Welcome Friends
This is a blog of the Chicago Fire Fighters "Ignite the Spirit" 580 mile bike ride from Chicago-to-Toronto Canada. Our ride is taking place to aid Chicago Fire Fighters and their families who are battling cancer. Through this ride we raise funding to support that cause and along the way bring awareness about cancer to the communities we visit.
The Ignite the Spirit Fund was created with the mission of financially helping our members when they are faced with battling cancer. It may come in the form of money to help with medical costs or something as simple as meals delivered to try to help with their fight. If we can relieve even the smallest amount of stress during their treatment it is our hope this will give them more strength to fight the disease. Ignite the Spirit is a charity that has been around since 2003 and has helped over 500 families in need. Ignite the Spirit has donated over 1.5 million dollars to ease the hardship of Chicago Fire Department families.
Ignite The Spirit Web Link
Ignite The Spirit Web Link
The 2019 Ignite the Spirit Riders
Pat Brennan, Dan Bomben, Sean Butler, Dave French, Alex Diaz, Chuck Judy, Mike Lopez, Ben Marasa, Pat Reardon, Bob Rupprecht, Gabriel Sanchez, Matt Straley, Arturo Valle, Mike Wadas,
Our Route: 9/14 Stevensville MI, 95mi; 9/15 Battlecreek MI 90mi; 9/16 Brighton MI 85mi; 9/17 Algonac MI 76mi; 9/18 London ON 84mi; 9/19 Hamilton ON 80mi; 9/20 Toronto ON 50mi. Total mileage about 580 miles.
The team with support crew and sponsor banner. Ignite the Spirit president Rick Pinskey. Support members Tommy Pinske, Sam Kamberis, Mark Jadwin, Jim O'Connell, Jeff Porter
Day One
Here we go
Our route today. Chicago to Stevensville MI 95 miles. Couple of us rode 100 to make a century of it.
6am arrival. Time to get organized.
Three box trucks serve as our support vehicles.
Pat Reardon loading up equipment
Riders from IA2R Cycling Club joined us for the ride out of town.
Our escorts for the ride out of town.
Dave French speaking with Matt Straley and son Andrew. He rode with us for 20 miles of our ride.
Antique fire apparatus from Chicago's early days on display in the Quinn Center.
Arturo Valle is ready.
Lining up for the roll out.
Matt and son Andrew riding along King Drive
Riding the trail across Wolf Lake
Heading South on the Burnham Greenway Trail
Arriving in Michigan City Indiana.
Lunch stop at Michigan City beach park.
The Lake Michigan beach and Lighthouse in the distance.
The view riding along Lakeshore Drive Michigan
Riding through Bridgman
Gabe Sanchez
First day mileage was actually 96 miles. Few of us rode an extra 4 to hit a century.
Post ride dinner R&R at the hotel
Day 2
Day 2 route. Stevensville to Battle Creek. 89 Miles
It's a rainy morning today.
The team ready and dressed for success
Pat looking content with the weather today
Ben
Dan
Pat
Arturo
Mike Lopez
Another gem from the past. Looks like they keep up and running.
Here comes the rain again
Sitting out the heavy down pour in the truck
Road closures are common. Matt and crew reroute to get us around road work and detours. In this case a section of road was flooded from recent rainy weather.
Kalamazoo fire department opened their doors for us during our lunch break.
Mike and Arturo
The team in front of Kalamazoo Fire
Western Michigan University was right next store.
Mike testing out his new aero position.
Some trails we rode were bumpy.
We ride some trails if they are along the route. Trails are a good break from the road traffic and offer some picturesque scenery and nature.
Sean
We had dinner and watched the Bears WIN at Territorial Brewery in Battelcreek MI.
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