What is today? Gee, it’s already Wendsday…and like the guy who got dropped off the back, but worked really hard to rejoin the pack, I am finally recovered from a weekend that took my family and MTFGKC to another level of commitment to the community of Kansas City…and made me bonk big time!
The pack always respects the guy that makes his way back to them, cause they know how fast things are moving and how hard it was to get back…so I ask that you forgive me for just now getting back on. Nobody to draft on. (Oooh, I love using cycling/racing analogies…for some, they are so cryptic!)
Anyway, since April 13th was my son, Thomas’ birthday, (he has been riding/racing very well the past few weeks, Christian has too, actually) there were times all weekend when we had as many as 25 teens, boys and girls, at the house, riding bikes, playing basketball or videos, eating barbque or birthday cake. Not to mention the loud music and the loud DVD movies and the loud…you get my picture, don’t you? And I did say, ALL weekend!
Well, the big day finally arrived. April 15th. The day MTFGKC would celebrate it’s first birthday, and give away a bunch of bicycles, with the tremendous assist from Bikes and Trikes for Tykes. I have to admit that I was nervous. I just wanted everything to be perfect, which is really unrealistic…but looking back on things now, that’s how it ended up. Kudos to our full time MTFGKC volunteer, Ms. Laurice Valentine, who acted as the lead person for this event.
I lead the Saturday morning, Major Taylor ride, (which, I would like to annouce, is finally insured with assistance of the League of American Bicyclists…thanks Laurie, Brent, and Patrick) went home to get ready and arrived around 1:40pm, at the new KC Public Library on 10th St., which you just gotta go see…it’s incredible!!! Thank you, to them, for hosting this event, and to our contact, Chris Barnickle.
There were already people, adults and kids there and more were arriving. We invited everyone to get something to eat. And man, them kids was hungry!
Mazuma Credit Union acted as a sponsor for us, providing some of the best sandwiches, lemonade and chocolate chip cookies that I have ever had and Branch Manager Andrea Kellgren presented me with a donation to MTFGKC of $520, from an internal fundraiser that they held in March. All I could say then and now is WOW! And just so you know, look for Mazuma and MTFGKC to really make some great things together, in the near future!
I was pleased to see representation from Kansas City Parks and Recreation…Diana Tinnin, Central Region Manager, Mark Bowland and Event Coordination Manager and MTFGKC Board Member, Eddie Penrice, who MC’d the event, were in attendance. Just last Tuesday, I had the honor of presenting MTFGKC to their board of directors- at their annual board meeting…this entire meeting was filmed and has been aired several times since Saturday on cable channel 2. Parks & Rec really seems to like what we have going, and have pledge their active assistance to the cause.
If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think. I’m still pretty raw, in my opinion.
I did my best to recognize those who have assisted us faithfully, along the way, like Acme Bicycle Co., Media Professional Insurance and somebody that I forgot to mention, Russell McCorkell– who put together the most excellent, awesome new MTFGKC logo!!!!!!!!! Wait till you all check it out…you will love it. Russell, I know you are reading this- I am so sorry…please forgive me. Told ya’ll I was raw.
We showed a segment of the Major Taylor movie- Tracks of Glory, provided, by Calvert Guthrie, which was pretty good…and then we got to giving away some bikes!
Whew…it was organized chaos! What the kids did not know that every kid there was going to get a bike. How can you give away only 50 if there are 51 kids there? I think that altogether, over 60 kids got bikes, and they had a blast. What was really funny to me is that I must have had at least 10 parents come ask me how much they would have to pay for their child to get a bike. They just could not believe they were free!
We called out ticket numbers, and gave each kid who came up a helmet and a quick fit. Then, volunteers took groups of kids across the street to the bikes. What came next I really cannot describe with words. Use your imagination on this one….over 60 kids, all in one area, on bicycles they just got…litterally, a lot of happy squeals!
When it was all done, and everyone had gone home…I was just worn out. I went home…passed out around 7:45pm that Saturday night, even tho the teen party was ragin’ upstairs… and actually just woke up a few minutes ago to write this for you guys. I’m back on!
Hey, did I mention that I turned 45 on Saturday?