This will be the first Pink Gravel Donation Drive since Jon and I opened The Pink Gravel Fund with the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF).   While donations can be made to the fund at anytime, during these 17 days donors names will be entered into a drawing for a Marc Jacobs Pink Tote Bag.

QUICK STORY BEHIND THE TOTE:  I was given $$$ from my parents right after the Halloween on Main Street event Pink Gravel hosted with the Dwight CDC.  My Mom said in so many words "use this for Pink Gravel however you want".  So for several days I carried it in my pocket trying to decide if it should be applied to the fund or put in the bank just to cover future expenses.  Well, one weekend I was out looking at Halloween stuff on sale, I saw this bright pink tote tied up and tagged like it was something special.  Honestly, I don't carry a purse or anything, so I was unfamiliar with the brand.  Turns out Marc Jacobs is up there on the brand names list of bags.  I starred at it for a long time somewhat mesmerized by the color and wondering how I could use this for Pink Gravel.  Eventually, I decided to buy it and figure it out later.  I couldn't pass this hot pink bag.  By the time I got home with it, I had figured out a plan to use it for the first Donation Drive for The Pink Gravel Fund.

SEVERAL WAYS TO DONATE:

1. Go directly to the ECF website by clicking this LINK.  Complete the form, choose your amount and pay using a credit or debit card.  For amounts $30 or more, the ECF will send you a thank you acknowledging your donations.  This method is alos the best way to verify your donation is tax deductible.
2. Go to the SHOP PAGE of this website and select the amount and quantity of said amount that you want to donate.  This options allows you to use PayPal, Credit Card or Debit Card for payment.  You will receive an email confirming the payment.  Donations thru the Pink Gravel website will be paid to the fund at the end of the term.
3. Mail a check.  To consider this a tax deductible donation, make the check out to: Emporia Community Foundation FBO the Pink Gravel Fund.  (or write Pink Gravel Fund in the memo line of check)  Checks can be mailed to Pinkg Gravel, PO BOX 155, Dwight, Kansas 66849.  In order to track checks and to make sure your name is included in the drawing, it is suggested you go to the SHOP page of this website and chose the option tha says you are mailing a check.  In the notes, write the amount.  This way if a check comes in after Dec. 10th, your entries will already be included.

ABOUT THE DRAWING:

1. Donations made between November 24, 2021 Eight AM to December 10, 2021 Midnight will be included in the drawing.  Name will be drawn on December 14, 2021.
2. Every person gets their name entered into the drawing once for making a donation of any amount.  Then, for every $5 donated, the person receives another entry into the drawing.  So a $5 donation gets you two entries into the drawling.  Another example is if you were to donate $25.  The calculation for that is ($25/5)+1= 6 entries.
3. A single entry for the act of making a donation can only occur once.  The "+1" only counts the first day you donate during the term.
4. A donation is considered to be $1 or more.  There will be no refunds on donations made.
5. Mailed donations will have till December 13, 2021 to arrive for names to be included in the drawing.  
6. All donations collected thru the Pink Gravel website will be sent to ECF for the Pink Gravel Fund after the drawing has occurred.

If you have any questions about how to donate, where to donate or about the drawing.  Please send an email to:  pinkgravelrider@gmail.com.
​

From August of 2020 to October 2021, Pink Gravel LLC has been my vehicle to raise enough money to open a fund within a non-profit organization.   So, in the past year plus, without being too pushy, I semi-silently fundraised and set 100% of Pink Gravel's profits to the side.  My husband and I volunteered or rode in events in order to introduce folks to the Pink Gravel logo and name.  We drug our kids, aka The Pink Gravel Crew, to many gravel intersections to cheer and assist participants on fun rides or organized rides. 

I have to give a shout and thanks to the following for their support in the early beginnings:

>> Joe (Solstice Joe) for his sponsorship of the original Pink Gravel tee shirts.  It wasn't anything we asked for so the least I could do is give the Solstice top billing on the back of the tee.  This is the shirt I live in and the ones you see worn at SAGs and such.
>> Justin after our help at his Nebransas 100k made a nice contribution that was a surprise and appreciated. 
>> And of course, Mark and Renee for embracing Pink Gravel into the Pony Express Gravel Dash 120 fold.  Without even a nudge, they took Pink Gravel and ran; putting Pink Gravel large and proud on their volunteer shirts in 2020. 

