Update: As of April 13, 77.64 miles have been logged and sponsorships/pledges total $900. A shout out to the extended Bridgeport community for getting on board! 

 

I learned to ride a bike when I was 4 or 5 years old. One afternoon, my Grandpap Cook was running alongside of me as I wobbled on two wheels down the alley behind our house. As the story goes, Grandpap – all the while keeping in step - kept yelling for me to hit the brakes and stop, but I kept on going. Finally, with his help, I came to a stop. He explained to me how to peddle backwards and make the bike stop. I proceeded to tell him that I knew how to stop – but that I just didn’t want to.

 

A half century later, I still feel that way. When I’m riding my bike, I like to go and go and go. In our neck of the North Central West Virginia woods, there are lots of winding roads. And as you notice more when you’re traveling via manpower rather than motor, there are a lot of hills around here. Yet, once climbed, a reward awaits. There’s perhaps not a freer feeling than coasting down an open rural road.

 

This hobby of mine is nothing new. Yet there is a reason

I bring it up in today’s blog. I’ve combined this passion with a cause for which I have become passionate. When little Gavin Morris became cancer free earlier this month after entering his eternal home, my heart – like many of yours – ached for his parents and other family members and friends. And when his mother Tosha Morris decided to step out and attempt a personal $1 million fundraiser to help other kids with cancer (read about it here), I wanted to get behind her and help in some way. I’m peddling this month for Gavin.  The more miles I go, the more money raised for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation through the Gavin Morris Fund for Neuroblastoma Research. In addition to some family and friends who are serving as sponsors, I’d like to thank GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club, Pro Mountain Outfitters of Bridgeport and owners Tim Gregis and Nathan Annon, Miss Lucy's Daycare and the BHS Class of 1978  for getting behind this effort in a big way. If you feel led to serve as a sponsor with a flat rate donation, you can do that that at the Jewelee Bikes for Gavin fundraising page here. If you want to sponsor per mile, you can contact me directly. Companies or organizations donation $100 or more will be acknowledged as title sponsors.