Tracy Ann Delp is a woman with a vision. Like many of us, she’s lost loved ones to the ravages of cancer, including her mother and a beloved animal companion.
“From actual diagnosis to death there were only 2 months. When [my mother] was diagnosed, life stopped as I knew it. You hear the word ‘cancer ‘and fear clouds your whole sense of being, you walk in a haze wondering what steps to take, questioning if the steps are the best....always questioning....feeling like a bit of an island set loose on a vast sea.”
Some years earlier, Tracy’s dog Cassey was diagnosed with inoperable bladder cancer. “That diagnosis affected me similar to when we found out about my mom. The difference.... I did not think about money with my mom because she had insurance. The money factor came in later. With Cassey, that was almost immediate.”
To raise cancer awareness and money to support those suffering from this disease, she is crossing the country…on horseback.
When she began organizing the ride, she was asked if she was raising money for cancer research. “My answer was no, I really do not want to raise money for research, primarily because there are all these cancer groups who fundraise for that.” The emphasis is not on a single cancer, but rather on the effect it has on those living with the disease, whether they walk on two legs or four. People can donate to a people cancer fund, an animal cancer fund or a general fund. “The general fund would help pay for costs [of the ride] and then be split between the people and animal fund. Actually, it may be quite interesting to see where the majority of money goes...how is that for a non-scientific study???”
Accompanied by horses Sierra, Andy, and Angus; Rosie the mule; the loyal Ursa (canine trailblazer extraordinaire); and Dan Shanafelt and his horse Dao, the trek has been an ongoing exercise in planning, patience and persistence.
Several times the route has had to be revised due to unexpected trail closures, weather conditions and personnel changes. Taking an alternate route does not seem like a big deal when driving a car, but traveling by horse is another matter entirely as trails, roads and back highways all have to be accessible by hoof. Finding overnight lodgings can be tricky too, but Tracy has found more generosity than she ever imagined. Strangers have opened their homes and stables to the Coast 2 Coast team as well as provided meals and supplies for both humans and equines.
While Tracy loves being outdoors with her four-legged companions, she is acutely aware of the unpredictability of the trail. Last spring, on a logging road at Iron Horse State Park outside of North Bend, Washington, Tracy and Dan were faced with a fallen tree lying across the road. There was over two feet of snow on the ground, and they had to rendezvous with their truck and trailer driver before the parking lot closed at 6:30 pm. Rather than lose time cutting through the tree, they decided to walk over the tip at the side of the road. As Tracy and Sierra stepped over the tree, Sierra sunk down in loose ground beneath the snow. The mare lunged out of the depression, her front hooves just missing Tracy’s head. One of her rear hooves did collide painfully with Tracy’s leg. Fortunately, nothing was broken, but Tracy had some colorful bruises and swelling to show for it.
And then last summer one of the horses was bitten by a snake near Vantage, Washington, but much to everyone’s relief it was not one of the rattlers that Tracy kept hearing about from the local folks she met along the way. She was also warned about wolves and hoped to spot some, but had to settle for observing their tracks in Idaho.
But Tracy forges on. “The first three letters of this word is CAN..... it is time to put the CAN back in cancer. Remembering that we CAN do anything, with much more potential when we do it together.
“It does not matter the color of your skin, nor is it species-specific. Its effect on those diagnosed and those related is often devastating. The toll it takes physically, mentally and emotionally can be a weight that burdens the strongest of shoulders.
“This is a call, to come together, to offer support, empowerment and a new outlook for those who have been affected by this illness in any capacity, to raise money for the advocacy of cancer patients and providing a professional social network of support for anyone with cancer. To raise money for animals to provide grant opportunities to aid in paying for expensive treatment options.”
During a recent hiatus in her journey, Tracy stopped by our office to order vinyl magnets. The design features a pawprint encircled by a gold horseshoe. The weatherproof magnets cling securely to your car and can be easily removed and reapplied without damaging the paint. Magnets can be purchased via the
Coast 2 Coast website or contact Tracy directly at 360-265-3602 or
c2cforcancer@yahoo.com. All proceeds help fund the ride and resources for those diagnosed with cancer.
Coast 2 Coast for Cancer has partnered with the
Riedel & Cody Fund, an organization with a similar mission that provides support, resources and funding for people whose pets have cancer and
Their Story Is Our Story, a social network and support community for cancer patients and their loved ones.
To learn more about the Coast 2 Coast ride and ways you can help, visit the
Coast 2 Coast for Cancer website or like the
Facebook page.
