Waiting For You In Columbus

Somebody has to stay behind while the rest of us pedal off to Groveport, Amanda and Athens.

This is the job of Carrie Gwin and her crew of volunteers, who will run the registration tent on Friday and Saturday morning – and then hang out at the Chemical Abstracts campus the rest of the day.

When they're not at the beach, the Gwins like going on family bike rides

“We stayed there until the last bikes were brought back and the last riders got their bikes (last year),” she said of the shuttle service from Groveport, Amanda and Athens back to Columbus. “It was a long day, but the good part was there were other volunteers and their families there and we spent the day talking. And the fun part would come when the trucks arrived and the riders would come and get their bikes and we’d talk to them … it was an amazing day for all the riders.”

Carrie grew up in Sandsuky and was a marketing major at Bowling Green. She and her husband, Ric, live in Blacklick and have two children, Alaina, 10, and Campbell, 7.

“We all love to do sports, we run and play tennis and swim,” Carrie said, adding the family cycles together to the local pool.

She heard about Pelotonia from her friend, Kelley Griesmer, Pelotonia’s director of operations. Friends and members of her family have been affected by cancer, including her sister Lori, a breast cancer survivor, so it was a cause close to her heart.

“It sounded like something that would be a good fit for me and I told Kelly I’d come in to the office to learn more,” Carrie said.

As anyone who’d come into the Pelotonia office knows all too well, it is pretty much impossible to leave without signing up to ride or volunteer.

“They don’t let you go until you get involved,” Carrie said. I think she was joking.

Carrie and her two future Pelotonia riders/volunteers

She started volunteering in the spring, coming to the Pelotonia office on a regular basis, and then worked in the registration tent, signing in the 2,265 riders.

“We worked until about midnight on Friday night and then were back at 4:30 the next morning,” she said. “It was so exciting to watch the riders checking in. We had people in their first ride and experienced riders, the whole spectrum, but the excitement was constant.”

On Friday night, Carrie said, about 40 people signed up for the ride and another handful signed up on Saturday morning.

“This year, we know to have computers and printers in the tent for the people who sign up there,” she said. “Last year we had to do it all by hand, we weren’t expecting that many people to sign up at the tent.”

Another improvement this year, Carrie said, will be to have volunteers in the registration available to answer the questions new riders will ask.

It’s a lot of work, but “I can’t imagine not being involved,” Carrie said. “I knew it would be an amazing event, not just for one year but for many years to come.”

10 things about Carrie…

Favorite ride

To the pool with my family

Dream ride

Pelotonia, the whole 180 miles

Current Pelotonia bike

Diamondback Serene

Dream bike

I don’t know

Favorite movie

Pretty Woman

Favorite band/singer

U2

Favorite TV show

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

Favorite book

Something Borrowed

Favorite athlete

Roger Federer

Favorite post-ride meal

Salad and a big bowl of pasta

From Athens With Love

Elizabeth Suver wanted to be part of Pelotonia – but wasn’t so much into cycling.

“That wasn’t something I felt would be the best way to help,” the Columbus resident said.

There are a lot of people who don’t want to ride, for a variety of good reasons. But no problem: there are plenty of other ways to join the Pelotonia family. Elizabeth is a whiz at organizing – a talent that sure comes in handy when putting on a huge three-day event.

“Everyone in my family calls me the cruise director,” Elizabeth said of her organizational and leadership skills.

Elizabeth in action at the first Pelotonia ride

She is now Pelotonia’s overall lead volunteer in Athens, where the 100- and 180-mile riders will finish up on Saturday and come together to celebrate – and then leave from early the next morning.

“Everybody who got there last year, and got off their bikes, was ear-to-ear smiles,” she said. “I was so pumped up and amazed and touched by everyone’s stories.”

Elizabeth volunteered in honor of her friend, Patti, who is battling ovarian cancer.

“As the trucks were being packed and everything was winding down, I was sitting in the grass talking to a few riders,” she said. “One of them turned around and had Patti’s name on his jersey.  I didn’t know him prior, and we were the only two that carried her name with us that weekend. Coincidence?  I don’t think so … and that made it all worth it for me.”

Elizabeth’s story begins in Lancaster, where she grew up. Dancing was a big part of her life. She was part of BalletMET Columbus and wound up at a performing arts high school in Boston – and then Butler University.

“We went through cancer when I was in junior high,” she said.

Her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the mid-1980s and died two years later at the age of 44.

