71-Year Old, Pedaling
Across US for Habitat for Humanity, Rides Into Austin ReStore Today!
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What: Habitat Cycle of Hope
When: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Where: Habitat ReStore. 310 Comal St. #100, Austin, TX 78704
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When Bob and Barbara Frick
celebrated Bob's 70th birthday last summer by joining 140 other cyclists in Minnesota for a 500-mile
ride to raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity (HFH), they expected
an invigorating and worthwhile challenge. They did not plan to chase an even
bigger dream for Bob's seventy-first birthday a year later.
"We were so impressed by
Habitat's mission and principles," says Bob, a California bay-area resident and
retired vice chairman of the Bank of America Board of Directors. "We wanted to
do more and find a way to help our own community."
That desire to do more has
culminated in a personal commitment to raise at least $71,000 for HFH East Bay by riding from California
to Florida
for a total of 3,300 miles. Bob began his trip at Ocean
Beach in San Diego on September 3. Now, nearly halfway,
Bob will pedal into the nation's original Habitat ReStore here in Austin this Wednesday with
his wife of 48 years following in her Prius.
"Barb is responsible for
coordinating daily logistics," says Bob who is also grateful for the moral support
every time a tire goes flat. So far, there have been six.
So far the Fricks have
raised nearly $57,000. Key sponsors include Lucas Foundation, Sutter Health,
Schwab Bank, Clif Bar, Hank and Frank Bicycles, Akawie and LaPietra, SKC and Convergent Computing as well as many,
many individual donors.
Bob, a prostate cancer survivor
who has endured two hip replacements, says "my biggest challenge so far has
been the wind, but when you're riding for such an important cause I don't mind
slowing down as long as I just keep going."
To make a donation got to www.firstgiving.com/cycleofhope
or to track Bob's progress, go to www.habitatcycleofhope.com.
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