A Look Back at the Good

This Thanksgiving weekend has been a wonderful family celebration with Myssy’s mom Nancy making it home from Arizona – though it was the first that son Evan, now in Texas, has missed. It made me realize, in addition to feasts, fires, and the Charleston Christmas trees, I must count my past blessings and thank all my wonderfully generous friends and family members who supported my Great Cycle Challenge ride this September.

I reached my 500-mile goal (505.7) after an auspicious Week 2 (five stiches across my pinky, assorted bumps and bruises), and fell just shy of my $2,500 fundraising goal ($2,320). Though Scott Vincent and I, representing our brainchild Dragons Slaying Cancer, did surpass our $3,500 team goal with $3,870. Thank you Scott, for your efforts! Overall and most importantly, $7,672,474 was raised nationwide for kids’ cancer research! In six years during the GCC months I’ve now ridden 3,768 miles, and thanks to so many of you, I’ve raised $18,466.63.

Here’s the 2024 donor breakdown: My SAHS Class of ’82 mates: Kelly Johnson Tinsley, Cindy Shope Strock, Erica (& John) Boggess, Stephanie (Robin) Shoemaker, Carla Slack Vanwyck, Alan Kee, and Diana Lilly Kitts.

Super-supportive fellow Red Dragons (in no specific order): Jane Weiford Sneed, Dana & Lisa Miller, Steve McGrath, Karen Fulmer Cebuhar, Linda Hammar Costilow, Pam (Price) Billups, Tom Neal, Becky Goodwin, Jimmy Gilmore, John Wiles, and Derek Watson. Jimmy, John, John B., and Derek all graduated in ’79 with my sister, Kelly, for whom I ride.

From the ’Bend: Barbara & Rodney Holley, Tara & Craig Lane, and Art Postlethwait.

From in-town St. Albans: JC Spears, Heather & Lee McCoy.

Beloved spouses of two of the buddies for whom I ride: Carrie (Cherry) Knapp & Hollis Claypool.

My always-supportive family members: Danny Allen, Cheryl Barnes McLane, Sandy (Fulks) Baker, Kelly Tinsley, Marc Rucker, Lisa & Bruce Lawson, the folks, Ruthie & Alan Spradling, and my sweet Mylissa Spradling.

I have to also thank the triple threat, Larry Ellis, (my riding, writing, and guitar playing bud) for keeping me focused on road training, and Rich Harper, owner of John’s Cyclery, for not only keeping me outfitted but for donating to me the bike I ride. I realize I’m not an aggressive solicitor of funds, but I know each year when the donations come, that I am truly BLESSED!! I hope that contributing gives you the same feeling it does me, because it is about saving kids’ lives.

Thanks for reading! A.S.