In Memory of Departed Friends.
Most of my rides have benefitted global and local charities, but relationships truly are what matter most, and recent rides have reflected that truth. In 2020, a ride through 249 roundabouts was dedicated to my dear- and slightly wacky!- college friend, Kevin, who had just survived Covid. In 2022 after my mom passed, it took 21 hours to spell “I love (heart) Mom”.
And last year, with buddies Kurt and Jason, we completed a century (100 mile) ride in the shape of “100” for ALS research, in honor of my former boss and mentor, Rick Huibregtse, as he fought ALS. As I write this in September 2026, I think of Rick as he recently passed away from that awful disease.
2026 brings an especially personal ride. The last weekend in September, I travel home to Raleigh, NC to join my high school classmates for our 40th reunion. But not everyone will be there. Paul McEnroe passed away in a tragic accident our freshman year. I still think of Paul, sitting behind me in Dr. Kloe’s Spanish class.
I’ve traveled to Spain several times, meeting up with Juan Bosco, another departed classmate. Juan and I even hatched a plan for a class reunion in the south of Spain that sadly never happened.
That long ago Spanish class with Paul will be on my mind as I keep both his memory and those early language lessons alive. Paul was an athlete and soccer player, and this verse from Hebrews 12 was on his funeral card. It is one I think of often, especially during long hours on the bike, keeping focused on the goal.
“let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Christ.”
For Raleigh-ites, the ride will pass by many notable sites, including the new home of our high school, churches including the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral on the former site of our high school, NC State University including Koch Hall (named for Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch), historic Raleigh neighborhoods, many segments of the Raleigh area trail system, downtown Raleigh and the State Capitol, and many more.
Before I get to the logistics of the ride- make no mistake- every ride is about more than big challenges, reminiscing, or even helping others. I hope that in some small way, this challenge will inspire others. Riding 200 miles seems insurmountable, even though I’ve done it 20 times. It’s not a question of “can I” but rather “will I”? We all have it in us. It seems simple but it’s true- all that’s required is to “just keep pedaling”. We all face challenges in life, we all get fatigued, and we all face times of doubt. But I truly, truly believe- every single one of us is capable of more than they realize. Set your dreams high- whatever they are. Then make it happen. If you’re contemplating a challenge of your own- no matter what it might be- please share! I love hearing stories of perseverance and accomplishing big goals!
Laps of Raleigh to support the Paul V. McEnroe Memorial Scholarship at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, NC.
Planned route via RidewithGPS:
GPS Tracker to follow along: (link to be added before the ride! Please check back!) For my classmates and friends- please come out and ride along for a few miles or heckle me to ride faster- your choice!
Most importantly- help me keep Paul’s memory and legacy alive by supporting his scholarship fund: (link to be added before the ride! Please check back!)
The ride starts around 7am from the Crabtree area, and I hope to finish at least 200 miles by around midnight. I will ride well into and (possibly through) the night, with a total goal of 250 miles.
Why I Ride 