Meet Cynthia Arangua

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Arangua.

Cynthia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
On February 22, 2017, in the early morning hours, I was doing what I did most days; purge dozens and dozens of emails that I care nothing about so I can look at my phone throughout the course of the day and not get overwhelmed with the number of unread emails. But unlike 90% of the random and useless emails, I saw one from Jake from “Compete Every Day”, an organization that is known for their motivational messages and apparel. On this particular day, I felt like I needed a little motivation but the moment I opened it, I knew this one was different than any email I had seen from them in the past. It was promoting an event in the local Dallas area. I kept reading and I could feel the heat rise in my body and my head tingle when I ran high with emotion. It was an indoor cycling event called “Wheel to Survive” for an organization called “Be the Difference Foundation.” I didn’t even think, I just clicked the link that said: “If you’d love more information on how to bring Wheel to Survive to your community, visit: www.wheeltosurvive.org.”

By mid-morning, I was in communication with Jon Mize from “Be the Difference Foundation.” For seven months almost to the day, I had been searching and searching for a way to pick up the torch that my cousin, Jennifer Massi, had carried in her nearly three year battle with ovarian cancer. She had been on the Board of Directors for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) and provided incredible perspective and insight to others with an ovarian cancer diagnosis. She lost her battle on July 19, 2016.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Bringing “Wheel to Survive” to Denver for its inaugural year on May 20, 2018, was my biggest test in vulnerability up to that point in my life. I thought I understood vulnerability with my numerous Brene Brown workshops and having read every one of her published books up to that point. But I had no idea. To talk about “why” this ride, “why” this foundation, “why” this cause, I had to not only be able to access deep rooted grief but be able to display and share that openly. I don’t know if I had truly understood the impact of Jennifer’s struggle and eventual passing. I had certainly become closer to her after her stage 3C diagnosis in 2013. She lived in northern California and I tried to visit as often as I could, to simply be there for her, her sister and her parents. I had visited them often in the years prior, mostly to hang with her sister and enjoy the culture and music scene of San Francisco. But that certainly shifted after 2013 and it became more of just spending time because we all knew that Jennifer’s form of ovarian cancer (peritoneal) was particularly deadly. When I had to promote the race on social media, ask for donations and raffle items, talk to people at my kid’s sporting events or at work or even the grocery store, build a committee and get volunteers, I had to tap into that vulnerability of what it was like to witness her struggle and her pain and her sadness but also her little wins of being able to eat some good food and drink some great red wine and go on a hike and enjoy nature. When the ride started to come together, it felt it came into place beautifully and powerfully. There were many people there who had also been impacted in some way by ovarian cancer and when it ended, I immediately began thinking of the ride in 2019.

What else should our readers know?
Be The Difference Foundation was founded in 2012 by four women who all had ovarian cancer diagnoses. In 2013, Wheel to Survive started with its first event fundraiser in Dallas, TX. Since then, Wheel to Survive has raised over 2.8 million dollars with the participation of over 1,500 riders in seven US cities. This included Denver in 2018 and Boulder in September 2019.

“Our mission at Be the Difference Foundation is to create awareness and improve the lives of all people affected by ovarian cancer through education, support, and research,” says Jill Bach, the foundation’s president, and co-founder and a 10-year ovarian cancer survivor. Founded by survivors for survivors, the foundation seeks to help women increase their chances of overcoming the disease that has a 1 in 78-lifetime risk.

Through individual contributions and Wheel to Survive events, the foundation has funded research programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, UT Southwestern, NYU Langone and the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, funding to Lazarex Cancer Foundation helps ovarian cancer patients travel to clinical trials. It also helps the Clearity Foundation provide patient tumor profiling and treatment recommendations and helps support clinical trials at the Mary Crowley Cancer Research center.

What I feel sets us apart is that every penny donated goes to fund research programs and help women currently fighting ovarian. Because we aren’t specific to one geographic location, our outreach is broad which allows us to partner with local organizations from the cities where the rides are hosted. This year, we hope to partner with COCA (Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance) where part of the fundraising dollars can go specifically to organizations within Colorado for which COCA helps.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is getting one step closer to a cure for ovarian. Success is being able to talk to women about the signs of ovarian cancer and encouraging them to see their doctor if they are experiencing any symptoms, no matter how subtle they may be. Success is being able to reach out to other women who currently have ovarian or have been impacted by ovarian in some way. Success is bringing people together under a common cause to bring about awareness for ovarian cancer. Success is helping us heal from losing someone to ovarian or honoring someone who has ovarian. Success is increasing the survival rate for ovarian cancer.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.wheeltosurvive.org; http://www.bethedifferencefoundation.org
• Phone: 214-418-2046 (Jon Mize, Events and Corporate Partnerships Manager); 303-808-6227 (Cynthia Arangua, Wheel to Survive Colorado Chair)
• Email: jmize@bethedifferencefoundation.org (Jon Mize Email); cindy_arangua@yahoo.com (Cynthia Arangua, Wheel To Survive Colorado Chair)
• Instagram: wheeltosurvive
• Facebook: Wheel To Survive

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.