“There is a lot more to life than running and doing triathlons. It’s the people you meet and the times you get to share that really matter,” says Dugan. “That’s why I do it. I spend time with great people seeing places I’d never see unless I was running or on my bike. At KPF, I get to share that with other athletes, as well as introduce it to new people.”
Tuesday, December 1, 2020 is Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity. What started as a simple idea of encouraging people to do good in their community has grown to so much more.
We have an opportunity on Giving Tuesday to be generous. There are many ways we can be generous towards others. We can be generous with our time, our talent, and/or our treasure.
For it is in giving that we receive --- St. Francis
Alicia Harrington, a volunteer since 2013, was on the panel of guest speakers for KPF’s Athlete Celebration on Sunday. In her emotional speech that brought tears to eyes, Harrington precisely acknowledged the sentiment behind KPF’s volunteer family.
Even in a pandemic, we are still marching forward as over 50 attendees Zoom’d in to this event. Although it did not take place in person, it was just as memorable, highlighting the individual and collective successes of our athletes.
Moderator Shawna Block Gray, KPF’s Development, Etc. Director, kicked off the night with introductions turning it over to Kyle and Brent to recap an unprecedented year.
After starting the 2020 race season in March with an exceptionally large and successful Publix Atlanta Half Marathon, the remainder of the year derailed when COVID hit. However, thanks to KPF’s ability to pivot, athletes and volunteers continued to be engaged in unique ways. New programs were established to assist KPF families, races went virtual, webinars and videos were created to keep everyone connected – social media was our community platform.
Crowning KPF’s annual athlete celebration are the award presentations.
Despite the absence of in-person races, crank athlete, Jessica Minton, trained and competed in multiple virtual marathons throughout the pandemic. Her grit and tenacity earned her The Lucye Caplan Memorial Broken Wheel Award. Presented by Jeff Caplan, a former KPF board member, the $1,000 endowment is in honor of his late wife, Lucye, in remembrance of her courage and fortitude.
Ryan Whitley, a long-time athlete with KPF, received the first annual Bethany Rutledge Courage award. This monetary award will help purchase a wheelchair to assist in his travels to and from racing events and around town. Bethany Rutledge was a triathlete and KPF volunteer who always participated in the John Tanner Tri the Parks with Ryan.
After Bethany’s sudden passing in 2019, her husband, John, also a triathlete and former KPF board member, created this award to help deserving KPF families with their needs.
The Jake Vinson Family Grant was founded in 2015 in memory of KPF’s first athlete. To raise money to fund the grant, Jake’s parents, Scott and Amy, host a memorial golf tournament each fall. One hundred percent of all proceeds is put towards helping athletes while keeping Jake’s legacy alive.
This year’s winner was Dontavious Ridley. Kyle and Dontavious met in 2015 during one of Kyle’s forays through Atlanta, and Dontavious has been an athlete with KPF since. His request for an accessible van is now a reality. In addition, during the Zoom event, an anonymous donor was so moved by the outpouring of support, that they offered to pay the first year’s insurance on the van.
KPF is deeply grateful for all our athletes and volunteers, and as we look back on 2020, it won’t be the difficulties we remember, but the unity we felt.
Written by Kevin Enners, KPF’s Project Manager of Engagement
The distinct whirring of wheels could be heard as fourteen KPF teams took to Roswell’s Riverside Park pathway Sunday, participating in a virtual New York City Marathon. Of those, two teams had been selected for the NYC Marathon, but due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person marathon was cancelled. Regardless, KPF wanted to salute their accomplishment and organized this celebration.
The two in-chair athletes who were bound for New York, Bentley-Grace Hicks and Kyleigh Kramlich, completed the 26.2 miles supported by their teams led by Fred Soller and Scott Stafford respectively. With a staggered start, other KPF teams joined in on the fun and wheeled, ran, and cranked varying routes around Riverside for sixty minutes.
“We were able to do things on our time, in the way that made sense for us,” said Chris Johnson, KPF board member and volunteer. “(It) felt like it was ‘our race’.”
