Saturday, August 16, 2014

Ride for Eric



Paint Rock resident Matt Garcia will be doing a 100 mile bicycle ride next Thursday (August 21) to help raise funds for a Ballinger family that needs our help.

His route will take him through a lot of the rural countryside east of San Angelo in areas near Paint Rock, Eden, Ballinger & San Angelo.

He'll be doing this ride solo and self supported, which means he'll be on the bike for six or more hours in the West Texas heat carrying supplies such as water, food and bike repair essentials.

In addition to the heat, Garcia will face rough chip-sealed roads, wind and the fatigue that comes with making his bike's wheels spin through 75,880 revolutions during the 100 miles he'll be riding.

This isn't Garcia's first rodeo as relates to long bike rides - he has completed events such as the Livestrong Challenge ride in Austin, multiple Hotter 'n Hell Hundreds, Ride for the Roses, the March of Dimes ride and a several Children's Miracle Network rides.

You'll notice based on his past events that he has an affinity for doing rides that raise money for good causes.

Garcia will be doing the August 21 century ride alone, but ... he needs your help to make the ride a success.

His century ride next Thursday will be a 'Ride for Eric' fundraiser to help raise money for Eric Hoelscher, a Ballinger resident who recently has surgery to remove a golf ball sized brain tumor.

Hoelscher does not have medical insurance, so all funds raised will help pay medical expenses for the brain tumor surgery and subsequent treatment.

You can help make Garcia's 100 mile 'Ride for Eric' a success by simply pledging a certain amount of money per mile for every mile that he rides.

Think about it - if 500 people pledge $.50 per mile, Garcia (with your help) will be able to raise $25,000 to help Eric Hoelscher and his family through these tough times as they face the current and future medical bills.

Given that San Angelo's population is around 100,000 with a lot of good companies that support important causes, there should be a lot more than 500 people who make pledges if you'll help spread the word.

You don't have to make the pledge by yourself - get your cycling or running group involved to collect donation funds or 'pass the hat' in the office this coming week and make a pledge on behalf of your club or company.

Any amount of money that you pledge will help, and remember that you don't have to sweat your way through the 100 mile ride - Garcia will be doing that for you.

Making your ride pledge is easy - just log onto www.gofundme.com/d254bk to use a credit card or send your donations or bike ride pledges to the Eric Hoelscher Benefit Fund, Ballinger National Bank, PO Box 660, Ballinger, TX 76821.

For more information on the Ride for Eric visit facebook.com/events/1448230962113559

Remember - Matt Garcia's century ride will raise money to help a fellow West Texan, so let's cheer him on with our pledges.


Upcoming Events
Aug 21: Mountain bike time trial, angelobike.org
Aug 22-24: Hotter'N Hell Hundred, hh100.org
Sept 13: Run to Remember, roadlizards.org
Sept 27: Mason Lions Club 5/10K Run, masontxcoc.com
Oct 4: Shannon Pink Ribbon Run

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