Her brother, Charles Cook, is director of surgical critical care at OSU’s Medical Center.

“Chuck is the one who introduced me to Pelotonia,” she said of her brother, who is an avid cyclist. Elizabeth lives in Worthington and runs a photography studio, Adagio Images. She has two sons, Luke, 8, and Leyton, 6.

Elizabeth and her sons, or as we like to call them: two of our future riders/volunteers

The first Pelotonia was a learning experience for Elizabeth and all the volunteers.

“We walked into it relatively blind since it was the first one,” she said. “There were a lot of modifications and we really had to pull things together and just get through the day. But it turned out to be incredible. It was a lot of hard work and a lot of people started out in one role and ended up doing three others and we all got it done with a tremendous amount of care and passion.”

Elizabeth called it “probably the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had.”

And this year, she promises, with a year’s worth of experience in the bank, she and all the other Athens volunteers will be even more organized.

“It was nice to be able to sit down with Juli (Capani, Pelotonia’s Volunteer Coordinator) very early, in January, and talk about the volunteer process, how to streamline it and get the volunteers to select where they want to be rather than assign them and do a better job of determining our needs and specific goals and objectives for each of our lead volunteers.”

Her father, Charles, and step mother, Sharon, were part of last year’s Athens crew – and will volunteer once again.

Elizabeth worked closely with volunteer Debi Lewis last year in the run up to Pelotonia – and the two spent many a night planning and eating sushi at Debi’s kitchen table.

“Debi and I had a great time over the Pelotonia weekend and Sunday morning when Athens was finished, we packed her car and led the caravan to Slate Run … talking on our Walkie Talkies and laughing the whole way. Today, I am Thelma and she is Louise.”

10 Things About Elizabeth…

Favorite ride

Paris

Dream ride

Italy

Current Pelotonia bike

An orange mountain bike

Dream bike

A tandem

Favorite movie

The Color Purple

Favorite TV show

Grey’s Anatomy

Favorite book

Where the Red Fern Grows

Favorite musician/musical group

Indigo Girls

Favorite athlete

The 2009-10 Butler men’s basketball team

Favorite post-ride meal

Homemade chicken and noodles

Team Tang Takes to the Road

LeAnna Harris and her father, Dave Grubb, weren’t quite able to ride in the inaugural Pelotonia.

LeAnna and Dave were volunteers at Pelotonia last year

LeAnna was having back problems that eventually required surgery and Dave, well, let’s just say he was still feeling the effects of years of smoking and a sedentary lifestyle.

Instead of riding – they volunteered, which turned out to be such a rewarding experience the two dedicated themselves to training for and riding in this year’s Pelotonia. And not only will they ride, Dave and LeAnna will go the distance: 180 miles to Athens and then back to Columbus.

“The biggest thrill last year was being a cheerleader for all the riders,” said Dave, who volunteered at one of the rest stops with LeAnna. “From the looks on their faces, you could tell they were surprised to see people cheering them on so far from Columbus.”

Maybe you were one of these riders.

“It was amazing to see Lance Armstrong fly by,” LeAnna added. “But then an hour or two later all these riders came by who were struggling, but obviously enjoying themselves. And so many of them are survivors or had the name of their spouse (who was battling cancer or had died from cancer) on their shirts. I can’t talk about it, even now, without getting goose bumps. My heart has never been fuller.”

This year they will ride 180 miles

This year’s ride will be the first century (a 100-mile ride) for LeAnna and Dave, but they are determined to be ready and train together regularly.

Cycling has changed Dave’s life – and waistline.

“I smoked for years and years,” he said. “I didn’t exercise and I was so out of shape.”

“When I was young I remember him being a runner,” LeAnna said of her dad. “But that was when I was 6 or 7 and I can’t remember him doing any exercise after that. Except golf – if you can even count that as exercise.”

Dave finally managed to quit smoking a few years ago and then LeAnna pushed him into cycling.

“She talked me into buying a bike,” said Dave, who is a safety manager with American Electric Power (AEP) and a member of the company’s Pelotonia peloton (AEP Energizers For A Cure).

The two started riding together.

“I had my bike for about a week,” LeAnna said. “We decided to do this (Columbus Outdoor Pursuits) ride and do the 32-mile option. At the end I was so tired I literally fell off my bike. I thought, I’m in the worst shape ever. But then, when we were putting my bike back on the rack, my father discovered the rear brake had been on (clinching the tire and making it very hard to pedal) the whole time.”

