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Hi, my name is Phyllis,
On July 25, 2018, riding my bicycle home from work, my life was changed forever. I was hit by a car & thrown across 4 lanes. I had a huge open gash in my calf and my knee was about 4 times its regular size. As I laid there on the hot pavement with police and firemen working to get the bleeding to stop (it took 2 tourniquets) and my blood pressure up, I was mostly concerned about my bike. I know that sounds silly, but if you're a cyclist, you know what I'm talking about. I ended up with a shattered tibial plateau and massive soft tissue damage and a long road ahead of me to recovery. I stayed at my sister's house for months so she & her family could take care of me. I was bed ridden for the first two months and basically helpless.
One night, when I was lying in bed feeling sorry for myself and surfing the internet, I found the Rails to Trails website and determined my goal. I decided I was going to ride the trails from Seattle Washington to Washington DC in 2023. It was almost a year until I could ride again. After a slow start and a lot of work, I'm happy to say that I regained 100% range of motion, walk without a limp & am back in the saddle again! And planning my big ride - 3,750 miles across 12 states and countless cities, large & small! Between 50 & 60 miles per
day, 3 days on/1 day off and staying in motels along the way. My friend Nikki Smith has generously volunteered to use 8 to 10 weeks of her vacation to help me out with transportation to and from the trail each day & secure lodging for the night.
This ride is partly a celebration of my recovery and the fact that I have my leg and can still ride a bicycle & partly to raise money for Rails to Trails. It's a non-profit organization that is turning old railways across the country into bike trails that connect all the states. These trails bring people together. They bring income and jobs to the cities through which they pass. Check out their website, railstotrails.org, and see the magnitude of their vision. It's amazing!
This is where you come in. I can't do it alone. I need your help. Half of what I raise here will go the Rails to Trails organization & the other half will be used for the trip expenses. I ask only that you give as you are able. No donation is too small, it all adds up. I loved cycling with my husband. Now that he has passed, I still feel close to him on the trails.
Thank you very much for reading my story! I really appreciate it! Please feel free to pass it on to your friends and family.
On July 25, 2018, riding my bicycle home from work, my life was changed forever. I was hit by a car & thrown across 4 lanes. I had a huge open gash in my calf and my knee was about 4 times its regular size. As I laid there on the hot pavement with police and firemen working to get the bleeding to stop (it took 2 tourniquets) and my blood pressure up, I was mostly concerned about my bike. I know that sounds silly, but if you're a cyclist, you know what I'm talking about. I ended up with a shattered tibial plateau and massive soft tissue damage and a long road ahead of me to recovery. I stayed at my sister's house for months so she & her family could take care of me. I was bed ridden for the first two months and basically helpless.
One night, when I was lying in bed feeling sorry for myself and surfing the internet, I found the Rails to Trails website and determined my goal. I decided I was going to ride the trails from Seattle Washington to Washington DC in 2023. It was almost a year until I could ride again. After a slow start and a lot of work, I'm happy to say that I regained 100% range of motion, walk without a limp & am back in the saddle again! And planning my big ride - 3,750 miles across 12 states and countless cities, large & small! Between 50 & 60 miles per
day, 3 days on/1 day off and staying in motels along the way. My friend Nikki Smith has generously volunteered to use 8 to 10 weeks of her vacation to help me out with transportation to and from the trail each day & secure lodging for the night.
This ride is partly a celebration of my recovery and the fact that I have my leg and can still ride a bicycle & partly to raise money for Rails to Trails. It's a non-profit organization that is turning old railways across the country into bike trails that connect all the states. These trails bring people together. They bring income and jobs to the cities through which they pass. Check out their website, railstotrails.org, and see the magnitude of their vision. It's amazing!
This is where you come in. I can't do it alone. I need your help. Half of what I raise here will go the Rails to Trails organization & the other half will be used for the trip expenses. I ask only that you give as you are able. No donation is too small, it all adds up. I loved cycling with my husband. Now that he has passed, I still feel close to him on the trails.
Thank you very much for reading my story! I really appreciate it! Please feel free to pass it on to your friends and family.