2,000 Miles Accomplished

On Sunday, September 21, 2008 at approximately 12:35 PM near the intersection of CR 200 W and CR 1100 N, the Cannondale rolled my 2000th mile for the Ride, Brooks, Ride. What a great experience it was this summer to ride all across Huntington County and the surrounding area in support of Huntington County United Way. Per mile pledges came in at $6.16/mile and are being matched dollar for dollar by the Lilly Endowment for a total of $12.32/mile. That translates into $12,320 in new money for the United Way Campaign and an additional $12,320 in matching money that will fund some exciting new community education initiatives that will be rolled out in 2009.

Thanks for your generous support and encouragement along the way. So many people will benefit from your giving and our community will be a better place because of you. I have included some photos for you to enjoy from the 2000th mile.

Last evening -- Tuesday night, September 23 -- a group of about 15 United Way Riders traveled from the University to the B & K Rootbeer stand for rootbeer and Coney dogs. What a great way to celebrate a big ride.

On a personal note -- I plan to continue riding. I really enjoy the hobby, activity, sport, excercise; whatever you want to call it. I enjoy the chance to be outdoors and the repetitive motion of cycling is a nice change of pace and an opportunity to put my mind in neutral. It has been fun, fulfilling and personally rewarding to take on a challenge and meet it. In fact, I am all set for a road trip to western Pennsylvania in October where a group of four of us will ride some wonderful Rails to Trails along the Allegheny and Clarion Rivers for two days.

I have enjoyed hearing from a number of you about your own decisions to get into motion on your own bikes. That is great and I encourage you to keep it up. I started riding last Labor Day (2007) and remember completing my first 10 mile ride and then my first 20 mile ride -- and now this year completing my first 100 mile ride (unimaginable last year) and on pace to ride 2800 - 3000 miles for the season.

All the best to you,

Brooks

Ride On

Hey gang -- as of September 11 -- ride total stands at 1837. I anticipate rolling over the 2000 mile mark on the evening of September 23. In fact you are invited to join me and a group of us on a 5 - 7 miles slow, easy ride that night -- just meet at the Huntington University Field House parking lot at 6:00 PM and we will ride the last leg of the journey and finish it off with coney dogs and rootbeer at the B&K rootbeer stand.

The United Way Campaign Kick-off happened yesterday and we are off to a great start. The Pacesetter companies did a great job leading the way and as a group are well above 2007 giving levels. That is great news and simply proves that even in the difficult economic times we face -- the caring, generous people of Huntington County open their hearts to neighbors in need.

Hope to see you on the 23rd for the Roll 2000 Ride -- Brooks