Whew, LeAnna wasn’t in as bad of shape as she thought!

Unfortunately, she hurt her back soon after and eventually, in October 2009, had surgery. Her back is feeling better and stronger … and she and Dave are riding more and more.

Dave has dropped 25 pounds since he started cycling – and feels like a new man.

Cycling has changed both of their lives - for the better

“Cycling has changed how I feel, my outlook and I’m sure it’s not only helped the quality of my life, but will prolong my life,” he said.

Now, he can actually climb hills … and feel good at the top.

“Not carrying that extra 25 pounds makes such a difference,” Dave said, adding he still can’t keep up with his daughter on the inclines. “She can climb hills like you can’t believe.”

LeAnna and her husband, Derek have two children, Nia, 8, and David, 5. The four of them often ride together. The entire family was already quite close, but have rallied around Dave, LeAnna – and Pelotonia.

Kareena Gibson – who is Dave’s daughter and LeAnna’s sister – will be a Pelotonia volunteer this year and may one day join Team Tang and ride in Pelotonia.

Team Tang?

During a ride…

“We stopped at a stop sign and as we got ready to take off this giant team of people, with matching jerseys and looking super professional came by,” LeAnna explained. “They yelled ‘stopping’ and then ‘rolling” as they took off all together. None of us in our group had matching jerseys and we were riding mountain bikes and tandems. On the back of their jerseys it said lemonade and we joked that we should be Team Tang.”

The name stuck … and T-shirts were designed and printed.

Here are the famous Team Tang T-shirts

I recently rode with Dave and LeAnna during a Pelotonia training ride – and it’s easy to see both have not only become strong riders, but have also joined the growing legion of obsessed – but in a good way! -  cyclists.

“Yeah, we are,” LeAnna admitted. “I have to stop myself from talking to people about biking who aren’t into it.”

10 Things About Dave and LeAnna…

Favorite ride

Dave: The River Rendezvous

LeAnna: Around Indian lake

Dream ride:

Dave: Colorado

LeAnna: Northern California

Current Pelotonia bike

Dave: Trek Madone

LeAnna: Giant Avail Advanced

Dream bike

Dave: The one I have

LeAnna: I think I have it

Favorite movie

Dave: Fail-Safe

LeAnna: Forrest Gump

Favorite band/singer

Dave: Blood, Sweat & Tears

LeAnna: The Cure

Favorite TV show

Dave: M*A*S*H

LeAnna: The Daily Show

Favorite book

Dave: The Source

LeAnna: A Prayer for Owen Meany

Favorite athlete

Dave: Archie Griffin

LeAnna: Anyone who doesn’t cheat on their spouse

Favorite post-ride meal

Dave: Steak and baked potato

LeAnna: Chicken-and-mushroom kabob with a Corona and lime

Our Valuable Volunteers

By its very definition nobody can actually be a “professional” volunteer. If there was such a career path, Steve and Sandy Brown would be at the top of this profession. In the meantime, they will continue to be passionate and dedicated volunteers to several worthy causes – including Pelotonia.

“We enjoy it, we get a lot from it,” Sandy said of the couple’s volunteer work.

The Browns are golden to us

At the inaugural Pelotonia, after several years helping out at Lance’s Ride for the Roses bike ride in Austin, and many other fund-raising events, the Brown worked all three days of the brand new Columbus fund-raising ride. They brought with them experience and a willingness to do whatever needed to be done.

“We ran the registration tent on Friday,” Steve said. “Then on Saturday we came back at 5 in the morning and did the late registrations. After everyone left we drove to Amanda and helped out (at the rest stop) and then we drove on to Athens and helped at the finish.”

On Sunday they were at the ride’s finish to once again lend a helping hand – and smile and encouraging word to every rider they came across.

The Brown’s journey to volunteerism began in earnest in 1997, soon after Steve was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Actually, he was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – which does not have a very high survival rate.

“The doctor told me if I were you I’d quit my job and get your family affairs in order,” Steve said.

This was a frightening diagnosis – and a difficult time for Steve and Sandy. But soon after the initial diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, they decided to go to The James for more tests – and learned he had testicular cancer.

“The doctor there told me: “We can treat this,’” Steve said, adding he was treated in a hospital near their Lancaster home, by a doctor who was trained at The James.

Several rounds of chemo later, Steve’s cancer was gone, but due to the powerful drugs he took to destroy his cancer, he also suffered some lung damage.

Steve is a computer programmer and Sandy is the office manager at a church. The couple have two children and two grandchildren.

