On October 12, 1995, Women In The Wind lost a good friend and member, Janet Scaglione, to cancer. We only had the pleasure of her company for about two years.

When Janet joined Women In The Wind, it was as a new rider. She decided that she wanted to ride after beating cancer twice. Women In The Wind was a real passion for her, and she was one of our most active members, giving 100% to every project she worked on. I truly hope that we made a difference and made her last years happy. Janet was a real asset to Women In The Wind, and we have desperately missed her.

After leading the funeral procession, and taking Janet to her final resting place, we decided that we would do some kind of memorial benefit for her each year. Thus, the "Tour de Parks Memorial Poker Run" was born.
Each year since, we have sponsored this event in September, near the anniversary of her death. Even tho the weather has not always been cooperative, we have been able to raise sizable amounts to donate to two of our favorite charities, "Camp Good Days and Special Times" which is a camp for children with cancer.The kids are able to go to these special camps when their health allows. They have a nurse (volunteer) on duty there at all times. In addition to this they also have weekend camps for the siblings of these children, children who are dealing with a sister or brother or other family member  with cancer, or in some cases the loss of one of these.
After our first Tour de Parks Run, we were invited to visit during one of the sibling weekends to see the camp and to present our donation. They were amazed to see the $1000 on the giant check that we had made up, and were more than appreciative. We had lunch in a big mess hall type of dining area with the kids. We were scattered throughout the dining area and most were anxious to sit and chat with us. They taught us a camp song and made us sing along. We were told about some of the things they do at camp.
They have a night where they have a big campfire and a candlelight ceremony for the people they love and are able to express their feelings and fears among other kids who are experiencing the same things. It was a very rewarding, yet emotional afternoon. It was great being able to see firsthand that the money we had worked so hard to raise was being used in such a wonderful way.  I know Janet would be pleased.
The following is a letter we received from Janet's husband.
To all the Ladies of Women In The Wind,
          First of all let me express my sincere gratitude for the love and offerings of support each of you expressed to me and my family at the loss of my wife, Janet.
          As you probably know, we had been in a battle against the "Devil Disease" for the past three years. During that time, the disease appeared at three different times and Janet beat it those three times. We were assuming that everything was well with her until late this past summer. At that time she was experiencing weakness and fatigue, which we had expected since she had just received her latest dose of radiation in early summer for the third reoccurance. Following that, a bone scan showed that the cancer was gone, which was her third success against the disease. However, as it turned out, the weakness and fatigue was due to a fourth invasion. The disease is extremely intelligent as it woos you into a false sense of security, deactivates the hunger center of the brain, making you think you are not hungry, and consequently your nutrition suffers, and then attacks full blast for the final time, while you are in that weakened condition. It happened very fast.          I took her to the Lee Moffit Cancer Center in late September where she was tested. They told her then that the disease was back and this time so strong that they could not help her. As you know, Janet never gave up, even with that terminal news. We located a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a wonderful hospital, which only treated cancer patients. They did what they could for her in their treatments, but there were too many things wrong with her frail body and she died with me by her side at 5:20 am (Tampa Time) on October 12, 1995. A very large part of me died with her.             I miss her alot now, as I am sure that you do as well. I only had 15 years with her, but they were great years, maybe greater than some people who get 50 years together. Particularly, the last three years in which I knew I could lose her at any time. That awareness made me appreciate the time with her and an appreciation of the type person she was rather than taking her for granted  as we all have done with our loved ones thinking we had forever. We do not have forever, and I hope each one of you realize that now, and treat your loved ones like today is the last day, because one day it might be.           Janet never stopped fighting the battle, even when she was too tired or weak, she would stay in the battle just for the rest of us who loved her. She was very brave throughout the battle, even when she was told she was going to die (about a month before she did) I am extremely proud to have been her husband, her confidant, her lover, her friend. She knew how to live and she knew how to die. My life will never be the same because of who she was.   Halfway through her ordeal, she woke up one day and announced to me that she wanted to ride a motorcycle. Of course, I wasn't expecting this from a 44 year old woman who had just beaten cancer twice.  But I loved her so much and was so proud and grateful for her recent success against cancer that if she asked me for a mountain, I would have tried to get it for her. She took the motorcycle safety course and passed it. Shortly thereafter, she got her bike and then met and joined up with you and your club. Having you and her bike were overwhlming and exciting for her. She loved all of you and she  loved  her bike and riding. I owe you all a debt of gratitude that I can never repay for all the wonderful times you gave my girl. And seeing you at the wake, and then seeing some of you ride your motorcycles in the funeral procession gave me a feeling I can not express. I have a feeling that Janet was riding on one of those bikes with you.          I appreciate the personal cards I have received from you expressing your sorrow and sympathy. I like to think she is in a better place now; a place where there is no pain or suffering. And maybe in that place she is telling the others who are there about riding her bike with her friends in the true fashion of Women In The Wind.           As for the rest of us who are still here, I think she might say to us that we should LOVE THE PEOPLE WE LOVE ... because we all pass this way but once... We should make it count.           Janet loved you all very much and so do I.   ~ John