Beat Cancer, Now 73 Miles

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Sara Javers was just 23 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors discovered it on her appendix and later throughout her entire abdomen.

After several surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy, Javers beat cancer.  Now she's on another journey, this time on her bike. It's a road race she compares to her race to against cancer.

For the last two years, Javers has been on the ride of her life. Up and down hills, struggling with each turn.

“When being strong is your only option and battling through it is your only option, you find out a lot about yourself,” Javers said.

She's talking about her battle with stage four cancer, one she's proud to say she's won.

But she's taking on a new battle: the road.  She's taking a 73-mile trek Friday in the Tour De Kota.

“I chose to do the last leg because this is the last leg of my treatment.  Kind of the end of you know of the battle at hand,” Javers said.

She's never been a bike rider, but is enjoying this new challenge. A challenge cancer taught her not to be afraid of.

“You know I'm like a lot of people where you think biking is kinda one of the least physically strenuous activities. But from riding my bike so much recently, I've noticed a huge improvement in not only my legs but my core, my arms,” Javers said.

Javers is not only taking this ride for her own health, but to raise awareness about the trials that come with being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult.

As a Child Life Specialist at Sanford Children's, she sees how cancer affects kids everyday.

“I see a lot of kids going through their treatment and you know fortunately for kids, they're young.  They're strong; they bounce back really quickly.  Their bodies are constantly making, you know, new cells,” Javers said.

But she says that's not the case for young adults. They're treatments can sometimes be harder on the body.

“Young adults, I mean, we're a whole different spectrum of cancer,” Javers said.

And she wants to help young people just like herself. So on top of the 73 miles, she's raising money for First Descents, a group that supports young adults with cancer and provides opportunities like this rock climbing camp Javers attended last year.

Javers is just happy to be on a bike and is looking forward to the support she continues to receive on this road she calls life.

“You know I've beat, I've beat cancer now and I'm gonna beat the 73 mile bike ride," Javers said.