Fulfilling a life-long dream

Times Reporter 

 

Walt Disney once said if you can dream it, you can do it. That certainly held true for Strathmore businesswoman Marcy Field.  In high school the dream was born to one day ride her motorcycle across Canada. A few years ago Field knew she wanted to mark her 60th birthday in a big way.  On August 14 Field strapped on her leathers, straddled her 2003 Suzuki Volusia 800, which she calls Suzi, and hit the road.

“I started talking when I was in high school about taking this trip across Canada. It’s been surreal to think that it’s done; I’ve actually done it because I talked about it for so long. It was great and just really incredible. I really think that you’re given a dream so that you can fulfill it,” said Field. 

“One of my favourite memories is going through Massey, Ontario and I’m in this little (town) there’s like 3,000 people in this town and one stoplight in the centre of town. Here’s their little strip mall, little park in the front with a cement bench, the one stoplight. I pull in and I’m stopped and I look, here’s these three old guys on the bench watching the traffic go through Massey, Ontario. It’s a marvelous memory and I was like oh that’s great, just to show it does stop.”  

As she began her trek there were strong crosswinds she had to fight through Field said when she was at the edge of Saskatchewan, there were wind turbines creating energy.

“The thought that came to me was sometimes when you’re wanting to make a change you have to go against the prevailing winds. You just keep persisting,” said Field.

“This whole trip came together in about five-six weeks. From when I first started it, it just fell into place but there were different things that happened. I booked all my accommodation going across the country, so I broke that into pieces, like so far that I had to be each day. Incredibly out of the 12 days I was on the motorcycle I had one and a half hours of rain that I rode in, that’s it.”

In addition to the ride commemorating her 60th birthday and the fulfillment of a dream, it was also to raise awareness for girls in need. 

Years ago Field met Rachel Starkey. Starkey owns the Cotton Tales factory in Egypt with her husband. She had been using cut-off, or factory waste, to make washable pads and underwear for girls in developing countries. The garments help make it possible for the girls to be able to complete their education, instead of dropping out due to a lack of sanitary supplies. 

Transformation Textiles is currently working on supplying 50,000 Malawi girls with washable pads and underwear. The girls are also being provided the materials and the design and are being taught to sew. Not only are they being given a necessary product, but also they are being given a skill.

“Transformation Textiles is looking to connect where there’s need. So we’re trying to find sustainable solutions that work in all the different countries. In some countries because of the quality of water this may not be the right solution,” said Field.

“I know there was a lot of awareness raised. Some people were not aware that for $5 we can make a difference in a girl’s life, that’s the price of a cup of coffee. What’s wonderful is that they say the kits should last about five years. This doesn’t solve a problem, it overcomes one of the barriers for them.”

During her 12-day road trip Field met a number of people, and surprised many of them when they realized she was a woman riding cross-country alone. 

“I was the only single female rider across. One of my favourite experiences was once again in Massey, Ontario. I was in the service station and I came out and there was an older couple sitting in the vehicle next to me, they’re looking over at the bike, and then the husband left and the wife kind of kept looking,” said Field laughing.

“So I started a conversation with her and she says ‘yeah we were just talking about how far the bike had come and you’re a woman’. So it was the whole surprise like, ‘and you’re a woman’. A majority of people I talked to were always surprised I was a woman travelling by myself.”

One thing she learned is it takes a team. She may have done the ride but she didn’t do it alone. The support she received helped carry her through and everyone who supported her was there with her in spirit.

Field has made a list of 60 things for 60 that she would like to accomplish. To date she is more than half done and she still has until March. Though her next item isn’t as big as riding cross-country, she does plan to at least begin, and maybe even finish her book. Field said she might write about the ride, and about perceptions as women. The power of a dream pulls at her; Field said she believes we have dreams so that we can fulfill them. 

“As I talk to people and find out their dreams it’s so exciting to see people that actually actualizing that, it’s happening. I’m so glad I did it,” said Field of fulfilling her own dream.