Cycling for Good

I have a lot to gain from cycling the Atlantic Coast. I’ll get more fit. Have a challenge and the adventure of a lifetime. See the country on bike time. Meet great people.  But I want to do more.

I want to take this opportunity to raise awareness and funds for some charities that mean a lot to people who make life better for me and others around them.

Each week, I’ll ride in honor of someone who inspires me. I’ll introduce you to them and tell you about a charity that is their cause. And you’ll have a chance to make a difference, too!

You’ll learn about:

• My brother, James Russell, sister-in-law Paula and their 27-year-old son Kelly, whose life has been profoundly affected by Kelly’s conditions, including spastic quadriplegia, cystic fibrosis, diabetes insipidus and seizure disorder. Their lives have been enriched, and made much easier, by their service dogs from Canine Assistants. Read about James, Paula and Kelly and you can a donation to Canine Assistants.
•  Allie Brantley, a vibrant, young professional and mother of identical triplets, who is fighting MS and searching for the cure before her daughters are adults by raising funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. You can make a donation to the National MS Society.
• Julie Yip-Williams, who overcame being born blind in a culture that doesn’t tolerate disabilities in females, to travel the world alone and become a lawyer at one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. After marriage and two young daughters, she was struck again – this time by Stage IV colon cancer. She is fighting colon cancer and has a goal to raise $1 million to find a cure through Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation. Read about Julie and her battle and you can make a donation to Chris4Life.
• Barry Falcon whose life, and that of his family, was changed forever when he learned his son was afflicted by Type 1 diabetes. He vowed to defeat this disease, and has walked, run and biked more than 5,000 miles and raised more than $350,000 to help find a cure for Type 1 diabetes through the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Read about Barry and his fight and you can make a donation to JDRF.
• Andrew Powell, who, along with his brother-in-law, Frank Guinn, was hit by a car while out for a short bike ride the day before a triathlon in 2014. His brother-in-law was killed and Andrew broke his tailbone, pelvis and ankle, injured his spine and ended up with a T12 incomplete spinal injury. Like many athletes at the Challenged Athletes Foundation®, he is fighting to return to running and triathlon in his new “normal.” And to complete what Frank set out to do. – complete a Half Ironman. You can make a donation to Challenged Athletes Foundation.
• Debra Furtado brought her community connections full circle when she left her career in the corporate world to dedicate herself to helping seniors live independent and healthy lives in the Atlanta area as CEO of Senior Connections. You can make a donation to Senior Connections.

Bring your box of tissues and join me each week to learn about these amazing people and their charitable causes.

And share these stories with your friends and families. You’ll all be inspired and have a chance to help me Cycling for Good.

I’ve built a fund to match contributions made by you and your network during my ride up to $6,000 – so don’t miss this chance to help!