It has been these random kind acts so early on that motivated me and the Crew to just keep doing as we do without being annoying ha ha.  We rarely - if ever - asked for money in return; we just wanted to be able to wear our pink shirts and get a slice of pie if possible.

And it has worked.

After 1.5 gravel seasons, $3000 has been raised.  I am tickled pink!  It was time to shop around for a area foundation that would welcome the purpose of the fund as well as fit the communities the foundation served.  After a suggestion from another foundation director, I reached out to Becky of the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF).  It did not take much for her to embrace the purpose of the Pink Gravel Fund.  In one week, an application was completed, submitted and approved on October 15, 2021.  My dream of a Pink Gravel Fund became a real thing.  Wow, just wow!

For those not familiar with the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF), the ECF mission is to connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.   The Pink Gravel Fund does extend to Riley County in addition to the seven specifically listed in the ECF.  So that is EIGHT counties in Kansas for the Pink Gravel Fund to serve and provide support for breast cancer patients and survivors.

The Pink Gravel Fund is up and ready to accept donations as we speak.  If you go to the ECF website and click DONATE you can select the Pink Gravel Fund.  (or click the button below)  Any amount welcome and all donations via the ECF to the Pink Gravel Fund is tax deductible.   The short description of the purpose of the Pink Gravel Fund is to provide support for breast cancer patients, survivors and awareness.  The support intended by the fund will occur when an application is submitted by a breast cancer patient or survivor that resides in one of the eight counties is reviewed and accepted by the Pink Gravel Advisory committee and the ECF Board.  Examples of a Pink Gravel grant request could be to help with: a utility bill, purchase item to provide comfort during treatment, assistance for treatment travel expenses.

The PINK GRAVEL FUND plans to begin taking grant applications in the SPRING/SUMMER OF 2022 (UPDATE: when the fund reaches a balance of $10,000.00).  Watch for more information to follow after the first of the year.

In the meantime, if you would like to make an online donation, click the button below.

Mailed checks should be made out to the:  Emporia Community Foundation (or ECF) 
with PINK GRAVEL FUND in the memo line.  

Two years ago... this week, life changed for me forever.
You may think I am back to normal-ish looking from the outside. I'm not.
Unless you have "done cancer*, it is never over.  Sure, the hair is back, no ill feelings with current treatment drug, and of course still alive.   

But I have:

• the memories,
• the external scars,
• the internal scars,
• the meds,
• lingering brain fog,
• numbness,
• nonexistent bladder,
• scan anxiety,
• and a body that is so wacked out due to lack of estrogen.

Sigh, it takes much mental effort to do anything now. I mean it, ANYTHING.

It makes me cry "pissed off tears' thinking about how much this diagnosis changed life . . . and I am one of those that caught it fairly early yet it took the whole 9 yards - surgery, chemo and radiation.

​So please, as we near the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month, get to know your boobs.  If it has been awhile, call your doctor and have them check your boobs or schedule a mammogram if necessary.

THIS PAST WEEKEND my lottery ticket entry into 2020's Unbound 100 mile event was cashed in 2021.

I am sad to report I did not make the checkpoint cutoff time on the 100 mile Unbound course in order to continue on.  My 54.8 miles took me over 5.5 hours to complete.  Race started at 7am, cut off was 12:30pm with cut off departure at 1pm.  I didn't get there till after 1pm.

The Unbound finish line in Emporia, Ks is in itself one of the reasons I love this specific race. There is something about that final stretch that is rewarding and makes the miles worth it.  I sit here feeling disappointed and incomplete for not having that experience this year.  To the point it is like I wasn't even there.  I came home without a finishers cup or sticker.  I just have a dirty bike, a sunburn, crap to put away and sore lady parts.

MY RIDE: The first 33 miles was fast (for me).  It was tough but I felt good.  I had plenty of time to get the next 21 miles to reach the checkpoint with time to spare.  Then mile 38 came.  I had a known bike issue looked at prior to the event but not the time to get it repaired.  When shifting from low to high gear in front, I had to make sure I was in the lower 4 gears in back to shift to front big ring or it would push the chain off and onto my right peddle.  Beginning at mile 38 I had this happen twice at bad times causing me to lose a good roll up the next hill.  I'd have to stop, put the chain back on, then muscle up the incline from a dead stop.

