WHERE DID "PINK GRAVEL" COME FROM?  To get straight to the point, PINK GRAVEL is my cancer brain child.  It came to me during a trail walk just after my second chemo treatment in February 2020.  Just months prior, I was riding miles of gravel; and now, this little walk was kicking my butt.  I was so frustrated about how it took so much effort just to walk a couple miles.  My Oncologist told me I would be fatigued and that a walk around the block would be a reasonable goal.  He said I shouldn't be so hard on myself.  But I do tend to be hardest on my self.  I didn't want to accept my physical weakness.  I cried  as I struggled a short incline on the trail.  Eventually I began to think about how all of this crap would make other activities suffer.  Just how long it would take to get "back to normal"?  Would I forever be affected by breast cancer and these  treatments?  Through my tears, I managed a laugh about how my world was "pink washed".  I was not really a fan of the color pink either.  Ugh.  Now biking will be such a chore to just get back to where I can ride miles on my own.  I will have to slow my roll in order to ride my now pink miles.  Pink miles on pink gravel . . . Hummm . . . kinda catchy.
WHAT IS PINK GRAVEL'S PURPOSE?  To put it simply, Pink Gravel exists to encourage other breast cancer patients and survivors to reconnect with their previous active lifestyles.  One way is to "go small" and participate in the shorter distances, accept and embrace the back of the pack aka the party pace.  Another option is to volunteer for events  previously you participated in; be support to those you know in any activity.  I have learned you can get a work out and be just as tired working a day long check point as you would riding 50 miles.

Cancer (and life in general) is not just physically hard; it is a mental game.  We all have to do our best to take control of the mind game and in some cases all it takes is a positive activity or distraction.   For me, I couldn't ride, but I could support and still have fun.  
OTHER FAQS AND NEWS:
  • The Pink Gravel Crew assists and /or provides S.A.G (support and gear) for a variety of grassroots gravel biking events in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. If not helping, we ride! If possible, we do both!
  • Pink Gravel encourages a laid back, positive atmosphere when assisting events or planning our own such as the annual Just A Chill Ride-50K held the first Saturday of October. Registration for the 2022 event is open!
  • Pink Gravel supports and volunteers for other organizations and community events not related to gravel biking. We have team up with other local organizations in Dwight to provide Tuesday Night Bingo to residents or maybe you have attended one of the Halloween events. Currently, we are hosting a gravel event during the Dwight Summerfest event on August 6, 2022.
  • The last couple years, Pink Gravel events and merch sales played a big role in raising seed money for a donor advised fund opened with the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF WEBSITE LINK) named "The Pink Gravel Fund". The Emporia Community Foundation (ECF) is a 501c3 organization and donations made through the ECF to The Pink Gravel Fund are used to support breast cancer patients, survivors, and awareness/education. Grant opportunities to individuals dealing with the effects of breast cancer will start sometime in 2022. Here is the LINK to make an online donation directly to the fund if you would like to help.
  • Pink Gravel Ambassadors - these are individuals and/or teams competing in various walk/run/bike events under the Pink Gravel brand.  
  • BIG NEWS!!! > > > THE EVENT CENTER (a small multipurpose venue) on Block 31 in Dwight, Kansas is under construction.   THE EVENT CENTER will provide a place for families, businesses and organizations (like Pink Gravel) to host a variety of activities; and, of course, gravel events.   Information on how to rent the The Event Center for 2023 will be posted before year end 2022.  So if you have an event you are planning and looking for a space, keep The Event Center in mind.  
  • Pink Gravel Campsites (short term sites) will also be installed west of  THE EVENT CENTER on Block 31 in Dwight, Kansas. Amenities will include wifi, electric and water hookups for RV/Campers as well as a dump station.  These will be available to use in conjunction to The Event Center if available at the time of reservation.

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