Submitted On December 19, 2014
As the year comes to an end many of us find ourselves looking back and reflecting on where we’ve been, where we’ve come, and everything that has happened since our last yearly reflection. Well, the Fuller Center Bike Adventure is no different. We also like to take a moment to stop and look back on the year and everything that has occurred. And what a year 2014 has been! Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of this year of adventure:
-We had our third annual Spring ride. 33 cyclists came out to ride 380 miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway, and built stairs for 11 houses as part of a project to get families into unused Hurricane Katrina cottages!
-Our 7th annual Summer ride took us on a Northern route from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Astoria, Oregon. A total of 105 riders joined us for some portion of this journey with 18 riders going the whole way.
-Along the summer route we reached our ONE MILLION DOLLAR goal! The news was a cause for a celebration for everyone who has ever ridden with FCBA, reminding us that every little donation and every mile pushed through got us here.
-After the beloved and fearless Melissa Merrill completed leading her 4th ride over two years with the Bike Adventure by hitting the coast in Oregon, she passed the baton to newcomer Lydia Huelskamp, a recent Biola University graduate who had just completed her first cross country FCBA ride.
-The first ever FCBA fall ride was announced during the summer. It was a great success with 50 riders coming out to experience this beautiful trail, a night of camping, and hanging with old and new friends.
As we look back on the past year we continue to get more excited for the next year. With over 45 riders already signed up we are looking forward to the adventures, the friendships, and the miles to come. So as we say goodbye to 2014 we also want to say thank you.
Thank you to those who have donated. You have helped us give housing to another family. Thank you to those who hosted and fed us. The rest and energy you gave us helped keep us going all those miles. Thank you to everyone who supported and prayed for us. Your encouraging words and messages helped remind us why we were riding. And thank you to our riders. You embodied the mission of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure and kept our rides interesting. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!
Thanks for making 2014 great everyone. And of course, I can’t finish a blog without a plug for next year! Join now and help make 2015 our best year yet!
