A Personal Side to the Ride of Silence

Hello all,

Chris Phelan, the Ride's founder, and I have been communicating regularly He’s been including me on some emails to and from a Judith Jolly, whom I assumed was a fellow board member, based on all the work she’s doing for the Ride. Judith is helping get the locations on their website (growing daily) and contacting UK clubs. I had emailed her to ask if she needed help in contacting UK clubs. After today’s email reply, well, please read the following. If you haven't made up your mind about riding in the Ride of Silence, I hope this is the final motivator..... Please ride in this year Ride and/or organize one in your area.

markpedal

Mark Hagar
markpedal1@highstream.net
Ride of Silence, 2006 Grand Rapids Coordinator
Ride of Silence, Michigan Director
http://www.rideofsilence.org

Hi Mark,

I will follow up with the Mass Bike Coalition. We really appreciate all the work you have done in Michigan.

I have finished with contacting all the possible links for UK bike clubs, as well as NZ and Australia, and of course Canada! (I'm Canadian!) I am going to work on translating my message into French, and get the message out to French speaking countries (I'm fluent in French). I have also contacted my family in The Netherlands to try to get some contacts there.

I am not on the board, but the Ride Of Silence has personal meaning for me. Larry Schwartz was my fiancée. We had been together for almost 7 years when the bus driver hit him with the mirror of the bus, and left him to die in the ditch. I am working hard to get as many rides possible, and get the message out. I want to save lives and prevent others from going through what I went through.

Also, I have time. I married in April (to one of Larry's best friends) and we have a son, Andrew Lawrence Bengston, who is 5 months old. When he sleeps, I can work on this. My other job is very part time (15 hours a week, which I do from home most of the time). My new husband is very supportive of this event, and knows how important it is to keep Larry's memory alive, and to help save more lives.

Thanks for all you have done!

Judith