With 15 miles to go, I found I was out of water.  I had a chance to snag some a couple miles prior but thought I still had a full bottle under my seat only to realize when I went for it, the bottle was empty.  I had already swapped it out.  No water made it difficult to want to eat my dry bars which in turn made it difficult to climb.  Shade was scarce during whole course, so the sun was taking its toll on me as well.  Slowly the cutoff time cushion evaporated.

I realized I was not going to make it with 8-9 miles to go.

I was pissed. I let myself down. I walked 3, maybe 4 hills in those last miles, I don't remember as I was cussing under my breath and holding back tears because it didn't matter anymore.  I was done after I reached CG. Fifty four point eight (54.8) miles for nothing is all I was thinking then.  Honestly, I still feel that way a bit now.  Trying not to dwell.  But my personal competitive seed is going nuts over this failed finish.

MY POSITIVE TAKE: Aside from the shortcoming at Unbound 2021, I still rode 54.8 miles on THE most technical gravel I have ever ridden/seen.  I can't believe this was the exact same 100 mile route I had ridden and completed  in the same event in 2019 (Back then it was known as the DK).  But as anyone knows, gravel roads never stay the same. My 2015 Bombpop Blue Fargo and I climbed and descended some pretty sketchy shit. Grated roads, washed outs, new sharp gravel chunks, even some thick pebble like stuff (what I call Nebraska gravel) several sections were so "new" the only line to ride was a 6 inch wide rut on the far left or right of the gravel road.  These are things normally freak me out, but I rode successfully that day.  I was so glad I had recently put new Teravail Sparwood tires on the week before as my previous tires would have been toast under these road conditions. . . even tubeless. 

Also, this was the first time I brought kids to a race I was riding.  The kids got to see me start a race and sorta end a race.  It was cool to see them all in the bright pink Pink Gravel event tees with the Pink Gravel flag waving tall.  My crew was waiting with hugs, smiles AND water.  There were five in our group that Pink Gravel supported that day for the 100 mile course.  At the checkpoint, I was rejoined by another from our group.  Due to lack of room in the Pink Gravel SAG van, she and I grabbed a cooler of water and beer and sat under a tree to watch the 200 mile riders blast through as we waited for our ride to return from dropping the crew off back in Emporia.  It took my mind off of what I was missing in downtown Emporia at least for awhile.

Once I got back to the camper, my daughters left, my husband returned from his finish, we ate dinner and were asleep by 8:30pm.  I was too tired to venture back downtown.  Though, I admit, I regret not making more of an effort to go.  I guess I also got caught up in my personal disappointment.  

Prior to June 5, 2021, I had decided this was going to be my last 100 mile race.  It would have been my 3rd attempted and third finish for 100 miles.  I was gonna stick with shorter distances for good.   

Well. . .  I just can't let it end like this.  I now have unfinished Unbound business.

Gonna play that Unbound Lottery one more time.  


Ps.  I want to thank my friends, Mark and Renee, for allowing Pink Gravel to be apart of their expo tent on Friday.  I am honored that they invite Pink Gravel to be apart of the Pony Express Gravel Dash held in September by being SAG hosts.  This will be the 8th year for the event.  Find a registration link to their event on the "FIND US HERE" tab.

What began in October 2019 was completed one year ago on May 4, 2020.   

That period of time involved mammogram, sonogram, a biopsy, cancer confirmation, waiting on BRCA results, another mammogram, waiting on MammaPrint results, surgery, waiting to heal, surgery - port placement, waiting to heal, 3 months with chemo, Covid-19 restrictions, radiation everyday for 4 weeks, grow some hair out to finally have the port removed this past February of 2021.   Whew, say that with one breath! 

