I am extremely excited to be a National Rider for the Sears National Kids Cancer ride this year! My name is Cherie Martin. I am a Pediatric Oncology nurse and have worked for the Hospital for Sick Children for 13 years. I am also a mother of 3, a wife, a sister, a daughter and friend. I have 3 children, Jodey (15), Aliah (7) and Caden (4). I love my children beyond words and could never imagine going through the challenges I see the families I work with face every day. I absolutely love these families and these children and feel that I do the best I can each day at work to make their day a little brighter. People ask how I can work in this area of nursing. My goal is to do every thing I can to make that child or that family’s day a little easier while I am with them. I listen, I offer help with the little things, I challenge, I hug, I offer strategies that I have seen work with other children and families... I offer all I have. Now I want to do more. I never want to experience the helplessness that I see on these parents faces, I never want my children (or any children) to experience the pain (emotionally and physically) that I see these children experience. I want to raise money to provide more resources to support these families during this journey- to support the whole family as it is hard on every member of these families. I want to help supply more financial resources to find a cure. I want to do more! I am scared to embark on such a challenge. I have never done anything quite like this before; but this challenge can't be anything compared to the journey these families take as they fight against cancer.

I am a person who feels I am here to make a difference. I am passionate and determined. I love to work as a team and conquer difficult challenges. I follow my heart, and take chances even when I am scared of how big the journey or challenge might be. I want to ride because I can.

I am eager to join a group of compassionate people and make a change for the better. I feel I have seen first hand and cried many a tear as I have fought with numerous families in their fight against cancer. I have been a part of helping in this fight for many years from a nursing perspective. I have held the hand of a child through challenging treatments, I have provided support as a child has looked at me with fear in their eyes, I have hugged a mother when she has felt there is no more hope, I have cared for the body of a baby after he lost his fight, I have provided updates after transferring a child to ICU from complications following chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant, I have used distraction techniques to help a child through the physical pain, I have hugged a child to encourage them to start the next round of treatment and I have driven 4 hours to go to the home of a patient once they were cured… to celebrate life. My journey as a nurse has formed who I am today. I want to change the look of tomorrow.

Please consider sponsoring me as a National Rider. I want to be a part of going "beyond cancer". I know this will change me as a person and help me to be a better nurse as I continue to care for these families impacted by childhood cancer. Follow my blog as I train for and start this life changing journey across Canada. Thank-you!