Maggie Mae Anderson profile picture

In Celebration of My Life and in Honor of Tim's.

A personal campaign sponsored by Maggie Mae Anderson

June 1, 2015

Donate

In celebration of my 40th birthday and in honor of my dear brother Tim who passed away 20 years ago this year, Adam and I are embarking on a fundraising bike ride around the entirety of Lake Champlain for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. As I stand on the cusp of a brand new decade, I can hardly believe I’ve made it this far and am not only in one piece but am thriving. Despite my own struggles with depression I find myself with a fantastic partner, a beautiful step-daughter, a fabulous career in the healing arts and a very bright future as I work towards finishing my degree. Due to the love and support of my family and friends, one amazing therapist and my daily yoga and meditation practices, I feel I am in the best shape mentally, physically and emotionally that I’ve ever been in in my life and want to do something to celebrate my big day and honor my brother in a way he would have loved. An avid lover of the outdoors and an athlete, he would have been all about this kind of adventure.

As for the bike ride...Adam and I will be leaving our house bright and early on June 19th (the day after my birthday) and, come rain or shine, spend the next 5 days circumnavigating Lake Champlain. (Which happens to be the sixith biggest lake in the country though it pales in comparsion to the Great Lakes of Adam's home state.) I'll be loaded up with front and back panniers and Adam will tow a small trailor. We'll have clothes, food and camping supplies, though this being my birthday, we will hit a bed and breakfast for at least one of the four nights. We'll average about 80 miles a day and take our time, jumping in the lake when it calls to us, watching sunsets and stopping for good food. I can't think of a better way to start a new decade. I'll be doing what I love, in a place that I love, with a person that I love, in honor of my brother whom I love and miss deeply. 

(To see pictures of Tim and I from our childhood, go on Facebook and look for "In Celebration of My Life and in Honor of Tim's". Only for a fundraiser would I post such unflattering pictures of myself!)