started The Denise M. Chesney Memorial Bike Ride

Doug Chesney
Jul 24, 2017 · 3 min read

It all began when my mom, Denise M. Chesney, brought me into this world in Turlock, CA on June 18th, 1991.

She cared for my sister and I as a stay-at-home mom, while my dad worked in his office during the day. Her unconditional love surrounded me growing up and still does to this day. There were no bounds to the love she provided to me, my dad, my sister, and her friends, family, and community.

My mom loved us and loved others relentlessly, and she had a passion for life that not many others have. Every holiday was special. Every birthday was special. Almost every day was special. Because she made it so.

She drove my sister and I all around town and all over the West Coast for our athletic tournaments in our big, red Ford E-150. The only one in town, everyone knew it’s Denise. And the students couldn’t have been more excited when Mrs. Chesney arrived in that big, red van at Dutcher Elementary School as a substitute teacher.

My mom was also tough. She’s a Hall of Fame basketball player at Azusa Pacific University after all. But I know her toughness from putting on goalie pads to play street hockey, allowing me to shoot pucks at her, and playing tennis with me, even in the mornings before school sometimes.

Her kindness always shined brightly. She was the one who paid for the person behind us at the bridge toll booths in the Bay. She helped her friends and family with anything and everything you could think of. And she always treated others with respect.

In 2006, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought the battle courageously, during which time she coached the Pitman High School girls basketball team as an assistant. As I said, she was tough. One day during practice, her wig fell off and she just continued on coaching and laughing with the team. It takes a special kind of person to react the way she did in that situation.

In early 2007, she was in remission, and everyone who knew her celebrated.

However, the cancer came back stronger this time, and it took her life within a matter of months. She passed away on September 29th, 2007.

Monte Vista Chapel, the church I grew up attending, held the funeral service, and as I looked around in the auditorium — 1,000+ seats — all taken. She had made a big impact on our community. People admired her, and were attracted to her zeal for life.

She taught me to dream big, be courageous and bold, and “kill ’em with kindness.” My dad talks about the importance of “honoring mom,” and if I can do that, then I know that I will have lived a great life.

It’s been 10 years this year since she passed away but her love, kindness, and courage lives on to this day. I miss her dearly.

Mom.

To honor her spirit, I wanted to start the Denise M. Chesney Memorial Bike Ride.

My good friend, David Sheppard, joined me on the Inaugural Ride from Seattle to Spokane in 2015, riding from the place where my parents spent their honeymoon to Gonzaga University, our alma mater. A year later, David and I rode from Seattle to Leavenworth, WA with 15 of our friends and family. This year, we will loop around Seattle, WA on August 12th.

This ride is for all of those who knew Denise, supported our family, or has fought the battle against breast cancer and/or knows someone who has fought the battle. This ride is for everyone.

I know that if we all come together in support of breast cancer research, we will end breast cancer, and remain together celebrating life with the ones we love.

Be the end of breast cancer by riding with us in Seattle! Email dmcmemorialride@gmail.com! Help save as many lives as possible and please donate to the leading breast cancer charity in the U.S., the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, at dmcmemorialride.org!

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