After Steve’s ordeal, the Browns said it was a time to give back and help others, especially those going through what they went through.

They began to volunteer for Lance’s Livestrong Foundation, driving to Austin every year to work his fund-raising ride.

“We hold him in high regard, he’s a good man,” Steve said of Lance, adding he and Sandy have met and spoken with the cycling and fund-raising legend several times over the years.

When they heard about Pelotonia – the Browns were in.

“We said we have to do this,” Steve said. “I got my diagnosis from The James, they helped me – and now we have to help them.”

Steve and Sandy have also worked for organizations that help those battling cancer – and their caregivers. Steve speaks with the patients – Sandy with the loved ones.

“We talk with people concerned about what’s going to happen next and what they need to do,” Sandy said. “It’s so scary at first for them and we can help then know what’s going to happen.”

Pelotonia is now part of their life, and both Browns see it getting bigger and better every year.

“For a first-time event it was unreal,” Steve said.

“It’s going to get bigger and bigger and will be huge,” Sandy said.

A big part of Pelotonia is providing an amazing experience for riders – and that’s where volunteers such as Steve and Sandy come in. With volunteers like this – the Brown’s dream of Pelotonia growing every year will surely come true.

“We need research money,” Steve said when asked why he and Sandy volunteer for Pelotonia. “We need better treatments, more treatments and The James is the best place to do it. We’re so lucky to have The James so close to home.”

“Everyone should be involved because cancer affects everyone,” Sandy added. “Whether you ride or volunteer it is more than worth it and you will meet so many wonderful people and make so many friendships.”

A Friend Indeed – And Then Some

Barbara Knapic and Suzanne Kaszar’s friendship didn’t get off to the best of starts – thanks to a devious, double-booking Casanova. It was the 1970s and the two were journalism majors at Kent State, but had never really met. And then…

“This guy (yet another journalism major) asked me out for coffee and I said sure,” Suzanne said. “About an hour before we’re supposed to meet, he says something’s come up, can we reschedule.”

Suzanne (top) and Barbara. They didn't hit if off at the start, but soon after became as close as sisters

Suzanne said OK – and a little while later wandered over to the student center, where she saw the guy having coffee with Barbara! Let’s just say she wasn’t happy with either of them.

Months later, Barbara and Suzanne found themselves rooming together in Chicago during a journalism convention … and reluctantly had no choice but to finally get to know one another a little better.

“And we haven’t stopped talking,” Suzanne said.

“In 35 years we’ve never run out of things to talk about,” Barbara added. “She shares my bizarre sense of humor, she’s a sports nut like I am and most importantly she’s the kindest person I know.”

Recently, these long-time best friends went through the ups and downs of Suzanne’s battle with a rare form of cancer. There was a time when the outcome didn’t look good, but the two gained strength and hope from one another, were honest about what could happen, put their wacky senses of humor to good use and kept on going.  Suzanne is now in remission.

“Barb was there every step of the way for me,” said Suzanne, who is single, adding her friend either commuted from her home in Wooster or bunked with her when she was in the hospital for long stretches of time. “She came in and took over my life, in the best possible way. If she hadn’t been there I don’t think I would have cared if I lived or died; I wouldn’t have had a reason to keep going.”

Without Barbara's support, Suzanne (R) said she wouldn't have made it through her battle with cancer

In recognition of her support of Suzanne, Barbara was recently awarded a Stefanie’s Champion award from the Stafanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, which raises money for cancer research at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James.

Last year, Barbara rode in Pelotonia, while Suzanne served as a volunteer – this year they’ll switch roles, as Suzanne will ride and Barbara will be a volunteer.

“I was overwhelmed by it last year,” Barbara said of Pelotonia. “It was amazing to think about Suzanne and all the other people riding where were dealing with or had dealt with cancer. They are the strongest people I have ever seen.”

Barbara grew up in Rittman, Suzanne in Dorset.

“We found out we had so much in common,” Suzanne said of their first real conversation in Chicago. “We’re both the second of four children, her dad’s a doctor, mine’s a vet, we both grew up in small towns, we both loved high school, we loved the same kinds of books and music.”

Barbara eventually went on to law school and is a partner in Oldham Kramer in Akron, where her specialty is worker’s compensation. Suzanne earned a master’s degree from Ohio State in labor relations and human resources and is a communications and political action consultant for the Ohio Education Association.

Barbara remarried seven years ago, but not before her intended, Chuck, passed the Suzanne test.

