Allsurance Agency, Inc.

"A Family Agency Since 1917"

607 Main St.  P.O. Box 10017  Liberty, TX  77575

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936-336-6463

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936-336-2911

 

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The Alamo Challenge

Pictures I sent to some of my friends October 30, 2001

 

It started several years ago when I saw a recumbent bike (a reclining seated bike) fly by my car at an intersection in Kingwood, Texas .  I said to Penny, "Wow!... look at that...wasn't that cool!"  Unknown to me at the time and little did I know that God had something in store for my family.   Several months later I talked to a fellow who owned a recumbent and he said he just loved his recumbent bike.  Following that discussion, I got on the internet and found a shop where they were sold.  So, about a year ago, I bought my first recumbent and road it around for about 4 months.  I soon discovered that I too really liked the recumbent ride, but wanted to go faster, so I traded that bike in for the one you see in the pictures I have attached.    Approximately four months ago, I seriously started to look into riding in a long bike tour.  The MS150 from Houston to Austin had already happened so that was out.  Then the bike shop owner where I bought my recumbent mentioned to me about a bike tour from Houston (Katy) to San Antonio called the "Alamo Challenge."  This bike tour was a two day, two hundred mile bike tour through the lower part of the Texas Hill Country.    I began working out on my bike regularly and increased my distances as time past.  Then, about two months ago, I signed up for the tour on the Alamo Challenge web page.  At the time, and prior to that, I really never noticed what charity was involved on this tour.  I was only interested in the bike tour because it was long and in the Texas Hill Country so I guess I just never noticed what charity was involved.     A month ago, a bomb shell hit.  Mom found out that she had lung cancer.  I knew that I would have to rearrange my schedule if I was to continue my pursuit of this bike tour.  Therefore, I got on the tour internet site to find some names to call to see if I could cancel at the last minute if I had to.  At that time, when I called, they answered the phone, "hello, American Lung Association..."    It hit me like a brick.  I am not a person to expand a story or make something up to make it sound good.  I am a matter of fact kind of guy and this just plain knocked me for a loop.  A day or so afterwards, I had to start taking Mom over to the doctor quite a bit and we had plenty of time to talk.  One day, after seeing her doctor, Penny, Mom and I went to eat and Mom inquired about the bike tour and who was putting it on.  Penny and I looked at each other and I said, "The American Lung Association."   Mom kind of nodded her head, smiled and said, "well...isn't that something."  Soon after that, Mom had her entire left lung taken out and she made a very fast recovery.  Mom is home now and it appears that all the cancer is gone, but they plan to do some chemo just to make sure.   At that point, the bike tour took on a whole new meaning.  I knew the tour was not going to be easy, but I was determined to do it even though I had not trained much the last two to three weeks because I was helping Mom.  I wore a yellow bandana (which Mom signed) in her honor and every time I wanted to quit, I thought of Mom and her fight.  I wasn't about to give up!   God is always at work around us and there are times like this when he reminds us that He is always here and things are going to be ok.  Some might say that all of this is just a coincidence, but I say to those skeptics, that maybe you're just not listening?   I challenge all of you to slow down, nurture your relationships with family and friends, listen for God and realize that God is always at work around you.

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