Cynthia Aukema was having a great Sea to Sea tour until July 28. After leaving Denver, she ran over debris and fell off her bike, breaking her pelvic bone.
Two days later she was back at home in Chatham, Ontario, and everyone thought her tour was over. “It was devastating,” she said. “But once I was home, I was amazed at the peace I had with it.”
However, no one figured on the tenacity of this 48-year-old woman. Two weeks after her injury, she wanted to get back on her bike. After a couple of successful rides at home and a good day with the tour in Michigan, she was ready.
When the cyclists crossed from Michigan into Ontario on Aug. 20, she took her place in a pace line and set her sights on New Jersey, just 22 days after her fall in Colorado.
Staying on the tour was “an answer to prayer,” she said. “I got a lot of support, and it was very special to finish.”
About the Author
Gayla Postma retired as news editor for The Banner in 2020.
