Editor's Note: NewsChannel 2 anchorwoman Wendy Chioji is grateful to all of the viewers who have expressed their best wishes as she participates for the Tour of Hope.

Chioji has chosen to use WESH.com as her way of keeping the public updated on her journey. New diary entries will be posted daily throughout the tour.

WATCH FOR COVERAGE Watch WESH NewsChannel 2 for coverage of Wendy's Tour of Hope. WENDY'S DIARY An Emotional Finish Singin' In The Rain Rally In Indianapolis Chilling In Arkansas Monster Crosswinds Tailwind To Texas An Uphill Climb The Race Begins First Day In L.A. Preparing For Tour Goodbye Yellow Bike ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Tour Pictures Wendy's Team Clickable Map Ride Benefits Cancer Research Sign Cancer Promise Tour Of Hope Web Site

Every day on the Tour of Hope has been better than the day before, and the last 24 hours have been absolutely amazing.

When we got on the bikes near Chester, Ill., Wednesday night, we rode up to transition, to take over from Team A, and guess who was there? Lance Armstrong and some of his riding pals. They rode with us for about an hour and a half. It was fantastic.

Team Yego took turns riding with him. I got to go first. We chatted about my Tour de France trip (and his), about the playoffs (he was cheering for the Yankees), public appearances, cycling -- all kinds of things.

Several times, he and his friends sprinted to county lines and city limits, and it's mind boggling to see how he can accelerate.

When we got to our end point, we slept for a couple of hours in the rock star tour bus and the hotel, then another rider, Steve Friedman, and I took off for Indianapolis, and a huge Tour of Hope rally in Conseco Fieldhouse.

Lance was there, of course. We were all in a news conference with him. He told the reporters that he drafted off me through Illinois last night (a statement that I confirmed, as untrue as it was). Then, we were part of the rally. There were about 3,000 people there, including five of my sorority sisters from Indiana University. Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers was there. He gave Lance a Pacers jersey (it's yellow, you know). I gave him a signed Tour of Hope trading card, and he signed one of mine. I gave Lance a signed card, too. Very funny.

I got to tell the crowd my story about the breast cancer and taking advantage of the second chance I've been blessed enough to have. My message was that the reason I'm here is because others before me participated in clinical trials, and I did the same for women and men behind me, and that we will not find the cure for cancer without clinical trials. It was moving and powerful, just as I knew it would be.

Meanwhile, Team Yego is just wrapping up its stage for the day. I know it was a tough one. I'll join them again tonight for the stage. Coach Ivana is going to ride with us!

Now, Steve and I are getting shuttled back to our respective teams. Steve is going to get out of the car and on to the bike. I have a few hours to go. This has been the most fantastic day.

Wendy
Oct. 15, 2003

P.S. It's not too late to sign the Cancer Promise. You can follow my journals and track the journey here, or on the Tour of Hope Web site or FloridaRacing.net.

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Wendy Chioji.