Sophia Shankar
- National: 13th
- Province: 2nd in BC
I'm Riding For
Jonah Shankar
My Story
Twenty-four years ago, I got one of the best roles I’ve ever been given; I became an aunt. When I met my nephew, Jonah, for the first time, I marvelled at his tiny feet and how small and vulnerable he was. He changed something in me; he was the child that made me want my own one day. Until then, he’d be my buddy and the focus of my love.
In the early years, I packed him around and spoiled him. Later on, I was that crazy aunt, screaming from the sidelines at triathlons, track, cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball…
Eighteen years on, tall and dark and handsome, smart and hardworking, not only was he a fantastic athlete, he was an honour roll student and kind and just an all-round fantastic guy, far from small and vulnerable now.
He was moving to the city where I lived for university. He didn’t know it yet, but I was finally having that baby he’d inspired me to have, and they were going to be buddies, just like us. But Jonah got a headache, and then he couldn’t walk, and then he was in the emergency room, and then he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Three years later, he was gone.
It was three years of surgeries, of pumping his body full of poison and radiation, trying to kill the cancer without killing him. He fought so hard. He was just a kid, and he had so much to live for, but cancer is cruel, and in the end he was small and vulnerable again.
When it was time to say goodbye, I vowed I’d live a full life for two, so I take my buddy with me in my heart on every adventure. This month, we're raising money to pay forward the generosity shown to our family when we needed it. Our nightmare brought out the best in humanity; people did incredible things for us, and I want to put some of that back out into the world and help another family with a sick kid.
I’m not fit. I’m not fast. I don’t even own a road bike. I’m a middle-aged stay-at-home mom riding 1000 km this August on grit. To quote Jonah's favourite movie, “Life is short. Stunt it.”
My Challenge
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0.4 km ride - Love and Thanks to All! - Saturday, August 31, 2024
Logged this ride 121 days ago -
52.8 km ride - What Goes Up Must Come Down - Friday, August 30, 2024
Logged this ride 122 days ago -
11.7 km ride - Goodbye Whistler! - Friday, August 30, 2024
From Whistler Village to Green Lake
Logged this ride 122 days ago -
22.8 km ride - Making the Rounds - Thursday, August 29, 2024
Logged this ride 123 days ago -
28.0 km ride - And More Exploring. Getting It Done! - Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Logged this ride 124 days ago -
11.7 km ride - More Exploring - Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Logged this ride 125 days ago -
8.1 km ride - Exploring - Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Logged this ride 125 days ago -
4.0 km ride - Don’t Squish the Tiny Migrating Toads! - Monday, August 26, 2024
Logged this ride 126 days ago -
104.9 km ride - Took Jonah Here 20 Years Ago with Queen Greatest Hits III on Repeat - Sunday, August 25, 2024
Logged this ride 127 days ago -
24.3 km ride - Noontime Ride About Town - Friday, August 23, 2024
Logged this ride 129 days ago -
13.7 km ride - Morning Out ‘n Back - Friday, August 23, 2024
Logged this ride 129 days ago -
40.3 km ride - Racing the Light. I Lost. - Thursday, August 22, 2024
Logged this ride 130 days ago -
15.6 km ride - Mom: A Drowned Rat. Kid: Like Royalty in a Carriage. - Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Logged this ride 131 days ago -
6.3 km ride - Sneaking ‘Em In - Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Logged this ride 132 days ago -
15.4 km ride - Forgot Oranges at Till. Went Back. Kept On Going. - Monday, August 19, 2024
Logged this ride 132 days ago -
19.0 km ride - Towing the Kid. No Easy Kilometres Here. - Monday, August 19, 2024
Logged this ride 133 days ago -
29.2 km ride - And Again, But Less Light, More Wind, and No Recovery Lattes - Sunday, August 18, 2024
Logged this ride 134 days ago -
28.9 km ride - Grind to The Grind to The Grind. Will Ride for Lattes. - Sunday, August 18, 2024
Logged this ride 134 days ago -
14.9 km ride - Bike Trailer. Kid. Kid's Bike. Two Dolls. Bag of Potatoes. Slow Ride. - Friday, August 16, 2024
Logged this ride 136 days ago -
19.4 km ride - Back in the Saddle - Friday, August 16, 2024
Logged this ride 136 days ago -
8.3 km ride - 8K Rest Day. Legs On Fire. - Thursday, August 15, 2024
Logged this ride 137 days ago -
19.8 km ride - Did it Twice for Double Day! - Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Logged this ride 137 days ago -
$5,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just hit $5,000 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 138 days ago -
19.4 km ride - HALFWAY BABY!!!! - Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Logged this ride 138 days ago -
