Serendipity

Beth Snyder was thrilled to fly from Dallas to Columbus about a month ago. She is an Ohio native and a proud alumnus of The Ohio State University. Her task while in town was to present a check to Ohio State President Gordon Gee from the ExxonMobil Foundation. After the check presentation, she couldn’t resist revisiting her old house, high school and hometown of Bexley.

During her trip down memory lane, Beth noticed the One Goal yard signs. She saw one in front of the Columbus School for Girls, her high school alma mater, and her first thought was One Goal was likely a fundraiser for CSG. But it wasn’t until later that she would figure out the true meaning of the green arrow.

While traveling, Beth felt compelled to read That’s Why I’m Here, the book written by Chris Spielman about his cherished memories of his wife and their battle against breast cancer. It inspired her, but she also had gut feeling that there was a connection between One Goal and Stefanie’s story. She came across the Stefanie’s Team of Hope Peloton Facebook page and she knew she was on to something. Quickly pulling up her search engine, she typed in “One Goal.” Suddenly, it all came together – the connection between Pelotonia: One Goal and Stefanie’s Team of Hope.

She reached out to Stephanie’s Team of Hope immediately. First, she contacted Shannon Peterson, Peloton captain of STOH, asking to join the team. She also dialed her sister, Lindsay, and asked her to “virtually train” for Pelotonia12 with her. Lindsay lives in Washington, D.C. and has been cycling for quite some time unlike Beth.

Because of her runner mentality, Beth decided to choose the 100-mile route. “I’m a runner,” explains Beth. “I’m a runner on a bike, but I’m all in.”

She bought a brand new bike. She learned about clip-ins. She dedicated herself to training in 105-degree heat. And she could not feel more blessed that the green arrow caught her attention.

“Cancer has a way of making people feel powerless,” says Beth. “This has given me an opportunity to really do something.”

Pelotonia is an opportunity Beth is embracing for two reasons: she feels it was meant to be and it gives her an incredibly special weekend to experience with her sister. Beth is one of five children and the Snyder family has spread around the world.

Riding in Pelotonia with her sister is a precious gift to Beth –a gift that came from a simple question: “Will you ride with me?”

Written By: Melissa Thompson