Why I ride
I ride in the memory of my grandson Jack and granddaughter Samantha. Samantha lost her 4 year battle with a Mitochondrial Disease the week before the Courage Classic in 2010. We can only assume it was the same disease that took Jack 5 years earlier. I also ride in honor of my stepson, Ryan, who has been diagnosed with adult-onset Mitochondrial Disease. This is a progressive disease
Every 15 minutes a child is born with a Mitochondrial Disease. The search for a treatment and a cure for mitochondrial disease is more promising than ever. Our team, Summits for Samantha, funds research conducted by the Mitochondrial Clinic at The Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Samantha never got the chance to ride a bike. To further honor her I captain a tandem for The Rehabilitation Cycling Team (formerly Team Courage) with a young patient of the Children’s Hospital as the stoker or person on the back of the bike. One of Samantha’s stuffed animals, a lion named Courage, rides on the handlebars of our bike.
Please donate to my ride.
