Cancer survivor looking for adventure

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY - A metro woman, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, is heading out on the highway to start an incredible journey of survival.

Michele Baker was the furthest thing from a biker chic you could imagine. A mom, nurse, a breast cancer patient, who was diagnosed 3 years ago, but now she's a survivor.

Thanks to an early detection, Baker is hitting the highway on a Harley with a new passion for riding like the wind.

"When I was growing up, when I was a kid, cancer was a death sentence, but it's not like that anymore," said Baker.

Her new hobby started just a couple months ago, when she was on MySpace.com. She found a community of breast cancer survivors ready to take on new adventures, and riding motorcycles is one of them.

"I just know, like moving down the highway, born to be wild. You don't think about anything else that's happening in life, except for you're watching the road," Baker said. "You're totally focused on. It's like being free."

The Amazon Heart foundation organized a motorcycle ride up the California coast. It's an eight day trek on Highway 1 from L.A. to San Francisco.

That's why Baker hooked up with a local Harley Davidson shop to get prepared. The owners have donated "breast cancer pink" riding gear, and set up this photo shoot to give her the tools to spread awareness and raise funds for research.

The shop said their customers are like their family.

"You share their happiness, you share their sadness, and you share their survivals, like Michele, and you celebrate them. That's what makes me the happiest," said Stacie Dodson who works at Fort Thunder Harley Davidson.

Michelle is the only Oklahoman taking part in the Amazon Heart Thunder ride on the west coast and she hopes to join in on more of these adventures in the future.