I don't think of myself as a "tough person".  I really don't like pain.  My parents will tell you I can be stubborn which I suppose could be interpreted as tough.   But deep inside lies an overactive mind full of what if "insert worse case scenario here".  I have always been like that; just maybe not as vocal about my "worst case scenario" thoughts as I am now.   So if I am being honest with myself, I am very surprised I didn't get sucked into a depression during my cancer experience.  I had moments of course, but nothing that lasted over 24 hrs.  Friends, family and maybe even you have expressed to me how strong I have been and inspiring.  Which is somewhat uncomfortable for me to hear as I wasn't going for that necessarily.  I just wanted to get through it for my family, friends, myself and survive.  But the support received from sharing this experience enabled me to dig deeper and avoid dwelling on those "what if" thoughts.  I was able to continue forward and spot the positive, laugh at my predicament, and find the energy to keep going with a smile - most of the time *wink*.  With the support, I knew I was going to be ok.

Today, it seems fitting that upon this anniversary, I find myself needing to dig deep yet again to contain post cancer anxiety sprinkled with panic attacks that appeared out of no where.  I don't know what caused it to appear now . . . the cancer experience, the year 2020,  or the vaccine shot or maybe I was just predestined to go thru this at 46 yrs old.  

Just another one of life's challenges that requires a bigger shovel.   #positivevibing 

 At the inaugural Flint Hills Gravel Ride out of Americus, Ks, that is where!

NOTES AND TIPS:

1. DO NOT SCHEDULE A J&J COVID VACCINE SHOT the Wednesday afternoon of a Saturday morning gravel event. After spending all day Thursday in bed with headache, achy joints, fatigue, fever, chills and zero appetite, a Saturday morning ride like this is too soon. Friday I still had headache, little appetite, slight nausea but functionable. By Saturday, I had a slight headache that FINALY responded to Tylenol and was eating carefully as to not upset stomach. SO yeah, I had a moment about 7-8 miles in I got lightheaded, blurry vision, lungs hurt, chest tight, nervous I was gonna pass out or have a heart attack. Maybe it was Jon's magic hugs, but after several minutes, I finally got to a point I was able to ride...at least get to checkpoint and then decide to press on.

2. DON'T TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE COURSE CREW AS CHALLANGES. I rolled up to a turn with people off their bikes looking down a stretch. While I saw a line I could ride, it was pretty muddy. But should I? Maybe just walk it all...till someone says, "With those tires you may make it if you navigate correctly". Challenge accepted. I went maybe 150 yards when I thought I was a few feet from what was solid and no. Back wheel locked in mud. Had to scrape just to get it to turn for walking as it was too heavy to carry now.

3. THE HAPPY GEAR IS KEY TO ANY FINISH. Something Jon told me about way back. Just find the happy gear in the situation you are in and go with it. Even if it is at a crawl, I will find a happy gear to get thru wind, a long climb, or long straight. Happy gear may be fast in one section and slow later.

4. THE FLINT HILLS NATURE TRAIL IS GREAT FOR BIKE RIDES. The stretch we rode into the checkpoint was a joy after what we had just been thru with the wind. Reminds me how I need to take advantage of the FHNT more often.

5. ANY ROUTE CREATED BY ANYONE NAMED BOBBY, WILL 90% OF THE TIME HAVE A HIKE A BIKE SECTION OF SOME SORT. While we were told there would not be more than a mile (at a time) of muddy roads, there are still muddy roads/sections. Being I did the 34miler, we really only saw 1 mile of actual hike a bike and then a 10 to 20yd spots of mud not too terrible to ride thru. I hear the 80milers had a bit more.

5. THE WIND IS ALWAYS BLOWING THE WRONG WAY. Wind will suck the life out of you when riding toward it; try to steer you off your line when blowing crossways; and create your personal sauna when at your back. Sure you can ride faster with it at tor back, but if the sun is out, you will cook while doing it. . . So best just not have 15 to 20 mph winds. 2 to 4 mph would do.

6. THE FINISH IS NEVER DISAPPOINTING. It does not matter what kind of finish line is set up. . .just finishing an event is a personal achievement and feels good. I have only quit once and if I had only finished, I'd had placed. I just need better skills to get my shit together on my own so as to not worry Jon or slow down someone else's progress. (OR maybe not get a damn vaccine known to make you ill 48 hours before a ride.)
​
Anyway, it was really good to be back among my gravel peeps for my first in person gravel event of the year! Nice to have a new awesome event so close to home too.
#pinkgravel
#windsucksandblows
#flinthillsgravelride
#bikegoodr