Help Bonnie Ride the Divide
Donation protected
Bonnie Gagnon is the definition of dedicated. She's traveled to South Korea to teach English, a former police officer, owned and operated two of her own businesses, was a national parks ranger, and a competitive body builder.
She's completed some of the most challenging bike races in the country including being the proud owner of two of the prized Leadville belt buckles, completed the Tuscobia winter ultra, the Lutsen 99er, countless winter fat bike races, and is an Ironman triathlete.
She's done a lot of giving back with her volunteering for Free Bikes for Kids, the Make a Wish Foundation, and the MS-150.
She's also one of the few survivors of an incredibly tenacious bacteria only complicated by Lemierre's Syndrome. Against all odds, this incredible woman survived, Bonnie is a fighter.
Recently something happened that took some of the fight out of her. Like one in five women, she became the victim of and assault and sexual violence. She struggled with the this demon a lot, the guilt and the shame. We talked a lot, I am also one of the one in five. Together with many of the other survivors in the bike community we got her back on track and as a way to reclaim herself she wanted to dedicate her Tour Divide to other victims of sexual assault, an honorable choice.
Unfortunately this is where it gets tricky. Her original sponsor decided to drop her because the abuser is in the cycling community and they were worried about losing business due to gossip.
I think this is b.s. so I'm making this GoFundMe to get Bonnie back rolling, a TRUE ADVOCATE for women's cycling and abuse survivors.
She's completed some of the most challenging bike races in the country including being the proud owner of two of the prized Leadville belt buckles, completed the Tuscobia winter ultra, the Lutsen 99er, countless winter fat bike races, and is an Ironman triathlete.
She's done a lot of giving back with her volunteering for Free Bikes for Kids, the Make a Wish Foundation, and the MS-150.
She's also one of the few survivors of an incredibly tenacious bacteria only complicated by Lemierre's Syndrome. Against all odds, this incredible woman survived, Bonnie is a fighter.
Recently something happened that took some of the fight out of her. Like one in five women, she became the victim of and assault and sexual violence. She struggled with the this demon a lot, the guilt and the shame. We talked a lot, I am also one of the one in five. Together with many of the other survivors in the bike community we got her back on track and as a way to reclaim herself she wanted to dedicate her Tour Divide to other victims of sexual assault, an honorable choice.
Unfortunately this is where it gets tricky. Her original sponsor decided to drop her because the abuser is in the cycling community and they were worried about losing business due to gossip.
I think this is b.s. so I'm making this GoFundMe to get Bonnie back rolling, a TRUE ADVOCATE for women's cycling and abuse survivors.
Organizer and beneficiary
Natalia Mendez
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Bonnie Gagnon
Beneficiary