That's Chuck in the middle, between Suzanne (L) and Barb (R) - and thank goodness he passed the Suzaane Test!

“He had to pass muster with Suzanne,” Barbara said, adding Chuck did. Whew! “(Suzanne and I) had planned out our retirement including the rocking chairs on the porch – and he had to earn his spot.”

In January 2008, Suzanne just couldn’t seem to get over what she thought was a cold – and went to see her doctor, who put her on antibiotics, which didn’t work.

“I had all kinds of tests and scans, everything but a chest X-ray, even thought I kept asking for a chest X-ray and I kept getting sicker and sicker,” she said.

She lost about 40 pounds, had a rash and terrible night sweats – and kept getting worse. Finally, Barbara took her to her parent’s retirement home in Florida for a little rest and warm weather.

“What I didn’t know until later was her father (the retired family doctor) took one look at me and told Barb I had lymphoma,” Suzanne said. “I was so sick I couldn’t walk 10 feet without having to rest.”

Barbara got her friend an appointment with a pulmonologist she knew in Columbus, who immediately took X-rays of Suzanne’s chest – and told her to get to a hospital right away if not sooner. Suzanne initially went to Riverside Hospital, where doctors determined she had a rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“They told me they were going to start chemo right away and I may or may not respond and if I didn’t I needed to get my affairs in order, that I would only have a couple of weeks,” Suzanne said. “I was scared, but by this time I was so sick I didn’t care. Both my parents had died recently and I thought it was time to be with my folks.”

Barbara refused to give up on her friend and spent the next few weeks with her in the hospital. The chemo began to work and Suzanne – who had been constantly sweating and was so uncomfortable she couldn’t even lie down to sleep – slowly began to feel better.

She transferred to The James – and the care of Dr. Pierluigi Porcu, one of the country’s top lymphoma experts.

“After the third round of chemo they came and told me the tumors that were the size of a man’s fist had shrunk to the size of peas,” she said.

Suzanne did so well she was eventually cleared for a bone marrow transplant, which she had in October 2008. So far, so good, although the possibility of her cancer returning is something Suzanne – and most cancer survivors – think and worry about.

“We were honest with each other,” Suzanne said of her many long talks with Barbara during her treatment. “We knew the statistics and that they were against me even making it six months. But the funny part was we laughed as much as we cried and I think you have to, otherwise you just can’t make it through everything. We did a lot of soul searching and she said ‘I don’t want to go on without you’ and I said ‘you might have to.’”

Barbara said she was inspired by her friend’s battle. In addition to riding – she will also volunteer, on Friday before she rides – and on Sunday after she rides the 50-mile route the day before.

“I’ve never been in a situation where I had to face my own mortality,” Barbara said. “And to do it with, I won’t use the word courage, because Suzanne hates that because she says you just do what you have to do – so I’ll use the word strength.”

Her strength is what helped Suzanne ride 50 miles at the first Pelotonia ride – the longest ride of her life by far up.

“I was scared when I started,” she said, adding that by the end of the ride, “I didn’t want it to ever end. I was flying; I was so excited I was up for a week after it.”

10 Things About Barbara and Suzanne…

Favorite ride:

Barbara: The back roads of Wayne County

Suzanne: Pelotonia

Dream ride:

Barbara: Pacific Coast Highway

Suzanne: A beach somewhere

Current Pelotonia bike:

Barbara: A silver-and-black Cannondale

Suzanne: A Schwinn Super Sport GS

Dream bike:

Barbara: I have my dream bike

Suzanne: A custom-made bike

Favorite movie:

Barbara: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Suzanne: Out of Africa

Favorite TV show:

Barbara: Beanie and Cecil

Suzanne: China Beach

Favorite book:

Barbara: Little Women

Suzanne: Tennessee: Cry of the Heart/an Intimate Memoir of Tennessee Williams

Favorite musician/group:

Barbara: The Eagles

Suzanne: Gustav Holst

Favorite athlete:

Barbara: Chris Spielman

Suzanne: Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Favorite post-ride meal:

Barbara: Chuck’s walleye fish fry

Suzanne: popcorn and watermelon

We Want You For Juli’s Army

There could be no Pelotonia without the small army of volunteers who do such a wonderful job taking care of – and pampering! – all us riders.

They were amazing last year: helpful, friendly, committed and caring.

