Ride4Life 2014

Every year, we walk away from the Ride4Life and our hearts feel so full. We get to spend three days with an incredible group of people {because who else would ride 300 miles on a bicycle for unborn babies} and the memories and bonds we form are incredible.

This year was no different. As always, we did support for Team Lunsford {my dad}. Without a doubt, this was the best group of riders I’ve ever supported. Mom had to work on Thursday so Amber, Gracie and I handled stops for the first day. The group was so appreciative of the support we provided them and just easy to take care of! We had a few new riders this year and I’m incredibly proud of the whole group.

I told Amber before we left on Thursday that as soon as the ride starts, I get super protective over our riders and immediately go into “mama mode”. Gotta take good care of them!

Day One

Day one always starts early {well, they all do}. We had to be at Chick-fil-a at 5:30 Thursday morning. Chick-fil-a is always so gracious to host us for send off and feed us breakfast.

All the riders before the sendoff.

Getting ready for the police escorted send off.

And they’re off!

Following behind cyclist at 20 mph isn’t always the most exciting. After a couple of miles behind them, you do what you can to occupy yourself.

Successful first stop except we forgot the bananas and the peanut butter sandwiches on the trailer. Oops!

Waiting on our riders at the most perfect location for our second stop. Huge paved area, with shade, right at their next turn. #score

We made the little one crawl in the back for supplies.

Look ma, no hands!

Still all smiles!

Almost finished with the first 100 miles and we still have happy riders.

They made it to Edgefield, SC. Pulling into the hotel at the end of day one!

Shoes immediately come off for recovery which consist of chocolate milk and cold rags.

While on the ride, we have churches that welcome us in and feed us dinner in each town we stop in.

Supply run at 10:00 pm. Support often stays up till 11:00 or 12:00 o’clock getting prepared for the next day. Oh, the things we do for our riders!

Cory and Wesley showing off their “tricks”. I call this {and our ride back to the hotel} sleepy silly. We were all so sleepy, we got ridiculously silly.

Day Two

Group picture before day two. Due to heavy morning traffic in Edgefield, we had to have a police escort for the second day as well. Normally, the groups leave at their individual times for day two and three.

Dad getting ready to roll out for day two.

Overall, Gracie did great. There were a few meltdowns in the car but none in front of the riders! She was helpful and the group {who referred to her as “half pint””} loved having her around. She even joined in the fun and got her legs marked.

Support selfie!

And a selfie with the riders!

We finished day two in St. George, SC. We got to the hotel at 1:10pm and I do believe that was the earliest any group of ours has made it to the hotel. They were beasting it.

Texting and driving. Just kidding…he was turning his GPS off.

After dinner Friday night, we had a time of worship led by Cory and Amber.

At dinner on Friday night, the preacher mentioned that he would like to show us the Indian Fields Methodist Campground so a few of us went with him to check out this historic site for religious gatherings. It was built in the mid 1800’s and is a huge circle of “tents” {more like cabins} and every year thousands of people come out for a huge revival.

I wish it wasn’t almost dark so we could have gotten some better pictures. I didn’t think I would be very interested in going but it was really kind of cool to see the inside of one of the cabins and the tabernacle.

Photobomb in our support meeting Friday night.

 By the time we made it back to our hotel room, I was spent.

Day Three

This is what makes my heart so full. These guys and gals don’t just ride together but they support each other, lay hands on and pray for each other.

 I can’t remember why the boxes of OCP’s were in the picture but they asked for them.

Off for the third, and final, day.

Proof {for myself} that I did in fact plug the cooler back for day three after having 2 inches of standing water in the back of moms car on day two. Another oops!

What a typical stop looks like.

Spoiled much?

Our “office” for the weekend.

So many happy riders after almost 300 miles! It amazes me!

Stopping in the battery for group pictures.

Sure do love these guys and gals!

Dad climbing the Ravenel bridge.

Team Lunsford at the top of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge

Big smiles pulling into the final destination.

Precious.

They made it to Isle of Palms!

My sweet family!

The only picture I forgot was a group picture of the guys holding up their bikes, a tradition for dads group at the end of the ride. We tried to get them to do it at the battery but they told us that the they didn’t want to jinx themselves since they still had about 20 miles to go.

Overall, we had a very successful ride. Our group had a couple flat tires and one minor crash but thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. Remember when I said we go into “mama mode”? Well, that kicks into overdrive when you come up on your group on the side of the road and there are bikes laying on the ground. I  didn’t even get the car stopped before mom had the door open and was getting out but a little gauze and duct tape and they were back on their way!

While riding 300 miles on a bicycle is a huge accomplishment, I think it’s important to remember why this ride takes place. All proceeds from this ride benefit the Foothills Pregnancy Care Center where they provide hope, healing and help to men and women facing unplanned pregnancies. We were privileged to have Kelly, the director of FPCC, ride in our group and on Thursday night she shared a little about the center. She said that last year alone, over 700 women visited the center and of those women 251 came seeking an abortion. 251 women chose life! Kelly said that what got her through a rough first day was she kept telling herself “one is too many”.

My family is so blessed to be a small part in such a wonderful ride.