MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Bikers are waking up early Saturday filling their tires with air to go on a bike ride for a good cause.
Riders are hitting the road to support the Kelly Brush Foundation’s annual Kelly Brush Ride in Middlebury.
“Well I love the atmosphere, the other riders. I love the route, it’s really beautiful” said Alicia Dana, a rider from Putney.
Alicia Dana was 17-years-old when she fell out of a tree and became paralyzed. Before her accident, she liked to ride bikes and it wasn’t until she was older she got her first hand cycle.
She says organizations like the Kelly Brush Foundation make it possible for many like herself to bike again.
“This was the 80′s, hand cycles weren’t really around then. So it wasn’t until maybe seven or ten years later that I got my first hand cycle. It opened so many doors, it gave me a way to exercise in my favorite way.”
Dana is one of hundreds of cyclists who came to ride in Saturday’s event. The organizations mission is to help people who have experienced a spinal cord injury live an active lifestyle.
Over its 19 years, the foundation has donated more than $6,000,000 globally to provide adaptive bikes. Riders have the choice to go 100 miles and it’s not just hand cyclists joining in on all the fun.
Rob Bevier from New Hampshire joined in on the fun. “This brings my ski racing universe together. This brings my adaptive sports universe together. To top it all off, my mom. Excuse me, was big into adaptive sports. We are doing this, this year. In honor of her.”
The foundation’s founder, Kelly Brush says she’s glad she’s able to give back like others did when she was struggling with her spinal injury.
“It is pretty amazing to see the growth of the Kelly Brush Ride. I mean this is something that we started with my ski team, teammates when I was still a student here in Middlebury. They just wanted to come out and ride and support me” Said Brush.
Organizers say they hope to plan something big for the next ride on it’s 20th anniversary next year.