TBCL RIDE 2024

We couldn’t have asked for a better day to host our 5th annual “These Bikes Change Lives” Ride! With 13 amazing participants taking part, everyone went the extra mile by training hard for the long ride and setting up individual peer-to-peer fundraisers to benefit the McLindon Family Foundation. We stuck to tradition and cruised along the picturesque Mississippi River levee path, making stops in Destrehan and Garyville, LA. A huge shoutout to the wonderful Destrehan Plantation for letting us park on their beautiful grounds and setting up a relaxation station for our riders. The access to the levee path from their ramp was a real bonus!

 

This year, we were lucky to have several volunteers helping everything run smoothly. One of the best parts was being able to bring our kids along to help with small tasks and enjoy some outdoor fun while we waited for the riders to return. The atmosphere was incredibly supportive and joyful, with everyone cheering each other on. The highlight of the day was, of course, the finish line celebration. We ended the ride at the Michael R. Boh Center, where families, more volunteers, and the physical and occupational therapists we work with greeted us.

 

One memorable moment was when we presented a Freedom Concepts adaptive bike to one of the therapy center’s patients, Ricky. He’s been attending therapy there for years and really needed a bike with extra support. His family had told him they were going to a party at the center, and it turned out to be a surprise for him! With Mr. Scott whipping up some amazing jambalaya and snacks everywhere, Ricky was having a blast. But when the riders crossed the finish line and Mr. Andrew McLindon came to greet him, he discovered the party was all for him. When the bike was revealed, it fit perfectly! Everyone shifted from cheering for the riders to cheering for Ricky, and that’s what this event is all about. The participants who created fundraisers truly got to see the immediate impact of what we do. I can honestly say that everyone left the day feeling fantastic about what we accomplished together!