![]() ![]() ![]() Now that no region of the empire was safe from attack, something different was needed. Which had to undertake much of the execution of government policy, and it made coordination of military and civil policy slow and difficult. But it was cumbersome, it depended on the cooperation of the governing bodies of cities, It was a system designed to keep generals from dabbling in politics and staging military coups, and it worked. Army commanders had none over the civilian population. Civilian governors of provinces had no authority over troops stationed in their area. That, Maria says, is reason enough to keep moving.Since the days of Diocletian and Constantine, at the turn of the third and fourth centuries, rigid separation of civil and military authority had been the rule. ![]() "Your whole life changes in a blink when you hear the words, 'You have cancer,'" she said. They're part of her team, and she can say firsthand that what they're doing makes a difference in the lives of patients like her. Most importantly, Maria will keep a list of people who have donated to her fundraiser and send them prayers from the road. Like years past, she'll stop when she sees a penny or quarter and pocket what she calls her "wings from heaven." Later, she'll add the coins to her fundraising total. That first year, you really learn."Īs she prepares to embark on her sixth Empire State Ride with her team, GBY9 ("God Bless You" followed by her parents' favorite number), she looks forward to doing what she can on her bike and cheering everybody else on. "It's a game - getting the rest, taking the supplements you need, drinking water every 10 minutes, finding a support group to cheer you on. "I really had no idea how to ride my bicycle. A self-declared "Holiday Inn girl," she avoided camping for most of her life and had limited experience with distance cycling. She thinks back to her first Empire State Ride in 2017 and remembers not knowing what to expect. Maria's journey makes raising funds to end cancer more important than ever. If you're ready for the 500 mile cycling challenge for cancer research, looking to volunteer or get involved in another way, sign up for ESR 2022 today! Register Remembering her first ride But I will be at the Empire State Ride, heck or high water, sleeping in a tent and joining everybody in celebration." "It's in God's hands what I'm going to be able to do this year ," Maria says. Not all days are good, but she does what she can to keep herself moving, including training to participate in her sixth Empire State Ride. Despite any limitations, Maria completes three miles, or about 99 laps around her hospital floor, with Wanda in tow. For each round of treatment, she stays at the hospital for days at a time, hooked up to an infusion pump on an IV stand that Rebecca has fondly named Wanda. ![]() On November 22, Maria's diagnosis came back: Leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that grows in the smooth muscles.Īlongside her niece, Rebecca, close friend, Terry, and the staff at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Maria started chemotherapy. I was riding my bicycle when the doctor called and said I had a fatty mass. After a sonogram and a CT scan, she received a phone call that no one ever wants to receive. "I always stress that you should go to the doctor if there's something wrong."Īnd she did, calling her doctor right away, she set up an appointment as soon as possible. "I know my body so well, and that's really important," Maria says. In late 2021, Maria noticed something in her stomach didn't feel right. In recent years, this faith has become more important than ever as she's been faced with new challenges. Through everything, Maria's strong faith sees her through life's ups and downs. She rides to honor her parents who both lost their battles to cancer. She cycles six days a week and adds an hour of weights whenever possible as part of her training for Empire State Ride, which she has proudly done every year since 2017. For 59-year-old Maria Thor, enjoying nature, being surrounded by loved ones and taking care of her health are three of life's greatest blessings. ![]()
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