Short (?) entry

Because I have spent so much time surfing tonight, this will be a short entry. Okay? Ah, I knew you wouldn't mind. ;-))

Through a link from batgrl's page, I visited Jenn's page. Why don't you take a tour through her page and then go one step further to sponsor her in the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk for breast cancer? That would be just too cool.

I am acquanited with the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. A motorcycling friend from Eagle River has participated several times in the Pony Express Tour for Breast Cancer Research, through which all funds raised were contributed to the SGKF. I have supported each of her rides but one - and in that one, well, I participated.

Yup - raised $2400 for the SGKF, flew to Montana (didn't have enough time to ride) borrowed a brand new off the showroom floor Kawasaki motorcycle in Billings, rode it to Helena, met up with the tour, and headed off for Red Lodge.

Didn't make it there - at least not on that bike. Nope, went down in some construction gravel. Rolled right back up and tried to get that bike going again - no go. I had crushed the gear shifter and the kickstand and cracked the windshield and scratched the body paint. My own body was shaken but not stirred.

The tour's truck came along after a bit of a wait and the staff offloaded a BMW 1200 cruiser, which I had not really wanted to ride because it is much too tall for my 5'4". Not one to say die, though, I climbed aboard and shot out to catch up with the rest of the team. We rode into Red Lodge together. Then they rode on with the BMW stored back in the truck.

I was left there with a broken motorcycle, several hundred miles away from Billings, and no way to get there. Or so I thought.

Long story short (too late) the parents of the motel manager loaded up the bike into the back of their pickup truck, squeezed me into the front with them and drove me to Billings. I gave them all of the money that the PET staff had collected for my return (sweet people) for their gas and kindness. The man was beside himself because he said now he could buy a pair of boots that he needed! (see how God works in even the tiniest details?)

The owner of the shop from which I borrowed the bike was ever so sweet to me. He only charged me for the damage - laughed with and at me - and was so very good natured about it. You ever need a bike or some such machine . . . you visit Jack Reiter in Billings Montana. He'll take good care of you.

Well, so much for a short note - lol

The point of all of this is that I can affirm that the Susan G. Komen Foundation is a worthy cause. Jenn is a worthy person to support. Alaska has supported its efforts through the PET alone by raising over $10,000 between myself and my friend. (did I mention, btw, that she is 76 years old - rides the AlCan each summer - on her own machine - while her hubby is sometimes hard pressed to keep up with her?)

Now, go on over there and help Jenn meet and then beat her goal, okay?

okay - finis

Posted by Purplemoose at December 3, 2003 11:17 PM