Many Facets of Family - Thank You Body Concepts!

The time crunch is on and a lot is going on, so we have less time to do blogs but we really need to give thanks for a Thanksgiving Week Miracle brought to us by the folks at Body Concepts and specifically masterminded by Linda Bailey.

You may remember that Chris was going to sell his bicycle that had been a birthday present just a few months ago so that we could afford some much needed materials for the house. When I protested (and yes, I cried) his words were "We need a home." It was sad not as much for the material loss but what it represented for our family. If you ever read our Tribe Tracks blog (on winter hiatus) you know just what it all means for us.

Chris asks Rob for tools while
Linda goes into the office.

When Linda found out that Chris was selling his bike she was adamant that that would not happen. Without Chris knowing she called me and informed me in no uncertain terms that we were not to sell the bike. To make a long story short Linda was hard at work for the next week making calls to the team and just about anyone else she knew that may be willing to help. She gathered donations and (and she and Rob donated as well) and called me to tell me if the amount she had managed to gather would be enough. It was not quite as much as what Chris was hoping to get for the bike but it was enough to help tremendously and I was sure it was enough to keep Chris from selling the bike.

I told Chris that we had finally got a response from someone and we were to meet them in Old Folsom. Chris prepped the bike and was stoic, repeatedly telling me that it was okay, we really needed the money. Needed a home. We traveled to our destination and I asked Chris if he wanted to keep the bike pump that was attached to the frame. When he responded that he did but he needed an allen wrench I told him to go ask Rob as they always have bike tools at Body Concepts.

Linda hits Chris with the envelope.

Chris walked the bike in and started talking to Rob when Linda walked up with an envelope. She handed it to Chris and in a very authoritarian manner said, "You're not selling your bike.


Chris stood there for several moments confused. Then it all unfolded. Linda told Chris that they had raised the money to save Chris' bike because they themselves had had to do just that in the past to make ends meet. To some people, selling a bike is like selling a couch. But for a cyclist like Chris, with the tarmac in his blood, selling his bike is tantamount to a Samurai selling his beloved katana.

With the donations of these wonderful people we can now afford all of our permits which we paid for today with the money and should have enough to pay for almost all of the electrical work in the house. To all of you, you will have quite literally brought light and warmth into our lives. Thank you!

THE BODY CONCEPTS FAMILY
LINDA BAILEY AND ROB KOPITZKE
CARLOS PONCE
GARY NIEMAN
JIM BLANKENSHIP
PATRICK PETERS
JOHN DEPEW
GARY SPEER
KEN TOFT
"DJ"

AND THE WONDERFUL ANONYMOUS DONOR