The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20210403050545/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/a-journey-of-faith-against-all-odds/articleshow/10840046.cms
VARANASI: Trekking down around 700-mile journey that began from the base of the Himalayas in Rishikesh to culminate in the holy city of Varanasi on Tuesday, Michele Baldwin (45) not only completed her relentless battle against cervical cancer, but she also became the first woman ever to paddle-board such a long and arduous journey down the holy Ganga to raise awareness against the disease, which spreading fast among Indian women. 'It was a journey of faith and hope which reaffirmed the belief that small changes can make big differences. With the expedition, my endeavor was to reach out to as many women as possible to share my experiences on how simple tests can detect the disease and the need for awareness. I would like to leave a legacy for my own children and women and girls in India,” said the single mother of three, hailing from New Mexico (US), while talking to TOI on Tuesday. While the adventurous journey that began in August had all the ups and downs of an arduous expedit ions, it did not deter the confidence and firm belief of Michele, also a paramedic student and passionate paddle-boarder. “It was a selfmotivated move and I had to fight against all odds and adverse weather conditions to reach the holy city. I always dreamt of concluding the journey in the city that witnessed culmination of life and death, added the patient, who was visiting the city for the first time. Michele was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2009. Despite radiation and chemotherapy twice, she learned this past summer that the cancer has struck back more aggressively and and she was now in terminal stage. “There is a lack of awareness about the fatal cancer that affects girls and women who are in the reproductive age. I did not go for screening (PAP smear) tests a decade back which resulted in deterioration and spread of cervical cancer. Now, I do not want other women in the world to go through the pain and agony of deadly disease, which can be prevented with early diagnosis. I also do not want young children to lose their mothers like me,” she added. Speaking about the Ganga expedition that defined her relentless battle against cervical cancer, she emphasised that making the journey on water while clutching an oar and standing astride a snub-nosed version of a surfboard created all kinds of problems. “I refused to let cancer dictate my journey and fought more than six feet high waves and torrential currents while doing river rafting. Most of the journey was completed in the day and I skipped dinner to remain alert during the dark nights,” she added.
