Kate Pace-Lindsay, 42White Lake, ON
Occupation: Vice President - Lindsay Sports Therapy Inc.
Family: Married for 16 years to my Olympic sweetheart Dr. Mark Lindsay (we met at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway, I was competing in Alpine Skiing and was on the Medical Staff for Bobsleigh Canada)
My biggest accomplishments to date:
3 x Olympian (Alpine Skiing), Nagano, Japan 1998, Lillehammer, Norway 1994, Albertville, France 1992
1993 - World Champion – World Alpine Ski Championships, Morioka, Japan
1993 - Ranked # 1 in the World, Federation of International Skiing (FIS)
1994 - Ranked # 2 in the World, Federation of International Skiing (FIS)
1994 - Finished 2nd Overall World Cup Downhill Standings
2 x World Cup Champion, Lillehammer, Norway; Tignes, France
2 x World Cup Silver Medalist, Vail, USA; Vail, USA
2 x World Cup Bronze Medalist, Veysonnez, Switzerland; Cortina, Italy
4 x Canadian Champion, Canadian Alpine Ski Championships
1 x US National Champion, United States Alpine Ski Championships
5th at the Winter Olympic Games Lillehammer, Norway
A TRUE CHAMPION
I have met a number of great champions in my lifetime. Champions in the sport of hockey; football; baseball; athletics; tennis and soccer. I was a champion myself for many years in the sport of alpine skiing and so I thought I knew a lot about what champions were made of. I realized after watching my nephew, Alex Pace, go through a 23 month battle with bone cancer that he was the first champion I had ever met.
Alex was unbelievably brave and courageous as he battled osteosarcoma, an aggressive cancerous bone tumor that usually develops during the period of rapid growth in adolescence. Even though he suffered a great deal he always remained attentive to those around him from doctors, to nurses, to hospital staff, to other patients. He inspired us all with his persistence without complaints. He was our little man, with wisdom beyond his years. Alex fought a spirited battle and died just before his 12 birthday.
How did I get involved with Coast to Coast?
After Alex was diagnosed, my brother Len and his wife Frances heard about the “Tour for Kids”, one of Coast to Coast Foundation’s signature events and asked if I was interested in participating. I was pleased to be help “Team Axle” raise support for other families experiencing similar challenges. We met lots of incredible people, as we road across the province in support of other children and families battling cancer. We were amongst people who understood the complexities of what Alex, the families and friends were going through. They understood the treatment schedule, the continuous wave of emotions, the struggles with the fear of losing a loved one and the challenges associated with the day-to-day schedule for my brother, his wife and their two other children Maddie and Ben.
During that time, Len and Frances experienced an incredible amount of support. They saw an army of people come together to support their family in every way imaginable. Friends and family coordinated meals and laundry, assisted with getting Maddie and Ben to school, to hockey, to events and to the hospital to see Alex. People cleaned the garage, took out the garbage, shoveled snow and put up Christmas lights. So, when Len and Frances turned their support towards “Tour for Kids” and the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation, “Team Alex” turned with them.
They entered “Team Axle” (their Bike Team name)in the Tour for Kids in the summer of 2007 and it was there we met others families and friends facing similar challenges and those whose greatest fear had come upon them - they had lost a child. As we joined the tour, we felt we were amongst friends and were immediately accepted into the Coast to Coast family.
Team Axle has been involved with the Coast to Coast Foundation for over 4 years with over 100 people from riders and volunteers, working at rest stops and putting up signage, seeking donations, hosting Inside Ride events, riding across the province and lending support for those that might not have the same level of support.
Why did I decide to participate in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride across Canada?
I want to continue supporting the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation in their fight against cancer.
I feel particularly connected to this event , the Sears National Kids Cancer Rider as it fulfills a promise Alex and I made in the summer after he was diagnosed. The promise was, someday we would rent a huge RV and travel to Thunder Bay to complete Terry Fox’s dream to journey across the country after losing his leg to bone cancer. It’s fitting that I’ve chosen to ride the Team Relay portion that starts in Thunder Bay. With Alex in my heart, the wind in my face and your support – the promise will be fulfilled.
Please join me as I support the Coast to Coast Foundation in their fight against childhood cancer and continue their commitment to providing the true champions with the support they need .