Teams treaded the serpentine blended asphalt-packed-gravel trail safely in a non-competitive, open environment where they were able to cruise at their own speed. Further ensuring protection from Covid-19, other precautions, including temperature checks, mandatory masks and hand sanitizers, were taken. “Everyone was respectful of other people’s space,” added Krystle Andrews, a KPF volunteer.
Long-time KPF push-assist volunteer Alicia Harrington, and Chief Inspiration Officer, Kyle Pease, dressed up in costumes portraying Lady Liberty and a Georgia Peach - the logo featured on Kpeasey’s race t-shirt and social media posts that promoted the event. The red, white, and blue balloon arch, swaying in the crisp morning breeze, marked the start/finish and was a festive touch which added to the positive energy and fun atmosphere.
Athlete, Kyleigh Kramlich, expressed what we all were thinking, "I was so happy to see old friends."
Though the race is over, the battle against COVID-19 is ongoing. "The in-person event allowed me time to reflect on how difficult the pandemic has been for many of the athletes,” says volunteer Jill Cannoy. “The athlete I was able to run with was very encouraging and thankful. He continued to state how great it was to return to racing and spend time with other athletes – even while social distancing.”
It is obvious that the lingering pandemic has affected everyone. Despite the fact that not everyone has physically fallen ill, the Corona virus has inhibited aspects of our lives that keep us together. It’s important to remember that if we all do our part, it will not last forever, and our two marathon teams will be running through the five boroughs of Manhattan in-person in 2021.
I remember a time when cycling was just that, cycling. My dad and I would go and just ride for the sake of riding. It didn’t matter how long it took or how far we went. We’d simply pedal our bikes. This was freedom. This is how I fell in love with cycling.
Recently, on a cool fall morning in October, a small but dedicated contingent of KPF bike athletes and their cycling partners hit the Silver Comet Trail taking part in a virtual event, Spin for Kids, to support Camp Twin Lakes. Meeting in the dark parking lot before dawn, we were pumped. This was not a competition; this was a ride. This was not hurry up and move out; this was a socially distanced, shoot the breeze, easy-peasey event.
That said, we are athletes, so each of us had a purposeful plan. Our mileage goals ranged from 15 to 62 miles and everything in between.
After group pictures, during which we blocked a portion of the trail and made other cyclists go around us -- sorry, not sorry -- we pedaled off. Five athletes, 8 volunteers and yours truly in charge. What could go wrong?
Actually, nothing.
Nick Gleissner with his partner Chris Johnson and Cecil Williams with his partner David Burgos set their sights on and completed 62 miles! Jessica Minton had a marathon goal in mind with her partners Jessica Wilson and Gary Whitehead-Nudd and wound up going beyond the 26.2 to over 27 miles. Cougar Clifford, Brent Pease and Shawna Block Gray successfully targeted 15 miles. My dad, Rich Enners, and I focused on 15 miles, but it was such a great relief to be off my trainer and outside, we completed 20 miles.
Nick, a Paralympic hopeful who recently moved to Georgia and new to the foundation, wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and I was nervous that this ride may not have been the type of riding he was looking for. In the end, Nick shared, “Chris was a good match for me and that made for an excellent experience. I had an excellent ride and was able to meet some pretty cool people.”
It was Cecil’s first time on the Silver Comet Trail. Hauling his Catrike from Chattanooga, Tennessee, he said participating in a Kpeasey event and seeing his friends is always worth the hike. “It was fun and it was wide enough to maneuver along the trail. The scenery was beautiful.”
Jessica, a long-time KPF athlete and avid hand cyclist, cranked out nearly 28 miles in a little over two hours. “I thoroughly enjoyed this ride,” she said enthusiastically. “I loved the smaller group!”
This was an experiment of sorts -- without the structure of a racing environment, would riding be more enjoyable? I think the answer is yes. Instead of a hurry-up-and-wait competitive situation, nonrace experiences can rekindle the spark that started the fire in everyone’s bellies. You can take time to enjoy the present, to feed your soul and, as Jessica suggested, even grab a bite to eat.
