1.How long have you been a member of WOW (Women on Wheels) ? Five years
2. How long have you been cycling? I have cycled as a kid but nothing seriously till I joined WOW. I don’t consider myself as athletic but I sure do enjoy cycling.
3. Tell us about your daughter, Kim, with whom you are cycling in the Sea to Sea? Kim and my other daughter Kristin have joined the WOW group from time to time for some of their rides and in turn I think they are beginning to enjoy cycling as well. Kim joined the WOW group on a Kelowna trip in 2009.
4. Why are you doing the Sea to Sea? In 2008, two young men from our church, Jason and Gresham Veldhuisen participated in the same event – (Sea to Sea from Seattle, Washington to New York City – the whole way) and it sparked my interest. I had just joined WOW and I followed all the Sea to Sea blogs that summer and read their devotional book every day. I happened to be in Grand Rapids, Michigan that summer and was able to see all the Sea to Sea riders come through town with all their Sea to Sea jerseys. It was cool sight and it inspired me to go on the next Sea to Sea. So last summer I thought of signing up but decided I couldn’t go the whole way or even do three weeks because of family and other commitments. Then last fall I found there were openings to do 1 week rides for the Sea to Sea. Kim heard about that too and encouraged me to go with her to do a one week ride. I wasn’t quite sure but we thought we would pray about it and after feeling the nudge to go we are now signed up.
This is a great opportunity to combine my passion of cycling with a ministry to reach out to those in need. It will be neat riding and meeting other Christians supporting the same cause. This ride will not only be challenging physically but it will encourage me to get out of my comfort zone and become more aware of and do something for global poverty. Kimberly and I have together raised over $7,000.00 (required to raise $2,500.00 each) for poverty thanks to the generous support of our local church and other local people. We are still open to other donations – check out the http://www.seatosea.org/ website. Our job now is to ride our bikes and tell people on our way about what we are doing. I keep thinking how hard it will be tenting each day after a long day’s bike ride, hill climbing and cycling in desert heat in June but I know it’s only for a week and I can return to the comforts of home. It is nothing compared to the plight of poor where at times they do not know where they will live or from where their next meal comes. I keep hoping that our cycling in the Sea to Sea will in some small way help world poverty.
5. How long will it take you to ride 400 miles (600km) from LA to Phoenix? It will take six days. We leave LA June 24 and arrive in Phoenix on June 29 so about 100 km a day.
6. Where will you stay enroute? We will be staying in tents every night and we are responsible to set them up and take them down every day. We are allowed to carry 60 lbs. each and the gear truck will transport it from place to place. A mobile kitchen will supply all our breakfasts, lunches and supper.
7. What are your travel arrangements? My husband, Wayne, will be driving us down there and back. I was glad he said he would do that because I didn’t like the idea of boxing up my bike, putting it on a plane and putting it back together again.
8. Have you ever ridden this far? No. Our WOW group has done 100 km rides as well as the Tour d’Alberta in Morinville and I have done the MS bike (from Leduc to Camrose) ride a couple of times which is about 180 km.
9. What kind of training are you doing? I have been going to Step Classes, some boot camp and some spin classes. I also train on my spin bike at home. I have done a few rides outside but hope to do more now that weather is getting better. Kim and I are doing the MS bike ride June 8 and 9.
10. Why do you like to cycle? It’s a great way to get and stay in shape and explore the world. The WOW group has made cycling more fun because you can cycle to all different places in Alberta and talk to other people as you ride and socialize over lunch.
11. Have you taken part in the Queen of Heart’s Triathlon? I have done the cycling part of the Queen of Heart’s Triathlon with one daughter doing the swimming and the other daughter doing the running.
