<div><em>This fundraiser has been generated from the overwhelming request by friends and teammates of Cade and Cooper. Please take a moment to read the message from their families below. The donations received from this effort will support the boys &amp; promote cyclist safety:</em>
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<div>Many of you have asked how you can help. First and foremost, your prayers and support mean the world. For those who feel led to give, we’ve created a way for you to do so. <strong>Let’s turn this moment of darkness into momentum for change</strong>.
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<div>Funds raised will go toward:
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<li>Replacing Cade and Cooper’s destroyed bikes (one of which was actually a coach’s bike)
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<li>Supporting their ongoing recovery
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<li>Blessing the first responders and community who stepped in
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<li>And most importantly, donating a portion to the White Line Foundation—a nonprofit committed to promoting awareness, education, and advocacy for cyclist safety nationwide. <a href="https://www.thewhiteline.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.thewhiteline.org</a> 
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<div><strong>To the Missouri cycling community from the families of Cade Hornberger &amp; Cooper White </strong>
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<div><em>September 7th, 2025</em>. What was supposed to be a beautiful, crisp Sunday morning of competition and camaraderie at Binder Lake in Jefferson City, turned into something unimaginable—a moment none of us will ever forget. As Cade and Cooper warmed up for their mountain bike race, their focus was on the trail ahead. The familiar nerves of competition filled the air. But what none of us could have anticipated was the evil that would come out of nowhere.
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<div>A drunk driver —who made eye contact, laughed, and then intentionally accelerated—drove straight into the boys. She hit Cooper first, then Cade, sending him 15 feet into the air before fleeing the scene. It was a hit-and-run that shook everyone to their core.
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<div>Cade was rushed by ambulance to the trauma center in Columbia. Cooper was assessed at the scene. And by the grace of God, both boys went home with their families later that day. Scraped. Bruised. Sore. But alive. Unbroken.
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<div>There is no question that what happened was evil. As parents, as coaches, as teammates and as a community, we are left with questions that feel impossible to answer: <em>How could someone do this to children? How could such darkness invade a place that is supposed to be filled with joy and safety?</em>
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<div>And yet, in that darkness, God’s light broke through.
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<div>We saw it in the miraculous protection over Cade and Cooper, whose injuries could have—and should have—been so much worse. We saw it in the swift and skilled response of first responders, who cared for the boys and apprehended the suspect. We saw it in the calm courage of Cooper, who, even while injured and in shock, sought help, gave an accurate description, and ensured Cade was being cared for. We saw it in the mountain biking community, who rallied—some racing through tears, some sacrificing personal glory to ride alongside a teammate in need.
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<div>We saw it in you—in your prayers, your calls, your texts, your love.
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<div>The Bible tells us that the world is broken, and what happened this weekend is a sobering reminder of that truth. But the Bible also tells us that evil does not get the final word. Jesus' resurrection declares once and for all that light defeats darkness, life overcomes death, and hope will always rise. What was meant for harm, God can redeem for good.
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<div>As parents, we often celebrate the victories our children experience on the field, on the track, or on the trail. But this week, we celebrate a different kind of victory—the victory of life spared, of community strengthened, of faith deepened.
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<div>We are so thankful:
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<li>That both boys are home and healing.
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<li>For the overwhelming love and prayers from friends, families, and faith communities—including FCA, Mathias’ Lot Church, Peine Ridge Church, and so many others.
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<li>For coaches, teammates, and league staff who stepped up without hesitation.
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<li>For the selflessness of other riders and families in the MO NICA league who showed what true sportsmanship and compassion look like.
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<li>For the strangers who became helpers, and the helpers who became heroes.
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<div>To everyone who reached out—thank you. Your support has reminded us that we are not alone. And while we never wanted this to be part of our children’s story, we trust God is at work even here.
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<div>We also want to reaffirm our deep appreciation for Missouri NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association). This organization places immense value on safety, with protocols, race-day planning, and risk management practices that are among the most thorough in youth sports. What happened on Sunday was not a failure of safety—it was a confrontation with evil. And even in that, God was sovereign.
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<div>So tonight, hug your kids. Say the prayers. Give thanks. And remember: bikes can be replaced, but lives are precious. Evil may strike without warning, but it can never overcome the love of God and the strength of a faithful community.
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<div><strong>We will move forward. Not in fear—but in faith.</strong>
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Alexander Schuetz

Paul Zerkel

Austin Doeren

Kevin Hunsel

Ben and Charlie Cohen

CoMo Composite Raptors

Cynthia Byrne

Mike Higgins

Timothy Fessler

Annie Tripp

Susan Marske

CODY LOVELESS

Dwayne Till

Anonymous

Lara Delaney Houseman

Dennis Maddock

Jamie Ditch

Ania Galal

Kate Dewey

Help Cade and Cooper Rebuild & Promote Safety for Cyclists

Help Cade and Cooper Rebuild & Promote Safety for Cyclists

Still $6,120 to go. Help us build momentum.