[ book tip by Marie Fowler ] “I want to die at a hundred years old after screaming down an Alpine descent on a bicycle at 75 miles per hour.” 

It’s Not About the Bike tells the story of Lance Armstrong, his battle with cancer and how he overcame the illness to win cycling’s most prestigious race, the Tour de France. His story is truly an inspiration. When my father was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, this book was something he read, I think to help him come to terms with his illness. My dad began cycling more to try and get fitter so he could beat the illness and could regularly be seen cycling along the lanes of Teesdale. On one occasion cycling past his doctor who apparently had to do a double-take seeing his very ill patient go past him! 

This book was an inspiration to my dad who passed away in 2006. It’s taken me several attempts to read as I found it a very moving and real account of what it can be like to live with cancer, the diagnosis, treatment, feelings of those affected and how people react to the illness. A really moving account about the struggle against an illness, appreciating life and going for it.

[ book info ] Armstrong, Lance: It's Not About the Bike. My Jouney Back to Life. (Book language: English) Sally Jenkins. Yellow Jersey Press, London, 2001 (2001). ISBN: 0-224-06087-2.