Riding for Dick

I signed up for the Ride to Defeat ALS in Napa. Late last month, my uncle, Dick Freytag, passed away from ALS. I’ve set up a page on the ALS ride site for those who would like to donate.

The ride is a metric century (~62 miles), which should prove an appropriately challenging distance for me and an opportunity to spend 4 hours on the bike thinking about family and about Dick (something I spend far too little time doing).

I don’t think I ever came to grips with Dick’s decline. ALS is such an insidious disease, and Dick always played the brave face, I wasn’t ready for the news that he had passed away.

I suppose this ride is as much in memory of Dick as it is an opportunity for me to process what’s happened.

Dick’s passing has made me start to examine my own life more carefully and to realize the treasure of family, again something I spend far too little time doing.