In 1997, I became aware of HD through meeting Carmen Leal, author of Faces of Huntington's, on the Christian Writer's Group on the Internet, In June, 1998, at Carmen's invitation, I attended the 13th Annual HDSA Convention in Denver, CO. After this experience, I was deeply touched. My Christian faith required action; "... let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth " (1 John 3:18). I met Charlotte Reicks through a mutual friend, and the trio rode across America in 1999. We continued the annual ride in regional rides all over the US, before each Convention. In 2004 Sherri Kole discovered Bike for the Cure through HD Internet connections, and she joined us and continued to do rides when her schedule permitted. Sherri's sister Mary Ann Taylor began to ride with us in 2013. Charlotte and I took early "retirement" in 2019 for health and family reasons. We then passed the baton to Sherri and Mary Ann. Fundraising rides have yielded $850,000 over the years.
This 24th annual ride will be across Washington state, on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. The ride will end in Spokane WA at the National Convention.
This year's ride is dedicated to the memory of Sherri's son Dustin, who tested positive for the gene almost 20 years ago. Dustin lost his life to HD in February of this year, after a well-fought battle.
Please donate generously to the ride. Donations will go primarily to research, but also to family services and education.