pbray

Yesterday Stacey and I rode in the 30th annual Prouty to raise money for cancer treatment and research. There was a strong headwind at times but that kept us from being too hot, so we decided it was a fair tradeoff. After fifty miles over hill and dale in New Hampshire and Vermont, we returned to the starting point where we chatted with some of the other riders and volunteers, before packing up. On the way home we stopped by the co-op and grabbed bison burgers and a six pack of IPA for lunch. NEED PROTEIN NOW took precedence over showers, but we did eventually clean up and rejoin civilized humanity.

It's hard to capture the feeling of the Prouty. The way the community comes together to make this event happen--a thousand volunteers, five thousand participants (riders came from 32 states!), and a level of organization that I've never seen in any other charity ride. As the riders pedal along, we easily outnumber the residents of the small towns we pass through. People who aren't volunteering put up signs along the road offering encouragement, sit in lawn chairs or stand at the end of their driveways to yell encouragement to the riders. Groups of senior citizens saying "Thank you, thank you," as each rider came by. Then there's the steel drum band at the top of the last big climb who keep calling out "only 1 mile left". As you cross the finish line, there are people clapping saying "Great job, great job".

Even afterwards, as we're in the co-op in our bike gear and Prouty shirts, the deli clerk asks us about our ride and congratulates us. In the parking lot, a customer coming in to the store stops us to say thanks, mentioning that he has a friend being treated at the cancer center.

Yesterday's event raised over 2 million dollars, with donations still coming in to be counted. I want to thank everyone who donated to support my ride, or who sent in good thoughts that helped speed us along the way. You're all awesome, and deserve your own pats on the back.