$2,500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved SUPERHERO LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 138 days ago -
$2,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved LEGEND LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 138 days ago -
12.7 km ride - Evening Spin Around the Spit - Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Logged this ride 139 days ago -
11.8 km ride - Morning Spin Around the Spit - Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Logged this ride 139 days ago -
25.0 km ride - Another One in the Books - Monday, August 12, 2024
Logged this ride 140 days ago -
13.0 km ride - Eat. Sleep. Ride. Repeat. - Monday, August 12, 2024
Logged this ride 140 days ago -
19.8 km ride - For Good Measure - Sunday, August 11, 2024
Logged this ride 140 days ago -
42.1 km ride - Crashed. Didn’t Die. 600 km To Go. - Sunday, August 11, 2024
Logged this ride 141 days ago -
5.8 km ride - Really Needed Soap - Saturday, August 10, 2024
Logged this ride 142 days ago -
55.5 km ride - Oh My Aching Cumberbum - Saturday, August 10, 2024
From Campbell River to Cumberland
Logged this ride 142 days ago -
27.4 km ride - OMG. This is Getting Hard! - Friday, August 9, 2024
Logged this ride 143 days ago -
17.2 km ride - Morning Rush - Friday, August 9, 2024
Logged this ride 143 days ago -
32.5 km ride - I Swallowed a Bug! - Thursday, August 8, 2024
Logged this ride 144 days ago -
26.0 km ride - No, the Water Doesn't Count! - Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Logged this ride 145 days ago -
$1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $1,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved WARRIOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 145 days ago -
$500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved GUARDIAN LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 145 days ago -
$250 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $250 to fight kids' cancer and achieved PROTECTOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 146 days ago -
86.9 km ride - Hot Hot Hot Highway - Monday, August 5, 2024
Logged this ride 147 days ago -
10.8 km ride - Conducting Investigations - Sunday, August 4, 2024
Logged this ride 148 days ago -
27.7 km ride - Greenways Trust Loop #1 - Sunday, August 4, 2024
Logged this ride 148 days ago -
51.5 km ride - Through the Woods to Grandma’s House - Saturday, August 3, 2024
Logged this ride 149 days ago -
12.7 km ride - Easy Evening Spin - Friday, August 2, 2024
Logged this ride 149 days ago -
6.2 km ride - Grocery Run - Friday, August 2, 2024
Logged this ride 150 days ago -
$100 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $100 to fight kids' cancer and achieved DEFENDER LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 150 days ago
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
$3,911.25Received this donation 137 days ago -
Jonah's Community
$2,070Received this donation 138 days agoSophia
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Jim and Beatrice Saxby
$800Received this donation 135 days agoSophia
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David and Michael
$517.50Received this donation 145 days agoSophia
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Judy Houston
$517.50Received this donation 123 days agoSophia
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AskerG Naesgaard
$400Received this donation 136 days agoSophia
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Adrian and Amanda
$310.50Received this donation 138 days agoSophia
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The Shankars
$310.50Received this donation 138 days agoSophia
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Ernest & Tineke Naesgaard
$258.75Received this donation 138 days agoSophia
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Daniel Naesgaard
$207Received this donation 138 days agoSophia
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Gurjot Mann
$155.25Received this donation 122 days agoSophia
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Cattleya Oatrosser
$124.20Received this donation 134 days agoSophia
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Debra Sheppard
$124.20Received this donation 127 days agoSophia
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Doug Campbell
$124.20Received this donation 138 days agoSophia
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John and Devon
$124.20Received this donation 136 days agoSophia
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Rachel Harker
$124.20Received this donation 127 days agoSophia
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Tia Mar
$124.20Received this donation 135 days agoSophia
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Courtney Naesgaard
$120Received this donation 137 days agoSophia
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Kristina De Araujo
$120Received this donation 137 days agoSophia
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Tina Gonsky
$112.82Received this donation 144 days agoSophia