Jennifer’s Trek – She Made It!!!

Jennifer conquered 270 miles, three states, insane hills, high humidity, high anxiety, pouring rain, extreme pain, early hours and dorm rooms.  She got a flat tire, the rear one, of course and changed it herself (with a little help from fellow riders. Her tire pump fell off at some point.)  I’ll leave the rest of Jennifer’s details for her to express in a future posting.  I simply could not do justice to what she went through to accomplish this feat.

As far as my details; honestly, there were times when I felt so useless, because I couldn’t ride or even help much.  I struggled as the ride proceeded with fatigue and pain from too much walking and standing, yet I survived.  That’s not what this posting is all about.  By the end, I realized how selfish those feelings were.  Overall, it was an emotional, humbling and inspiring event.

I was so happy to have been able to participate in the whole ride this year as I saw the event truly unfold and reveal itself.  It was like popping the cork on a bottle of wine; smelling and tasting it develop as apposed to just looking at a bottle sitting on the shelf as in the previous years when Jennifer and I just spoke the night before the ride and had to leave the next morning.  (Sorry, I had to get a wine reference in the article somehow!!!)

 

Last night, I thought of some things I wish I said to all the riders, volunteers, sponsors and our event coordinator, Mat Mendel.  I’ll do that now because I think a lot of what I have to say applies at least in part, to all the people reading this posting.

After the ride, most everybody settled under a tent at the finish line in White Plains, NY for some dinner and a few speakers.  I surveyed the crowd and began to tear up.  These people just worked their butts off, some literally, for the last three days.  There were months of preparation leading up to the event including training and incredible fundraising efforts.  Some people participated to honor a loved one lost to ALS, others to support those still in the battle and still more simply out of the goodness of their hearts.

I am humbled by the fact that all of this took place to raise money for ALS research via ALSTDF.  This action benefits me directly by providing me hope for a treatment or cure, possibly in my lifetime.  Attitude is everything when dealing with this disease and hope is the cornerstone.

I am inspired by the overall goodness in people and the extremes that they are willing to go to even if something doesn’t affect them directly.  It’s easy to turn a cold shoulder with all the negativity that permeates the media.  When you experience an event like the Tri-State Trek and the people that are involved, you can’t help but be in awe of the power of humanity.  The more we work together, the more we can accomplish.  Jamie Haywood, founder of ALSTDF, mentioned at the closing ceremonies; what a better world we would live in if more people would ask, ‘How can we help?’ versus, ‘What do you want?’

Most of all, I am grateful.  I am grateful to all the people who worked so hard to make this event possible.  I am grateful to everyone who rode their bikes and fundraised.  I am grateful to all who sponsored, whether corporately or personally.  I am grateful to ALSTDF for their determination in finding a treatment or cure.  And finally, I am extremely grateful to Jennifer for being my hero and pushing herself far beyond anything she could have imagined and finishing this ride in my honor.

Jennifer had many moments of struggling, but you can ask anybody I talked to and they will tell you I never had a doubt that she would finish.  She had the prayers of hundreds of people for safety and strength.  She had her angels of those we have known that have passed away from ALS.  She had the support of all who are reading this now.  Thank you, everyone.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, JENNIFER!!!

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