Natalie Rainer is the Engagement Manager for Bike Walk RVA, an organization that is part of Richmond Sports Backers. In this conversation we discuss pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, economic, health and environmental benefits of non-motorized travel, Vision Zero and more. Natalie also talks about the horrific event that changed the path of her life and led her to advocacy. She and Jonah Holland were struck from from behind by an impaired driver while cycling. As a result, Natalie suffered life-threatening injuries, but tragically, Jonah did not survive.
Category: Cycling (Page 1 of 2)
I’ve been riding in the Bike MS event to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research and programs since 2004 when a dear friend was diagnosed. He has since lost his battle with MS, but that doesn’t mean we stop battling it. If you’d care to support my ride this year please link the link below. I am sincerely grateful for everyone who has supported my rides over the years.
We also have a team! And YOU can join it. It’s called Go Forward Cycling in honor of another organization doing the work to help our community face some of the many challenges life can throw at you. The Forward Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting working, single parents and their children in the Greater Richmond area who are experiencing a life change that has altered their finances. If you’d like to join our team you don’t even have to ride with us. We’re just happy to have you. Register for the event, join our team, and choose your route. Easy!
Please reach out if I can answer any questions or if you’d like to get involved with the MS Society or the Forward Foundation. Thanks!
Click the image to sponsor me!
Click to sponsor me!
I’m riding against MS again this year. This is year 22 for me. I can’t wait until our Go Forward Cycling team rolls out from Richmond on May 31 headed to Williamsburg. Then we get up the next day and head back to Richmond.
MS is an insidious, debilitating disease. I started riding for a dear friend after he was diagnosed. He fought hard against MS for years, but last year his fight came to an end. I will continue to ride for him and for all the people I have met who have MS or whose friends and family have it. The list of people I ride for has grown over the years, but there’s always room for more. Because while progress has been made and continues to be made, the fight is not over.
To sponsor me, join our team or to find out more please visit the links below. Thank you for your continued support.
SPONSOR ME
JOIN THE GO FORWARD CYCLING TEAM
EVENT INFO
GO FORWARD CYCLING TEAM AT LAST YEAR’S RIDE
UPDATE:
The ride was this past weekend and it was another great couple days of cycling, fun, awareness of what we’re working for and appreciation of everyone who contributed – riders, volunteers, organizers and those fighting MS every day. See you next year!
This episode was recorded live at Final Gravity Brewing during the kick-off event on August 14th. We’ll do this again on September 11, and everyone is invited whether you’re riding in the event, coming to Forward Fest or not. This is a community organization and these are community events. The Go Forward Together Ride and Forward Fest event following the ride is Saturday, October 5th.
In this episode we talk with Forward Foundation Executive Director Andrea Starr, Ride Committee member and rider/participant Steve Dragone, and rider/participant Jeff Smack about this year’s upcoming event, past events and growth (this is year 5), the mission of the Forward Foundation, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, details about registration, the cycling community including our official support shop Blue Ridge Cyclery, the 50 and 30 miles routes and more.
Register and find more info about the ride and the after-event here.
www.goforwardtogetherride.com
Learn more about the Forward Foundation and their mission of assisting single parents in financial crisis here:
www.forwardfoundationva.org
This is year #21 riding in Bike MS: Colonial Crossroads. I started riding against MS as a way to contribute to the cause when a family friend was diagnosed with MS. Since then, I’ve lead a team, ridden alone, ridden with my brother Jeff many of those years, and ridden with friends who have joined the cause for a year or two or even just once. And it’s all been great.
We have a team again this year named after the fundraising ride we do in the fall to benefit the Forward Foundation in Richmond. (The FF helps single parents in financial crisis). It’s a different event, but we crossed the streams. Our team is called Go Forward Cycling.
Click the banner below to sponsor me and feel free to contact me with any questions or if you’d like to help. I can put you in touch with the organizers. Thanks for your support!
The Tour de Cure for the Mid-Atlantic region of the American Diabetes Association is April 27 out of Smithfield, Virginia. Executive Director Deanie Eldridge from the ADA lays out everything you need to know about how to participate in and support the event as well as other important information about the disease.
The header image is my brother Jeff and me after our “make-up” ride last year. We both got Covid the week of the ride so we did our own ride a few weeks later by doing a century ride on the Virginia Capital Trail.
We made it back to the official ride this year. It was year 20, and it was another great weekend in support of an amazing cause and some of the bravest people you’ve ever met. I’m speaking, of course, of all the people fighting MS every day. Progress has been made, but there’s still no cure for this son-of-a-bitch of a disease. It’s slow, progressive, and insidious. Riding a bike from Richmond to Williamsburg and back is easy by comparison.
Thank you to the MS Society, all organizers, supporters, donors, vendors, partners and riders.
There’s still time to support the effort. Go to jaysmack.com/MS2023 or click the image below to sponsor me. It’s my brother Jeff and me at the start line in Richmond on Saturday, June 3.
CLICK THE PIC TO SPONSOR ME!
Short clip from the ride from Richmond to Williamsburg on Saturday.
Today’s episode is a recap of the 3rd Annual Go Forward Together Ride. It was recorded at Final Gravity Brewing, the start/finish line for the ride and site of the after party. The after party actually became the main event as we had to cancel the ride due to remnants of Hurricane Ian rolling in and a state of emergency having been declared. Safety is always the #1 priority. Participating in the discussion are :
-Andrea Starr – Executive Director of the Forward Foundation
-Dan Cherkis – Forward Foundation cyclist advisory board and ride leader of the Carytown Bicycles Saturday morning group ride
-Tim Mullins – Market Manager Atlantic, Specialized Owned Retail
-Bryan Oprel – General Manager Carytown Bicycle Co., Specialized Owned Retail
-and me, Jay Smack – Forward Foundation cyclist advisory board and host and producer of the Good Eye Podcast.
Go Forward Together Ride
The Forward Foundation
Carytown Bicycle Company
Final Gravity Brewing
For a complete list of sponsors and media partners go to goforwardtogetherride.com
This subject came up on a cycling blog thread the other day. It’s worth looking into. It’s never happened to me (now that I’ve said that it will), but I’ve been with people to whom it has happened. It’s absolutely terrifying and they were understandably rattled. And although I’ve never been with anyone who has gone down because of it, it often results in a crash.
This is a really good article on the subject and explains how and why they happen. Knowing the physics behind them really helps to understand how you might bring them under control and not crash. And, as we all know, knowing is half the battle!
Jonah Holland was struck and killed by a drunk driver last Saturday, August 13 while cycling along Osbourne Turnpike near Richmond. She was cycling with Natalie Rainer who was also struck and remains hospitalized. Jonah was an avid cyclist and swimmer and a member of numerous community organizations as is Natalie.
At the time of release of this podcast there are several ways to help. A “Take Them A Meal” page has been set up for Jonah’s family, but states that the schedule is full. You can contact the organizer for other ways to help.
Meals for John, Josie and Grayson Holland
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Natalie’s expenses and hospital bills which will be significant.
Feel free to reach out here via email at goodeyepodcast.com.
#liveforjonah
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