April 19,2001 I woke up to my mother screaming for help. I rushed into my parent's bedroom to find my step father on the floor struggling to breath, suffering a major heart attack. I assited my mother with CPR and calling 9-1-1 for services. The paramedics applied and used the AED in the kitchen while attempting to move him out to the ambulance. Fast forward and we learned he had suffered not only a heart attack but a ruptured cerebral aneurysm and multiple strokes. He had lost his short term memory and was paralyzed on his left side. It was amazing he was alive at all.

I spent most of my 7th and 8th grade years visiting him at the nursing home while he recovered. Fast forward just under another year and Rich had regained his memory, was able to use his left side, and was starting to walk again. We had even remodeled the house, making it wheel chair accessible to bring him home. However, we were only able use the ramp and house modifications a couple times because we learned Rich had stage 4 lung cancer. He died shortly later at the young age of 56.

It's pretty amazing what the body can recover from but it's unable to save itself from lung cancer. Rich's cancer was most likely caused from a lifetime of smoking and working in constructions, demolishion, and farming.

This year, I am once again riding in honor Rich. (The photo on my page is the only photo I have of him, luckily it's one where we're together.) Since I will be working the event, I will be doing my ride later in the summer.

Please join me in my efforts to make a difference by making a personal or corporate tax-deductible donation.

Thank you in advance for you support!