Nicasio, CA (09/09/17) – “When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.” Sherlock Holmes author, Arthur Conan Doyle, Scientific American, 1896
Mr. Robert Young (87) is a former cyclist and racer and still has a keen interest in the sport. So when a service opportunity with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Team In Training opened up involving bikes, we knew he was up for the job!
The mission of LLS is: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. They are the voice for all blood cancer patients and they work to ensure access to treatments for all blood cancer patients.
Team In Training (TNT) is the flagship fundraising program for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It’s also the original sports training program for charity, and the only one dedicated to creating a world without blood cancers. TNT teammates fund groundbreaking discoveries in research, and inspire personal discovery through training and community. Sports programs include running, cycling, triathlon, hiking, mountain climbing, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing.
Locally, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) chapter of TNT, is training for El Tour de Tucson on November 18, 2017. America’s largest cycling event will take approximately 9,000 riders completely around the Tucson area at the base of the surrounding mountains with gorgeous desert vistas, dry river crossings and more saguaro cacti than you can count.
The GBA Team rides every Saturday and slowly increases their mileage every week in preparation for the 106 mile event. During their longer training rides, stationary SAG (support and gear) stops located about every 20 miles on their training routes provide water, snacks and light repairs to the bikes of the team members. The team relies on past team members to help with volunteering to staff the SAG stops. We wanted to help Robert reconnect with his love of cycling while also being able to help with a charitable endeavor.
On Saturday, we loaded up our van and headed out to the little town of Nicasio, where we set up our SAG stop and waited for the ride groups to arrive. Robert wore his new cycling cap and greeted the two groups of riders as they came in. We made some new friends and were able to help the team stay fed and hydrated. We wish the Tour de Tucson Team the best of luck on their ride November 18th! Go Team!
Windchime of Marin takes pride in helping our residents stay connected to the community with a spirit of service to others. For more information on events like these, or to take a tour at Windchime of Marin, call our Director of Sales and Marketing, Valdete Lane, at 530.414.9700.