Thank you for your service, Coach 😘

I’ve been on a cruise this week but am determined to keep logging miles for my 5000 mile challenge. I don’t like to do that on a stationary bike but when my bike trail is covered in ice or I’m confined to a cruise ship, I don’t have many other options.

I lost my “coach” yesterday, my dear friend Ray. He turned 85 two weeks ago and would text me 3x a day… early in the morning with a motivational message to “get up and get going” towards my goal, after I completed my daily run/ride to congratulate me, and then late evening to wish me “sweet dreams”. He was my coach, my friend and as a Veteran, he was my inspiration. I will miss him and his accountability but am even more determined to reach my goal to honor and make him proud.

It’s been a sad 2 days, Ray was supposed to be on this cruise with us (a group of 14 including him) …instead he was unexpectedly hospitalized 6 weeks ago, had to cancel his vacation, and then passed away while it was occurring.

Last night, the 13 in our group met to toast Ray’s impact on our lives with his favorite cocktail…vodka and cranberry juice, we then asked the band to play one of his favorite songs so we could dance…another one of his favorite pastimes.

Today the ship hosted a Veterans Tribute to honor all the Veterans on the cruise. I wish Ray had been here to be a part of it, he was very proud of his service in the Navy and I loved witnessing the camaraderie and even harassment he shared with other Veterans at the VFW.

Seeing all of the Veterans today and hearing the reverence… for them, for those actively serving, and for those who didn’t make it home… was a special reminder for the reason I’m riding and I will not quit!

If you are or have a Veteran to be featured during my 5000 mile journey, please contact me at newfreedomvfw@yahoo.com. Together we can highlight military service members and raise awareness and funds for the outreach a VFW post can provide to Veterans, their families and the communities where they live. Donations in their name can be made directly at vfwpost7012.org with the “donate” button.