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According to a Susan G. Komen Foundation study, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
Jaclyn Alterwein knew this statistic, but she never paid attention, calling it exaggerated.
Then she learned her truth too well – breast cancer changed her world in unprecedented ways.
It started when her mother had an annual mammogram at 3 pm At 16:45, Alterwein received a phone call telling him that his mother had breast cancer.
She saw her mother undergo surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for about a year and a half, and when her mother was finally cured, Alterwein had even more bad news.
One of her best friends was diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer at the age of 40, right after the very first mammogram.
Once again, Alterwein got into the fight, holding his friend's hand during a doctor's appointment and biopsies. But by the time Alterwein's friend got out, another close friend received a new diagnosis of breast cancer from CCIS. Without losing a moment, Alterwein put on his pink warrior gear.
Using her platform as a fitness instructor, Alterwein began encouraging young women to start self-examination and ask all women to follow their annual mammograms. Shortly after, she discovered CycleBar and became an instructor in Montvale, and later on the Montclair site at 656 Bloomfield Avenue. This is where she continued to spread her message by promoting the hashtag #AnnualMammosSaveLives and creating a community of pink sisters.
"It's really scary to have a mammogram, but it's good to be scared," said Alterwein. "Courage is what it takes to get the phone, make a call and schedule an appointment."
Barely two months after discovering CycleBar, Alterwein followed her own advice and spent her annual mammogram – that is, when she received "the world's windiest punch".
At the age of 46, Alterwein was diagnosed with breast cancer with DCIS.
"At that time, I knew what the treatment was, I knew what I was going to do and I had to wrap it in my head," said Alterwein, equipped to be able to see his two friends go through the same type of cancer. "We started planning my surgery right there."
Alterwein, who originally planned to undergo a lumpectomy, learned more about her risks and decided to opt for a double mastectomy, which she suffered on April 19, 2017.
During her seven-day postoperative appointment, Alterwein's sister was having a mammogram. The following week, the diagnosis of Alterwein's sister came back: breast cancer by DCIS.
"I've always thought everything was going for a reason," said Alterwein, noting that CycleBar had entered his life just two months before his diagnosis. "I did not know how much I would trust not only my role as an instructor, but also my coaching for my own therapy, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well."
Alterwein had to leave the bike several times last year during the multiple biopsies that led to his diagnosis and convalescence after an operation. When she got back on the bike, she could only drive at half the speed she was used to.
But about a year and a half later, she is back and better than ever, using CycleBar as a personal therapy and as a platform for raising awareness of the importance of having an annual mammogram.
"I'm fine now. I feel better than ever and that made me a lot stronger, "said Alterwein. "CycleBar was a huge part of my therapy. I've often shouted on the catwalk at the top of the categories and the support I've received from my runners is amazing. "
Last April, Alterwein celebrated its one year anniversary without cancer with some great CycleBar races.
In recent years, Alterwein has received more lemons than she could count on. But without blinking, she turned them into pink lemonade.
"It changes your vision of life and makes you a little more grateful for the little things in life," she said. "Now, I'm just focusing on the little things and enjoying the little things that fall to me every day – that's the pink lemonade – if I can give someone a knowledge of the Importance of early detection. "
On the occasion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Alterwein will lead Pink Rides throughout the month of October. Its goal is to raise $ 3,000 to cover the cost of 20 mammograms as part of the National Breast Foundation's free mammogram program. She will lead a pink race at Montclair Friday, October 26 at 19:45.
The Montclair Pink Ride costs a donation of $ 25 or $ 150. $ 150 cover the cost of a mammogram. There is also a donation option only for those who are not interested in the CycleBar race.
"Pink lemonade finds the best of my situation and what came out of it, enjoying each day and making my life the best possible," she said. "We never know when it will be taken away."
Montclair Registration Links #AnnualMammosSaveLives Pink Ride:
$ 150 and make a donation: https://montclair.cyclebar.com/checkout/?packageID=103305
Raise $ 25 and make a donation: https://montclair.cyclebar.com/checkout/?packageID=103303
A donation of only $ 150: https://montclair.cyclebar.com/checkout/?packageID=103306
$ 25 donation only: https://montclair.cyclebar.com/checkout/?packageID=103304
To follow Alterwein's platform, follow it on Instagram at @ jaclynbrooke23.
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