Why I ride
Hello to all my friends and family. As everyone who probably views this knows, I am one of the founders of the Courage Classic bicycle fundraiser for Children's Hospital Colorado, and each of you have been receiving these requests for donations every year for 34 years now. Each of you have been very generous in the past and have supported me in this ride for many years, and I am very humbled and thankful for all of your support.
Over the last 34 years we have encountered many hardships and difficulties during this ride. We have had freezing rain, snow, (yes it can snow in the mountains of Colorado in July!) Flat tires, accidents, Heat, running out of food, water, every weather condition, good and bad! But we have endured and made it through to the end every year. I have ridden with each of my family members on a tandem and I have taken one of the Team Courage kids with Cerebral Palsy on the tandem with me for several years until his mom told me his legs just couldn't ride anymore. However, he's now an Olympian in the Para-Olympics on a snowboard! This is why I ride! I have seen so many miracles of kids beating cancer, learning to walk, overcoming brain injuries, burns, and watched devastated families fight back and win over incredible odds. Not all make it, but many do and it is your contributions that help make it happen!
I will be turning 74 years old this year just one week before the ride, I live in Florida most of the year and Chicago area some of the year, and neither has hills or altitude! So yes, it is getting more and more difficult to ride Vail Pass, Fremont Pass and Battle Mountain. In addition, my training has been interrupted this year with hospital stays for a heart attack just before Christmas and dehydration a month later trying to recover too fast! But even though we are going through hospitalization and recovery, I am determined to make it out to Colorado to ride for the 34th time! Connie hopes to accompany to Colorado and the altitude this year to cheer me on.
But I intend to continue until I just cannot do it anymore. Yes, I’m that passionate about it!
Thanks for visiting my personal fundraising web page and make a donation today. You can click the green link at the TOP of this page to make an online donation. It's easy, fast and safe. Plus, you'll be making a difference for a great cause.
Your donation will help Children's Hospital Colorado patients thrive and survive.
Thanks in advance for your generous support.