Week 182

Positive post Sunday, August 16, 2020- Week 182. 

Attention all Cyclists!  Hold the date, December 31st from 8am until around 1pm.

As many of my cycling buddies know, we have a tradition called our “Birthday Ride” where we ride our age on our birthdays.  Well, this year is the big 60 for me and I want to do something special and beyond just riding 60 miles.  So, I’m creating the 360 Ride on my birthday, Thursday, December 31st.  No, we won’t be riding 360 miles, but I am looking for 60 cyclists to ride 60 miles and donate $60 to the Rendler Family Foundation fund (see background on the RFF fund below).  I can’t think of a better way to spend this milestone birthday than with my family and cycling friends while raising funds to give back to the community and those in need.  Thank you Cory McDaniel, Kyle McDaniel, Ryan Stinson, Byron Pettibone, Joe Martinez, Joe Sousa, Brian Zander, Stan Logan and Brian Zimmerman for signing up first!

I’m still working on the details, but the tentative route will begin in Redlands with a warm up loop, then head out the bike trail to where it ends in Norco, go up La Sierra Ave. to Victoria Ave., take Victoria Ave. back into Riverside and then back to Redlands (or maybe we’ll do it backwards).  A fairly flat ride to encourage more to ride (and because I’m getting older).  Message or call me if you can ride and/or help with planning the route and logistics.  We will of course follow all the pandemic protocols that may be in place at the time.

RFF fund background:  I created the RFF fund in 2017 to honor my mom and dad on my mom’s 80th birthday.  Rather than create a memorial fund when they are no longer with us, I wanted to create a family fund while we are blessed to still have them with us and so they can see the fruits of the fund.  By the way, they just celebrated their 65th anniversary this week!

Here is the mission of the RFF fund:  To honor Dana and Ken Rendler by raising and distributing funds to enrich and enhance the lives of families with three areas of focus: Faith, Education and Health & Fitness, carrying on their legacy of living faithful lives of family and community stewardship and sacrificial giving, regularly putting the needs of family and others ahead of their own.  Saint Francis of Assisi is quoted as saying, “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received—only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.”  

My mom and dad have been leading full and faithful lives of stewardship to others and sacrificial giving.  When they leave this earth, their bags will be overflowing with love, appreciation and respect from those of us who have been blessed to be recipients of their generosity and love.  They have given so much to so many and now we have a permanently endowed fund in place to carry their generosity forward while teaching our future generations the importance of philanthropy.  I’m pleased to note that last year we issued our first grant to St. James Elementary School, the school my sister, brother and I attended from 1st to 8th grade thanks to the many financial sacrifices my parents made.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than by honoring my parents and raising funds for those in need.  Along with riding my bike with 60 friends, this a true win win and a birthday I will always remember.  I hope you will join me!!  PS: you don’t have to ride to contribute, we welcome all contributions to the fund and/or help planning the ride. 

Here’s my traditional PPS question:  Will you join me on my Birthday Ride and/or support the Rendler Family Foundation Fund so we can serve those less fortunate than us?