Shamus Memorial "Great Bear Ride"
Tax deductible
The Great Bear Ride: The Shamus Memorial Sacred Site Bike Ride and Fundraiser for Pathfinder Center a program of Wiconi Wawokiya. Located in central South Dakota, Pathfinder Center is a 501 c3 nonprofit Community Based refuge for victims of human trafficking. The renovated facility opened in the Fall of 2016.
Their mission is to provide a place of refuge for victims of human trafficking from all over South Dakota.To promote the growth and development of those they serve by empowering them to experience healing and wholeness while ensuring that each woman gains a sense of self-worth and the capacity to achieve their full potential.
https://www.facebook.com/pathfindercenter.org/
Why we ride...
"We began cycling about 6 years ago as a family. We’ve always enjoyed cycling, but over the past 5 years we have made cycling our main form of exercise. It began as therapy after the loss of my son, now it has become a life style.
My son, Shamus O'Daniel lost his life to Diabetes. Shamus was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of six and he lost his battle with this disease at age twenty-one.
While Shamus did not live a long life, during the brief time he was with us, he left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. Shamus was a sports enthusiast, and an active athlete who truly loved sports. He enjoyed team sports but most of all he enjoyed sharing his love for sports with his brothers, Michael and Cameron
Shamus was diagnosed with diabetes when he was six-years-old. For Shamus, coping with the disease proved to be a daily struggle. As a family we honor his memory by riding and giving back in his memory.
Over the past 5 years I have organized a memorial ride to Devils Tower in memory of my son. For me, Michael, Cam and our family, it has become a spiritual journey. From this experience my goal was to organize rides to our sacred sites in memory of Shamus and others who have traveled on to the spirit world.
Born August 15, 1991, he died November 11, 2012, living 7,665 days on this earth. That is the amount of money we hope to raise with this ride, to honor his memory and to help women struggling to survive past human trafficking." Lily Mendoza y Ducheneaux, Shamus' mother
"The Great Bear Ride": The Shamus Memorial Sacred Site Bike Ride and Fundraiser for Pathfinder will take place on September 30, 2017. Cyclists will ride 100 miles from Bear Butte in Sturgis, South Dakota, to Mato Tipila (Bear Lodge, also called Devil's Tower National Park) in Wyoming, two sites sacred to the Lakota and other Native People. This year we have added a 50 mile ride , starting at Bear Butte and ending just beyond the Vore Buffalo Jump.This is a self-supported ride, and cyclists are welcome to travel a portion of the route or the whole distance. There will be water stops every 20 miles. The ride will begin with a blessing and honoring song at 7 am, with an anticipated finish at 7 pm. Riders will carry sage ties in memory of loved ones that have passed on to the spirit world.
Ride from Bear Butte to Mato Tipila (Devils Tower) 100 miles
Registration $65.00, we also registration day of the ride
Includes T-shirt, water bottle, water stops with snacks
Ride from Bear Butte to Vore Buffalo Jump 50 miles
Registration and on-site $45.00
Includes T-shirt, water bottle, water stops with snacks
Buffalo Feed at Mato Tipila for riders, their families and volunteers Sponsored by the Baker Family from Minneapolis.
Their mission is to provide a place of refuge for victims of human trafficking from all over South Dakota.To promote the growth and development of those they serve by empowering them to experience healing and wholeness while ensuring that each woman gains a sense of self-worth and the capacity to achieve their full potential.
https://www.facebook.com/pathfindercenter.org/
Why we ride...
"We began cycling about 6 years ago as a family. We’ve always enjoyed cycling, but over the past 5 years we have made cycling our main form of exercise. It began as therapy after the loss of my son, now it has become a life style.
My son, Shamus O'Daniel lost his life to Diabetes. Shamus was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of six and he lost his battle with this disease at age twenty-one.
While Shamus did not live a long life, during the brief time he was with us, he left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. Shamus was a sports enthusiast, and an active athlete who truly loved sports. He enjoyed team sports but most of all he enjoyed sharing his love for sports with his brothers, Michael and Cameron
Shamus was diagnosed with diabetes when he was six-years-old. For Shamus, coping with the disease proved to be a daily struggle. As a family we honor his memory by riding and giving back in his memory.
Over the past 5 years I have organized a memorial ride to Devils Tower in memory of my son. For me, Michael, Cam and our family, it has become a spiritual journey. From this experience my goal was to organize rides to our sacred sites in memory of Shamus and others who have traveled on to the spirit world.
Born August 15, 1991, he died November 11, 2012, living 7,665 days on this earth. That is the amount of money we hope to raise with this ride, to honor his memory and to help women struggling to survive past human trafficking." Lily Mendoza y Ducheneaux, Shamus' mother
"The Great Bear Ride": The Shamus Memorial Sacred Site Bike Ride and Fundraiser for Pathfinder will take place on September 30, 2017. Cyclists will ride 100 miles from Bear Butte in Sturgis, South Dakota, to Mato Tipila (Bear Lodge, also called Devil's Tower National Park) in Wyoming, two sites sacred to the Lakota and other Native People. This year we have added a 50 mile ride , starting at Bear Butte and ending just beyond the Vore Buffalo Jump.This is a self-supported ride, and cyclists are welcome to travel a portion of the route or the whole distance. There will be water stops every 20 miles. The ride will begin with a blessing and honoring song at 7 am, with an anticipated finish at 7 pm. Riders will carry sage ties in memory of loved ones that have passed on to the spirit world.
Ride from Bear Butte to Mato Tipila (Devils Tower) 100 miles
Registration $65.00, we also registration day of the ride
Includes T-shirt, water bottle, water stops with snacks
Ride from Bear Butte to Vore Buffalo Jump 50 miles
Registration and on-site $45.00
Includes T-shirt, water bottle, water stops with snacks
Buffalo Feed at Mato Tipila for riders, their families and volunteers Sponsored by the Baker Family from Minneapolis.
Organizer
Lily Mendoza
Organizer
Rapid City, SD
Wiconi Wawokiya Inc
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
