Join Sonnet's Ride Toward Healing

Hi, my friend Sonnet wants to enter the Lotoja bike race on September 6, 2025. It's a one-day bike race that's over 200 miles long. Sonnet has had some serious health problems in the last few years and thought she would never ride a bike again. She's challenging herself to learn to ride again, but she needs some financial help to purchase the correct bike and the correct gear. Below is her story.

"I smile when I ride...

I had a major crash many years ago, that damaged the nerves in my left arm. I was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome in that arm, loosing about 90% function of my strength grip and originally couldn't handle even touch without pain. After a long time with a hand therapist, I regained about 60% function. I learned to ride again with a special bike that had the gears and brakes on the right side. That worked beautifully, until I had a few serious head injuries. These injuries in the brain affected my digestive system for about 8 years. Lack of ability to absorb nutrients over so many years really took a toll to the point I couldn't do any physical endurance activities at all.

I also now have severe lymphedema that caused secondary damage to the circulation in the veins in my entire right arm and shoulder. In the last two years, I started trying to ride a bike again, and learning to balance all over again, which took a lot of courage and faith to do. I'm not perfect at it yet but overcoming daily adversity to try to be my best helps me gain new confidence.

I had a bike donated last year, but it didn't fit well, and the brakes and gearing are painful to use. I need a bike that fits me, is lighter and easier to balance, and has electronic shifting and sensitive disc braking that doesn't cause so much pain to ride. I have been working hard to try to save for a bike like that, however, summer may be over before I can manage to purchase it. I won't be able to train for the race. This is my "mountain" to climb, but a little bit of assistance to get to the summit would be immensely appreciated."

Sonnet doesn't like to ask for anything, but as she struggles to rebuild her confidence in her abilities, she could use a hand up. Thank you for helping!