Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank70SS
Jeff I hope you make it to your goal of pledges. I feel like the people here are my friends, so not only am I helping out a good cause, I'm helping out a friend.
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Im fairly certain I will make it Hank. I havent even gone to my family yet, I will do that when we are all together on Easter. My mom was a very, very well liked person, throughout the family and community, she was just one of those people that had a smile for everyone, no matter how bad her day was, she would give you the biggest smile you would get all day, and that was my mom every single day. I am just starting to spread the word that I am doing this in her memory, I am confident I will reach my goal.
I can't thank everyone enough, the kind words alone are enough to motivate me to get out and do this.
If you have time, I will give you a quick story of why I am doing this.
My dad died of a massive heart attack at the age of 59 back on Jan 12th 2006. So on April 8th (my birthday) 2006 I saw our local police department was having an auction. So I walked down there and ended up riding a bike home. I started by simply riding to the end of the block and back, and it wore me out, a few weeks later I was riding around town, and it was wearing me out. By June I was riding 15 miles every night, and it wasnt wearing me out. So my wife for Fathers day that year bought me a nice road bike, and suddenly I was riding 40 miles at a time.
So I started doing charity rides, and my mom would come early, and get a copy of the route map and at least 5 times on every ride she would be standing along the route somewhere, out in the middle of nowhere with a big gatorade and a smile cheering me on. She loved to watch me do the charity rides, she was easily my biggest fan. And she would always be at the end waiting to congratulate me on finishing, no matter how many of them I did, or how easy it was becoming, she was there everytime.
So thats why I decided I would do a Leukemia bike ride. And I specifically chose the longest one I could find, one which exceeds any ride I have ever done. I know mom will be along the course for this ride too, cheering me on just like she always did.
I dont know if any of you do the facebook thing, but I created a page on facebook just to chronicle my journey to this ride. I am going to be updating pretty much daily on everything that happens it can be found here if you are interested, not much there yet, but it will grow:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...6235792?ref=mf or you can find it Jeff Piettes Scenic Shore 150 page
Thanks everyone, I cant do this without all of you
Jeff