PACIFICA, CA - Yesterday morning, one of the biggest groups to ever participate in the Tour de Fresh took off from Napa to tackle hills, curves, and highways. A support crew consisting of mechanics, medical support, and volunteers follow as our peers in produce pedal toward the California coast for the first 55 of the almost 200 mile ride.
Donate to Put Salad Bars in Schools!
I follow to watch in awe as just about every face I saw in October returns to push their bodies to the limit to provide produce to millions of U.S. children.
It’s a reunion among friends, as much as a fight for fresh produce in schools, and the passion and camaraderie is in every mile we all cross.
The growth of the Tour de Fresh, just in the limited time that I have had the chance to be apart of it, is inspiring in itself. The support crew files in, on the lookout for any who need anything from assistance to water. The mechanics respond quickly to a flat. Even the pit stops, which were once just a short break of power bars and water, have evolved into a team up of industry members to support our riders.
The riders, too, have changed! The varying levels of experience never fail to impress, from returning industry members and routine cyclists like Jeff Church, Jennifer Kalich, and Raina Nelson, to first-time riders like Jenn Lavardera and Greg Vetter, who only began riding in recent months as they trained specifically for Tour de Fresh.
And even after grueling 100+ degree heat, everyone gathered last night to celebrate, clink a few drinks, and hop on for another day, with different terrain but the same unifying cause.
I can’t wait to see what adventures this second leg, and beyond, has in store. Please join me in wishing our riders luck and safe travels, and donate to help them reach their goals! Already we stand close to the goal, with $152,627 raised as of this morning to put salad bars in schools, but every dollar counts as we strive for $175,000.
