This post will have you ready to kick the kickstand back and put the foot on the pedal.
All in for Josh
On September 27, 2016, Josh Fohner was struck by a vehicle as he biked home from his morning workout in Buena Vista, Colorado. He suffered a broken neck, fractured vertebrae, multiple facial fractures, and a severe traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for 15 months.
Since then, Josh has experienced amazing progress in recovery. He is cognitive, able to communicate with the use of a communication device, and able to ambulate his chair using head and knee switches. For the past two years, Josh has been preparing for his greatest physical challenge: riding 908 miles on his YUMI bike from Buena Vista, Colorado, to his hometown in Springdale, Arkansas.
Ride for Hope
On June 11, Josh and his team will set out for Northwest Arkansas. The group is inviting the community to join Josh for the final 28-mile stretch, beginning at the Bentonville square on July 1 at 10am, and following the Razorback Greenway Trail system to the finish line in Springdale.
This ride will also kick off the beginning of a new chapter in Josh’s recovery, sharing a message of hope and encouragement for the disabled and able-bodied alike. Participants can register to join Josh for The All in Tour or for the Ride for Hope. If you are unable to ride along, you can still get involved by contributing to a GoFundMe that has been set up to allow Josh to complete The All in Tour and to share his story of hope and recovery with others. Donations will directly support Josh’s therapy and his expenses in completing this inspirational feat.
Ride for Hope
On June 11, Josh and his team will set out for Northwest Arkansas. The group is inviting the community to join Josh for the final 28-mile stretch, beginning at the Bentonville square on July 1 at 10am, and following the Razorback Greenway Trail system to the finish line in Springdale.
This ride will also kick off the beginning of a new chapter in Josh’s recovery, sharing a message of hope and encouragement for the disabled and able-bodied alike. Participants can register to join Josh for The All in Tour or for the Ride for Hope. If you are unable to ride along, you can still get involved by contributing to a GoFundMe that has been set up to allow Josh to complete The All in Tour and to share his story of hope and recovery with others. Donations will directly support Josh’s therapy and his expenses in completing this inspirational feat.
Gear Up for a New Career
The Walton Family Foundation has awarded the NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) a $1.03 million grant to support the phased roll-out (beginning this fall) of an accredited bicycle assembly and repair technician program and a cycling and technician education center for future workforce training. In partnership with the Bicycle Industry Employers Association (BIEA), the NWACC program will be the second accredited technician program in the country.
“This program has the potential to become a training hub for cycling and technician workforce development not just regionally but nationally in a growing industry,” said Steuart Walton, chairman of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. “As more people turn to cycling as a sport, for recreation or exercise, the development of this curriculum is timely and important to the economic advancement of our region.”
Read a full article about the announcement published by Talk Business and Politics, below.
Ready. Set. Ride.
Now, that we have you inspired and ready to kick it into gear, let’s talk about National Bike Month and the 2021 National Bike Challenge, which kicks off on May 1st. Bike Month is a national community and workplace challenge designed to get everyone riding and encouraging others to ride. In this fun, friendly competition individuals, businesses, and communities compete to see which can get the most friends, family and co-workers to ride a bike during May.
Our friends over at BikeNWA will be announcing local challenges, new ways to ride, information on how to get motivated in the days and weeks to come, but in the meantime, you can get ready for the Square 2 Square Bike Ride. New to 2021, Fayetteville Parks and Recreation is offering both in-person and virtual ride-on-your-own options for this year’s Square 2 Square Bike Rides.
For the Saturday, May 1, in-person event, the ride will roll along the Razorback Greenway for 30 miles, beginning at the Fayetteville downtown square and end at the Bentonville square. For the virtual challenge, you can sign up and ride the Square to Square route on your own anytime between May 2 and May 31. This option features the same 30-mile route or a shorter 15-mile spin. Riders are welcome to start at any point along the trail if not able to ride the entire 30 miles.
Ready. Set. Ride.
Now, that we have you inspired and ready to kick it into gear, let’s talk about National Bike Month and the 2021 National Bike Challenge, which kicks off on May 1st. Bike Month is a national community and workplace challenge designed to get everyone riding and encouraging others to ride. In this fun, friendly competition individuals, businesses, and communities compete to see which can get the most friends, family and co-workers to ride a bike during May.
Our friends over at BikeNWA will be announcing local challenges, new ways to ride, information on how to get motivated in the days and weeks to come, but in the meantime, you can get ready for the Square 2 Square Bike Ride. New to 2021, Fayetteville Parks and Recreation is offering both in-person and virtual ride-on-your-own options for this year’s Square 2 Square Bike Rides.
For the Saturday, May 1, in-person event, the ride will roll along the Razorback Greenway for 30 miles, beginning at the Fayetteville downtown square and end at the Bentonville square. For the virtual challenge, you can sign up and ride the Square to Square route on your own anytime between May 2 and May 31. This option features the same 30-mile route or a shorter 15-mile spin. Riders are welcome to start at any point along the trail if not able to ride the entire 30 miles.
