Upper Valley Pride - Prouty 2009

By Ira Richards

For anyone hiding under a rock this past weekend, members of the Upper Valley participated in the 28th annual Prouty bike ride and challenge walk to support cancer research and patient services at our own DHMC Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

The Prouty is truly a special event. Thousands of folks from across the Upper Valley and beyond gather together in an effort to fight against a horrible disease that statistically affects most of us in one way or another. We all rally for a common purpose and turn something horrible into an incredible opportunity to share special moments with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers alike.

I am rarely more proud to be a part of this community than during the Prouty event. Just moments after cresting what is reverently known as the “Chieftain Hill”, each participant arrives to the finish line greeted by the cheers of hundreds of onlookers, each gushing in support of these “champions for the cause”.

After the ride, as I sat watching the smiles of friends and family intermingled with falling tears for those suffering and for loved-ones-lost, a wave of contentment swept over me and I remembered how blessed I am to call this my home. Sure, we may not always be as kind or considerate as we should be and we may get caught up in the hustle-bustle of busy life, but I’d like to think that here in northern New England, we keep those values a little closer to our hearts.

As I later tied my yellow ribbon next to the hundreds of others being tossed to-and-fro in the wind and each signifying a soul battling or lost to the fight, I was reminded of those things in our lives that we share: our love for our families, our desire for happiness, our hope for the future; each of our years past universally filled with bounty and loss, exhilaration and sorrow, moments of peace and of regret. It became a moment of clarity for me as I reflected on the many circumstances in my own life that make me akin to my neighbors. The loss of loved ones in my family was the very sorrow that, in that moment, likened me to these new brothers and sisters in our fight for the cure.

Even in this sentimental moment, I know that it’s not really the event, but the values that tie us together. Whether you’re pouring yourself into a worthwhile cause or just catching up with a neighbor at your local feed store, being connected as a community is a mindset that we choose to adopt. And in spite of vast differences and great diversity found within our region, it is my sincere hope that we collectively continue to remain focused on those things that unite us. It’s what helps make our community strong and will continue to keep Upper Valley traditions and values alive and well.