And now, registration for this year’s army of 1,600-plus volunteers is open. If you’re interested in being a Pelotonia volunteer, or know someone who is, you can sign up online at: http://www.pelotonia.org/ride/volunteer.jsp

Running the show is Juli Capani, Pelotonia’s Volunteer Coordinator.  Last year, Juli, a recent Ohio State graduate, was a volunteer and helped out during opening ceremonies in Columbus and in Athens at the end of the 100-mile ride.

At the time, she had no idea she’d be in charge of Pelotonia’s volunteers a few months later.

“I started working at Pelotonia part time in September and was looking for a job – and then they offered me this job,” Juli said. “I’m really excited, the volunteers are so amazing and so many from last year are coming back.”

How do you like them apples?

Juli’s Army includes about 45 Lead Volunteers, who will be in charge of all the different Pelotonia locations. They will meet on a regular basis with Juli over the next several months and – in turn – the Lead Volunteers will coordinate and prepare their Volunteer Team Members.

This year, volunteers will sign up for specific tasks on specific days, which, Juli says, will make Pelotonia more organized and rewarding for volunteers and, in turn, riders.

Some of the many volunteer jobs include: bike management, rider check in, dorm room management, warehouse crew, route signage and motorcycle support. Some jobs, such as first aid and mechanical support, require specific training and skills, but most require a willingness to lend a hand and be part of Pelotonia.

“It was a great experience and a lot of fun,” said Rod Loveless, one of the Lead Volunteers in Athens last year. “When we showed up, we weren’t exactly sure what to do and what to expect, but what happened was everyone was willing to stick around as long as it took and do whatever it took.”

From Quilt Barns to Pelotonia

The path to Pelotonia for volunteer Rod Loveless wound past the quilt barns of Athens County.

A member of the local Athens Rotary, Rod was in charge of the annual Quilt Barn Ride – a 50-miler fundraiser that passes by several of these historical and scenic barns.

“We were trying to come up with a grand prize, something different,” he said. And what he came up with was this: the winner of the ride (a poker ride, in which riders get playing cards – and the best hand wins) would receive a $1,500 Pelotonia “scholarship” that would allow this person to ride the 100-mile route from Columbus to Athens.

All told, the Quilt Barn Ride raised about $8,000 for local charities, including the $1,500 that went to Pelotonia. Athens bike enthusiast Robert West won the Pelotonia scholarship.

“And that’s how I got involved with Pelotonia and became a volunteer,” said Rod, who was one of the many dedicated volunteers at the Athens end of the ride.

Rod is an Ohio University graduate and a financial analyst for Hocking Valley Financial Solutions.  He was one of the volunteer captains in Athens for Pelotonia.

“I was in charge of logistics, the movement of people and cars, the parking lots, keeping an eye out for people who looked lost and helping them, keeping the flow of people moving,” he said.

Pelotonia’s small army of volunteers did a great job at every stop along the way, especially when you factor in the fact that this was the inaugural ride. I’ve talked to a lot of riders the past month, and everyone has commented on how friendly and helpful the volunteers were.

“It was a great experience and a lot of fun,” Rod said. “When we showed up, we weren’t exactly sure what to do and what to expect, but what happened was everyone was willing to stick around as long as it took and do whatever it took.”

For Rod, who had a lot of ground to cover, the whatever-it-took part included a call home to his wife, asking her to bring over his bike, so he could get around faster.

“It was easy to see what it meant to the people riding and the people cheering them on,” he said. “Since the ride, two of my good friends have been diagnosed with cancer – and one is being treated at The James.”

He’ll be back as a volunteer for the second Pelotonia ride.

About 20 Pelotonia riders rode in the Quilt Barn Ride last year, and Rod, who says it’s a great training ride, hopes a lot more will do the ride this year on July 17. A $1,500 Pelotonia scholarship is once again the grand prize.

By the way, quilt barns aren’t actually quilts on the sides of barns, but are large paintings, many in the patterns and shapes of traditional quilts. Athens County is full of them.

“I think the best way to fundraise is what we do and what Pelotonia does,” Rod said. “It’s such a good idea to do it through something active, through sports and an active life style.”

We agree.

10 things about Rod …

Favorite ride

Hawaii

Dream ride

Oregon coast

Current bike

A Specialized stump jumper

Dream bike

I don’t have one

Favorite movie

Braveheart

Favorite band/singer

Pearl Jam

Favorite TV show

Lost

Favorite book

Call of the Wild

Favorite athlete

LeBron James

Favorite post-ride meal

The huevos rancheros at Casa Nueva in Athens