Cycle South for AIDS, Cindy Klassen and the Coaldale Relief Sale

The perfect storm! After yesterday's stormy ride from Nanton to Lethbridge in up to 70 plus km winds and rain, today's ride from Lethbridge to Coaldale (11 km), and the following bike-a-thon routes of 10 km, 45 km, and 90 km, was a breeze! Add to that an Olympic gold medalist by the name of Cindy Klassen, an incredible Relief Sale with amazing auction items, food, and people, and today was the perfect storm! Cindy arrived in Coaldale around 11:00 am, to the delight of volunteers, MCCA staff, media and onlookers. Shaw TV, Global TV, and the Lethbridge Herald were all there, and interviewed Adam, John and Cindy. And then the pictures began with Cindy...over and over and over...and she is such a kind and gracious person and obliged anyone that approached her. She brought so much energy and excitement to the bike-a-thon and the sale. There were 62 riders today, and a total of $20,103 was raised! Add this to the $181,000 for Cycle South, and we are now at $201,130 for the Generations Program! Amazing!

So, this part of the journey comes to a close. It's kind of sad in a way. It has been a lot of fun being a part of the support driving team for Adam and John. Watching their determination riding through terrible head winds, rain, hills...up and down, and down and up...has been nothing short of inspiring. Their efforts have raised the profile of the crisis of AIDS, and MCC's work with partners worldwide. We are all so proud of them. It has been a privilege to be a part of this.

A heads up...there is talk that Cycle South for AIDS will be repeated next year, only it may become Cycle East for AIDS, from Alberta to Manitoba...and if we can work it around Cindy Klassen's schedule, then she will be joining the riders! Stay tuned! And thank you to everyone for reading the blog, for supporting Cycle South with good wishes, prayers, and donations. The money raised will make a huge difference in the lives of so many affected by AIDS. Our hope and prayer is that we will all take our place and do what we can, where we can, with what we have.

Kim